Our mission: as community ambassadors, the Commission on Aging provides leadership, advocacy, community awareness, and develops partnerships to initiate positive change toward an all-age friendly, livable community.
Who We Are
We know that Clark County’s population is aging.
By 2035, the United States will ‐ for the first time ever – be a country that has more older adults than children. By that time, here in Clark County, more than 25% of the population, or one in four residents, will be 60 and better.
In 2012, the then‐county commissioners adopted the Aging Readiness Plan following an 18‐ month study in which more than two dozen people from across the county evaluated the community’s readiness for, and ability to serve, a quickly growing number of older residents.
In addition to adopting the county’s Aging Readiness Plan in 2012, the County Commissioners also created the volunteer Commission on Aging.
The commission’s charge is to provide leadership in addressing the special needs of the aging population and to manage and assist with the implementation of the county’s Aging Readiness Plan.
View the Commission on Aging:
What We Do
The diagram below illustrates the work in which the commission is engaged. Education, Awareness, and Advocacy are the means by which the commission carries out its charge to provide leadership to manage and implement the Aging Readiness Plan. The topical focus areas in the image align with the Aging Readiness Plan chapters.
Each year, the Commission on Aging invites experts to join moderated discussions regarding a specific focus topic throughout the year. Members discuss the topic with their guests and answer questions from the audience. Based on those discussions, policy recommendations to support older adults are made to the Clark County Council and city councils and are outlined in an annual report. View the current and previous versions of the annual report here.
Staff Contacts
Jenna Kay, Planner III
jenna.kay@clark.wa.gov
564.397.4968
Susan Ellinger, Planner III
susan.ellinger@clark.wa.gov
564.397.4516
Commission News
Clark County recognizes that older adults are valuable contributors to the vitality of this community. To encourage and support older adults for their contributions to their communities, the Clark County Commission on Aging has established a program to recognize older adults by means of an annual award typically presented at a Commission on Aging event.
The Commission on Aging is now accepting applications for the 3rd annual Silver Citizen Award. Applications are due by 5pm Aug. 26, 2022. The nomination form and details about the award are available here.
Join a Meeting
The Commission on Aging typically meets at 4:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. They hold work sessions prior to the formal meeting at 3:15 p.m.
Due to COVID-19, meetings are being held in a hybrid format with both in-person and virtual participation options for commissioners, staff, and the public.
You can join in person, on the 6th floor of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98666, or virtually via WebEx.
To request public records involving the Aging Readiness Plan or Commission on Aging, contact the staff listed above.