D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 1109
1109.1 The population of older adults or seniors (persons 60 years of age and older) is expected to continue to grow at a steady rate and to be the fastest growing segment of the District’s population during the next 15 to 20 years. Although DACL and several affiliated nonprofit organizations already provide a comprehensive system of health care, education, employment, and social services for Washington, DC’s older adult population, these entities may be hard pressed to keep up with demand as the number of older adults in the District rises. The 2017 older adult population of 118,275 (17 percent of the total population) is forecasted to rise to 132,648 in 2025 and to 141,381 by 2030. As of 2017, about 36 percent of the District’s older adults 65 years and older live alone. Some 37.4 percent of older adult households have no personal vehicle, and 36.5 percent have some type of disability. The largest percentages of older adults are in Rock Creek West and Rock Creek East. Many are homeowners, caring for their properties on a fixed income. Others are primary caregivers for their grandchildren, facing the challenge of raising a family as they age.
1109.1a Text box: Seniors and Older Adults
Washington, DC residents have expressed mixed preferences regarding use of the word “senior” compared with older adults to refer to persons 60 and over. Since many District programs and facilities have the word “senior” in their titles, both approaches are used interchangeably in this section of the Comprehensive Plan.
1109.1a1 Text box: Age-Friendly DC
Age-Friendly DC is part of the World Health Organization’s Network of Age-Friendly Cities and AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. The initiative aims to prepare the built environment, change attitudes about growing older and lifelong health and security to better accommodate the growing numbers of older adults in Washington, DC, and promote healthy aging and purposeful living at every age. The Age-Friendly DC effort began in October 2012 and resulted in the 2012-2017 Age-Friendly DC Strategic Plan. In 2017, the World Health Organization and AARP recognized Washington, DC as a “TopCity in Age-Friendly Policies.” Building upon the success of its first five-year planning and implementation cycle, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services released the 2018-2023 Age-Friendly DC Strategic Plan in October 2018.
This plan, which guides the work of the initiative, outlines a number of strategies for the District to pursue across 14 domains:
1) Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
2) Transportation
3) Housing
4) Social Participation
5) Respect and Social Inclusion
6) Civic Participation and Employment
7) Communication and Information
8) Community Support and Health Services
9) Emergency Preparedness and Resilience
10) Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Fraud
11) Financial Security
12) Lifelong Learning
13) Public Safety
14) Caregiving.
1109.2 The policies below focus on the importance of senior wellness centers and other services and care facilities for older adults. As of 2017, there were six senior wellness centers located across the District. A variety of services, programs, and opportunities for socialization are delivered from these facilities, including nutrition, exercise, health care, creative arts, and education. Future reinvestment will deploy a more decentralized approach and feature more partnerships with DPR, faith-based groups, and community organizations with a focus on promoting intergenerational and other satellite activities for isolated residents, thereby serving the District's growing senior population and enhancing their quality of life.
See also the Transportation; Urban Design; Parks, Recreation, and Open Space; and Housing Elements for additional policies about older adults/seniors.
1109.3 Policy CSF-2.4.1: Senior/Older Adult Care Facilities Programming
Develop new programming and activities at existing community facilities, including faith-based institutions, health facilities, libraries, recreation centers, and parks. Explore partnerships with District youth to increase interaction and
learning across generations. Attain community input on preferences and needs for fitness and wellness.
Encourage the development of neighborhood-based, interdisciplinary, holistic models of care that promote community living and independence.
Maintain and upgrade the District’s six senior wellness centers, helping ensure they continue to promote the health and wellness of residents 60 years of age and older across Washington, DC.
Advance built environment strategies that support lifelong health and security for residents of all ages. Examples of such strategies include improvements to lighting, signage, and accessibility and safety of roads, sidewalks, and recreational paths for older adults.
SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).