Special to IFN
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is celebrating one year of All Ages, All Stages NC, the state’s Multisector Plan for Aging. This plan addresses the needs of the state’s rapidly growing aging population in transforming the infrastructure and coordination of services to better serve these populations, ensuring that all North Carolinians can live and age well in their communities.
NCDHHS launched All Ages, All Stages NC, in September 2024 in response to significant demographic shifts in aging residents. In 2024, North Carolina was home to over 1.9 million adults ages 65 and older, and each year more than 49,000 adults age 60 and over move to the state from other states or abroad.
By 2032, older adults will outnumber children under 18 for the first time in the state’s history, and adults age 85 and older are projected to be the fastest-growing age group over the next two decades. Currently, North Carolina ranks ninth in the nation in the number of residents ages 65 and older, highlighting both the size of this population and its rapid growth.
“Supporting all North Carolinians through all phases of life is crucial. With the All Ages, All Stages NC plan, we honor our commitment to the over two million North Carolinians ages 65 and older to foster and promote an enhanced quality of life,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “Through strong partnerships and transformative initiatives, we are one step closer to reaching our shared goal of implementing long-term solutions that embrace and empower our aging populations.”
In its first year, All Ages, All Stages NC has moved from planning to implementation, bringing together more than 200 partners across government, health care, housing, education, workforce, and transportation. These partners are advancing key priorities aligned with four overarching goals: Supporting Older Adults and Their Families, Strengthening Communities for a Lifetime, Optimizing Health and Well-Being, and Affording Aging. As part of the All Ages, All Stages NC initiative, NCDHHS launched the Back in the 20s campaign to share stories of this work in action across North Carolina. The videos highlight efforts to expand long-term services and supports, enhance caregiver resources, improve housing accessibility and strengthen the direct care workforce.
Among the initiative’s early achievements is the launch of taskforces to build an age inclusive culture through efforts like Ageism Awareness Day and the Future Self Contest. Close to 3,000 caregivers across 98 out of 100 counties are now supported through the expanded NC Caregiver Portal. NCDHHS also launched NC’s inaugural National Core Indicators State of the Workforce Survey for Aging and Disabilities this Fall to help advance the data landscape for direct care.
Currently, a new Financial Education Toolkit is being developed to help North Carolinians plan for financial stability and promote multi-generational well-being, which should be finalized in June 2026. The state is also addressing the digital divide through initiatives such as the WISEConnect Pilot, a platform that helps older adults access local resources and strengthen social connections through technology, and sustaining the existing Ageless Access Digital Navigators Program, which supports digital literacy and access across the state. Additionally, the Housing subgroup is advancing universal design and accessibility to help people age safely in place, aligning its efforts with the NC Housing Strategic Plan.
“North Carolina’s success depends on our ability to support communities where people of every age can thrive. The early work of All Ages, All Stages NC shows what’s possible when we coordinate across sectors and take a lifespan approach to healthy aging,” said Joyce Massey-Smith, director of the NCDHHS Division of Aging.
These early efforts highlight the shared vision of the plan to build a state where every North Carolinian, regardless of age or ability, can live with purpose, security, and connection. The plan’s next phase will focus on deepening local engagement, expanding data-driven decision-making, and advancing measurable outcomes through public-private partnerships.
Future Self Contest
To celebrate this milestone, NCDHHS’ Division of Aging is announcing a “Future Self Contest,” inviting students from Pre-K through 12th grade to imagine their future selves and reflect on what it means to live in an age-inclusive society.
The Future Self Contest encourages students to submit creative works such as poetry, music, or art that explore themes of aging, respect for older adults, and challenging stereotypes about aging. The contest aims to empower students to inspire positive change in their communities. Winners of the contest will be featured on the NCDHHS Division of Aging website and celebrated at the Year One All Ages, All Stages NC Celebration later next year. The contest period runs from Oct. 13, 2025, through Feb. 23, 2026. Winners will be announced on March 16, 2026.
LEARN MORE
For more information about All Ages, All Stages NC and how to get involved, visit NCDHHS’ website.