Age Friendly Tucker: Building Community for All Ages

LOIS RICCI

Alifelong, age friendly community benefits people of all ages and abilities. When Tucker became a Lifelong Community in 2013 and then an Age Friendly City in 2018, Tucker Civic Association’s Lifelong Community Committee (TCALCC) wrote an action plan to maintain those designations. In that plan, eight domains were identified: housing, transportation, social and economic benefits, diversity, parks and city infrastructure, communications, health, and community services. Over the past year, the committee has been developing its own programs to maintain the designations, as well as actively supporting the efforts of the city and other organizations.

Managing to these domains is vital to creating a community where residents can grow up and grow old. It has to have safe and accessible public transportation options. It has to have affordable, accessible, and safe housing. Numerous parks and outdoor spaces must be pleasant and safe environments. Quality community and health services must be easily accessible to all. Sufficient employment and volunteer opportunities help residents maintain a meaningful and purposeful life. A diversity of social activities and events keep people of all ages engaged in their communities. Creating an age-friendly community makes good sense, socially and economically.

Maintaining an age-friendly environment is difficult but essential for the success of the entire community. We are all aging, and TCALCC recognizes the factors that will improve everyone’s lives across the aging spectrum for years to come. Making a city age friendly doesn’t happen overnight and some of the steps are daunting, especially as it relates to infrastructure. Tucker is meeting that challenge. Road improvement and new and repaired sidewalks are seen all over the city. Business is booming, with many new businesses are locating to Tucker. Community activities continue to prosper and grow. Diversity is being addressed, too. City Council has planned a Juneteenth Celebration and is addressing the Non-Discrimination Ordinance. Housing in Tucker is limited for many; home costs both to buy and to rent are higher than many can afford. The TCALCC Age Friendly project is involved in finding a solution to the problem, looking at innovative projects in other cities, such as Tiny Home Communities and repurposing commercial space. Transportation is also being addressed. DeKalb County has several transportation options available, including I CARE, a volunteer program which provides rides for people over 60 to appointments and grocery stores. And we still hope one day to have a trolley in Tucker.

There are plenty of activities to connect residents to their community. Tucker and local businesses sponsor many Main Street events, including a First Friday Concert Series, monthly car shows, and annual festivals like Tucker Day and Taste of Tucker. Cofer Library has a busy schedule of events, and The Recreation Center offers a plethora of activities but is home to Main Street Theater, Tucker’s community theatre.

TCALCC has partnered with the city to roll out “Tucker Welcomes You Home,” to welcome new residents to the city with bags of gifts and information. Tucker Walks project will be launched in June, with organized routes and groups to encourage everyone to get out and walk.

A lifelong, age friendly community will benefit people of all ages and abilities, and encourage residents to remain there their entire life span. What we do now to make our communities good places to grow up and grow old will yield returns not only for today’s residents but also tomorrow’s, that is, for all of us

DR. LOIS RICCI is a longtime resident of Tucker, where she chairs the Tucker Civic Association Lifelong Community Committee. She serves as an adjunct faculty member at Kennesaw State University, where she teaches gerontology courses and the Professional Development in Gerontology Certificate Class. Ricci also serves as an official representative for American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), co-facilitator for the Rosalyn Carter CareNet, and on the board of the Atlanta Regional Commission Advisory Committee on Aging. Contact Dr. Ricci at loisricci@ bellsouth.net.