Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order earlier this week to continue North Carolina’s commitment to supporting the state’s aging population.

Executive Order 280, geared toward making North Carolina an "age-friendly" state, will allow state officials to help boost the caregiving workforce and adult protective services.

“Our rapidly growing and diverse older adult population strengthens our state and communities,” Cooper said. “We’re going to continue our work to make North Carolina the best place in the country to grow older.”

A survey conducted in 2022 by AARP and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services helped asses North Carolinians’ needs in regards to aging.

The executive order also asks the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to improve access to outdoor spaces, the North Carolina Department of Information Technology to improve access to digital literacy and broadband and the North Carolina Department of Transportation to improve transportation options within the state, according to a release from Cooper's office.

“In just a few short years, there will be more people living in North Carolina over age 65 than under 17,” said Joyce Massey Smith, director of the Division on Aging and Adult Services for NCDHHS. “To address this unprecedented shift in the age of our population we are committed to capitalizing on the benefits of an older population as we provide them with the services and support they need in order to thrive.”

There are about 1.7 million people age 65 or older living in North Carolina, and by 2030, one in five residents of the state will be older than 65, according to the release.