Westchester County Named A Top Place To Age By AARP

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Oct 04, 2012, 08:00 ET

Assoc. Cites County's Progressive Policies & Planning for Booming 50+ Population – Scarsdale Resident Receives AARP Honor for His Work

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Oct. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New York's boomer population is, well, booming and as the 50+ population across the state and nation continues to soar, municipalities are faced with an array of issues from planning to public policies. Today, at the 21^st Annual Golden Harvest Awards in Tarrytown, AARP honored Westchester County with a top designation for its innovative approach in tackling issues facing the 50+, naming the county a World Health Organization's age-friendly community.

AARP Vice President, Bob Stephen was on hand to present the age-friendly community designation certificate to Westchester County Executive, Robert P. Astorino. The designation is in honor of the county's continued efforts on the health and quality of life for older people, from keeping transportation safe and affordable, to having policies in place to help residents age in place and supporting community and health services.

"It is a great honor for Westchester County to be named as one of the first members of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities," said Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino. "Such recognition gives us even more momentum to continue our hard work. Through our innovative Livable Communities initiative, we are committed to helping our seniors remain in their homes as they grow older with independence, dignity and civic engagement opportunities."

Another AARP honor was bestowed on Westchester today with Scarsdale resident Samir Eskander receiving the Associations' highest award, the Andrus Award, named for AARP's founder, Ethel Percy Andrus. Eskander has led the nation in his work to help people stay sharp when it comes to driving, helping people to live independently. He was the number one teaching volunteer in AARP's Driver Safety Program last year. Since the program's inception in 1979, over 14 million participants have completed the AARP course.

"It's with pleasure today, that AARP recognizes the focus and importance Westchester County, and County Executive Astorino has placed on improving the community and public policies for its 50+ residents," said Bob Stephen, AARP Vice President. "Mr. Eskander is a shining example of the work AARP does in communities across the great state of New York; his efforts embody the vision of our founder."

AARP has over 2.7 million members in New York.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.1 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SOURCE AARP New York