What is age friendly status? Your guide to livable communities

With the U.S. population of adults aged 65 and older projected to grow significantly by 2060, the demand for supportive, inclusive environments is accelerating. This demographic shift makes understanding what is age friendly status? more critical than ever for both local leaders and residents concerned with quality of life.

Quick Summary

Age-friendly status is a formal recognition given to communities by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and AARP for adapting their social and physical environments to be inclusive and supportive of people of all ages, especially older adults.

Key Points

• Global Standard: Age-friendly status is a formal recognition, based on a framework developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and adopted by affiliates like AARP.

• Eight Core Domains: The status requires addressing eight interconnected areas, including transportation, housing, and social participation, to create inclusive environments.

• Benefits for Everyone: Improvements made to achieve age-friendly status benefit residents of all ages, not just older adults, by creating more livable communities.

• Involves a Multi-Year Process: Becoming age-friendly requires a commitment to a multi-year cycle of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

• Holistic Approach: An age-friendly community involves adapting policies, services, and physical structures, ensuring active aging and social inclusion.

• Local Engagement is Key: The process emphasizes engaging with local residents, especially older adults, to understand their needs and guide improvements.

The Global Movement for Age-Friendly Environments

The age-friendly movement is a worldwide initiative to create places where people of all ages can thrive and participate fully in community life. It's a response to the increasing global population of older adults and the recognition that the environment significantly impacts their health and well-being. By focusing on inclusivity, these communities benefit everyone.

The Role of International and National Organizations

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the global age-friendly cities initiative in 2006, providing a framework for communities. Organizations like AARP have adapted this framework for the United States, establishing networks such as the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Member communities commit to a five-year process to assess needs and implement improvements.

The Eight Domains of an Age-Friendly Community

Achieving age-friendly status involves addressing eight interconnected areas identified by the WHO framework to ensure a holistic approach to community planning. For a detailed look at these domains, see {Link: World Health Organization (WHO) https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/demographic-change-and-healthy-ageing/age-friendly-environments}.

Benefits of an Age-Friendly Designation

Earning age-friendly status brings numerous advantages, improving life for all residents, not just older adults. These benefits include economic advantages like supporting the workforce, boosting local spending, and enhancing property values, as well as health and social outcomes such as improving health, reducing isolation, and strengthening community ties.

Age-Friendly vs. Standard Community Features

For a comparison of age-friendly community features versus standard community features across areas like sidewalks, housing, transportation, social activities, and information access, refer to {Link: mass.gov https://www.mass.gov/info-details/examples-of-age-and-dementia-friendly-community-characteristics} and {Link: mrsc.org https://mrsc.org/stay-informed/mrsc-insight/january-2024/is-your-community-age-friendly}.

The Journey to Becoming Age-Friendly

Communities pursuing age-friendly status typically follow a structured process:

1. Commitment: The local government officially commits to the age-friendly process.
2. Assessment: A comprehensive evaluation of the community's age-friendliness is conducted, often involving resident input.
3. Action Plan: An action plan with specific goals and strategies for improvement across the eight domains is developed.
4. Implementation: The community implements the initiatives outlined in the action plan.
5. Evaluation: Progress is regularly evaluated, and adjustments are made to ensure continuous improvement.

Conclusion: Building a Better Tomorrow for All

Age-friendly status represents a commitment to creating inclusive, livable communities that support healthy aging and enhance the quality of life for all residents. By following established frameworks and engaging in a process of continuous improvement, communities can build environments that benefit every generation. For more information, explore the World Health Organization's Age-friendly Environments portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary goal of the age-friendly status?

The primary goal is to adapt a community's physical and social environments to better accommodate the needs and preferences of its older residents, thereby improving their health, participation, and overall quality of life.

How does a city officially achieve age-friendly status?

A city can officially achieve this status by joining a recognized network, such as the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, which is an affiliate of the WHO Global Network. Membership signals a commitment to a multi-year, continuous improvement process involving assessment, planning, and implementation.

What are the eight domains of an age-friendly community?

For information on the eight domains of an age-friendly community, see {Link: mass.gov https://www.mass.gov/info-details/examples-of-age-and-dementia-friendly-community-characteristics}.

Do age-friendly improvements only benefit older adults?

No, age-friendly improvements create more livable and accessible communities that benefit residents of all ages. For example, better public transit or accessible sidewalks help families with strollers as much as they help seniors with mobility issues.

What is an age-friendly business?

An age-friendly business intentionally acts to be more inclusive for customers of all ages and abilities. This includes providing accessible spaces, seating, easy-to-read signage, and training staff to be patient and helpful.

How does an age-friendly status help combat social isolation?

Age-friendly initiatives combat social isolation by increasing opportunities for social participation, improving access to transportation, and fostering community events that are inclusive and easily accessible for older adults and people with varying abilities.

Who started the age-friendly movement?

The age-friendly movement was started globally by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2006, leading to the creation of the WHO Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.