The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is marking a milestone anniversary for its "All Ages, All Stages NC" plan, a comprehensive initiative launched in September 2024. The plan aims to address the needs of the growing older adult population by improving the state's infrastructure and service coordination to support aging with dignity in communities across North Carolina, according to NCDHHS.
As part of the one-year anniversary of the All Ages, All Stages NC plan, the NCDHHS Division of Aging has launched the "Future Self Contest." The contest invites students from Pre-K through 12th grade to share their vision of aging through creative expressions such as poetry, music, or art. Winners will be honored at the Year One All Ages, All Stages NC Celebration next year, and their work will be featured on the NCDHHS Division of Aging website. Entries can be submitted until February 23, 2026, with winners announced on March 16, 2026, as per the NCDHHS press release.
The need for a comprehensive aging plan is based on demographic data showing that North Carolina ranks ninth nationally with a population of over 1.9 million people aged 65 and older. The number of older adults is projected to exceed the number of children under 18 for the first time by 2032. In the year since its launch, All Ages, All Stages NC has progressed from planning to implementation, bringing together more than 200 partners from sectors including health care, housing, and education.
Joyce Massey-Smith, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Aging, emphasized the importance of this work in a press release, stating, "North Carolina’s success depends on our ability to support communities where people of every age can thrive." The collaboration has resulted in efforts such as task forces addressing ageism, expanded caregiver support reaching nearly 3,000 people across 98 counties, and programs promoting digital literacy.
