The Global Network of Age-Friendly Initiatives
The age-friendly movement is a global effort, pioneered by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities. The network aims to help municipalities worldwide adapt their services and physical structures to be more inclusive of older adults, thereby improving the quality of life for everyone. WHO network affiliates are essential to this mission, acting as catalysts at sub-national, national, regional, and international levels. The network fosters a valuable exchange of experiences and mutual learning between communities, ensuring that successful strategies are shared globally. Affiliates advocate for the network's work and provide crucial guidance and support to communities looking to become more age-friendly.
Key Types of Age-Friendly Affiliates
The landscape of age-friendly affiliates is broad and encompasses various organizations, each with a distinct role in advancing the movement. These entities collaborate to address the different aspects of creating a supportive and inclusive society for all ages.
Government Bodies
National, regional, and local governments are foundational affiliates in the age-friendly network. Countries like New Zealand, Singapore, and Canada's Pan-Canadian Age-friendly Communities Initiative are national-level affiliates. Within the U.S., the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities is a U.S. affiliate of the WHO network. States and local governments join by submitting a membership application and a letter of commitment signed by the highest elected official, committing to a five-year cycle of continuous improvement. By joining, they receive resources and guidance to implement policies that make communities more livable.
Nonprofits and Advocacy Groups
Organizations like the AARP and HelpAge International play a crucial role as affiliates by mobilizing communities, conducting research, and advocating for policies that support older adults. In the U.S., AARP provides resources through its Livable Communities project and Community Challenge grants, helping towns and cities fund projects that enhance livability. The International Federation on Ageing is another significant affiliate that provides direct support to the WHO secretariat, contributing its knowledge and expertise to the global effort.
Academic Institutions
Recognizing the importance of higher education, the Age-Friendly University (AFU) Global Network was established to guide universities in becoming more age-inclusive. Over 110 institutions worldwide have endorsed the AFU principles, committing to integrate age-friendly practices across three areas: teaching and learning, research and innovation, and civic engagement. By endorsing the principles, universities like Arizona State University and the University of Maine commit to fostering intergenerational learning, research on aging, and community outreach.
Healthcare Organizations
Healthcare organizations are increasingly becoming age-friendly affiliates through initiatives like the Age-Friendly Health Systems, developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in partnership with the American Hospital Association (AHA). This movement focuses on reliably providing high-quality care to older adults based on the "4Ms" framework: What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility. By implementing these principles, health systems ensure that care is tailored to the needs and goals of their older patients.
The Benefits of Becoming an Affiliate
There are numerous advantages for organizations and communities that become age-friendly affiliates. They gain access to valuable resources, including global and national research, planning models, and best practices. Affiliates benefit from opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and networking with other member communities, both domestically and internationally. The affiliation also provides public recognition, which can boost a community's profile and demonstrate its commitment to older residents. Membership in a network often serves as a catalyst for local policy change, with a high percentage of communities reporting concrete changes after joining. Ultimately, the process helps communities improve livability across multiple domains, from housing and transportation to health services and social participation.
A Comparison of Affiliate Networks
| Feature | WHO Global Network | AARP Network (USA) | Age-Friendly University (AFU) Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent Organization | World Health Organization (WHO) | AARP, serving as the U.S. affiliate of the WHO network | AFU Global Network, with secretariat at Arizona State University |
| Focus | Encouraging cities and communities globally to adapt services and structures for all ages | Assisting U.S. states and communities in becoming more livable for people of all ages | Guiding institutions of higher education to be more age-inclusive in programs and policies |
| Target Affiliates | National/regional governments, civil society, research orgs, community networks globally | States, counties, cities, towns, villages, and boroughs in the U.S. | Degree-granting higher education institutions worldwide |
| Key Framework/Principles | Eight Domains of Livability (Outdoor Spaces, Transportation, etc.) | Eight Domains of Livability, based on the WHO framework | Ten Principles of an Age-Friendly University |
| Key Outcome | Fostering global exchange of experience and mutual learning | Empowering local leaders to implement change and improve livability | Integrating age-inclusive practices in teaching, research, and civic engagement |
How an Age-Friendly Affiliate Drives Change
Becoming an affiliate and implementing age-friendly changes is not a one-time event but a continuous process. Many affiliates, particularly those within the AARP network, follow a structured, multi-year cycle of improvements. This cycle ensures that a community's commitment translates into tangible action. The steps typically include:
- Formal Endorsement: The process often begins with the official commitment of a community's leadership, such as a mayor or governor, to join a network.
- Community Assessment: The affiliate conducts a baseline assessment to identify the community's strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement across the domains of livability. This can involve surveys, focus groups, and resident interviews.
- Resident Engagement: Older residents are actively involved in the process to ensure their unique needs and perspectives are considered. This helps create a representative and effective action plan.
- Strategic Planning: An action plan is developed based on the assessment and resident feedback, outlining specific goals, indicators, and timelines for age-friendly improvements.
- Implementation and Evaluation: The plan is put into action, and the affiliate regularly monitors progress and evaluates the effectiveness of the initiatives against the indicators. This leads to ongoing cycles of planning and improvement.
Conclusion
Who are age friendly affiliates? They are a diverse and growing network of committed organizations, from local governments to global universities, dedicated to creating more inclusive and livable communities for people of all ages. Guided by frameworks from influential bodies like the WHO and AARP, these affiliates follow a structured process to assess, plan, and implement changes that enhance the well-being of their residents. By collaborating and sharing best practices, age-friendly affiliates drive global progress toward a future where everyone has the opportunity to age with dignity and participate fully in community life. To learn more about how affiliates foster livable communities, you can explore the AARP Livable Communities initiative.
