AGE-FRIENDLY MANITOBA INITIATIVE
CREATING A MORE AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY
In an age-friendly community, policies, programs and services are designed to make it easier for older adults to stay active and healthy, so they can continue to contribute economically and socially. Since the World Health Organization (WHO) developed and released its Age-Friendly Cities model in 2007, communities across Canada and globally have developed action plans to become more age-friendly, recognizing that every effort benefits citizens of all ages.
Manitoba has been at the forefront of this movement. The WHO, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Province of Manitoba have developed Age-Friendly Community Milestones to provide a guide for community action planning and a basis on which communities can be recognized for their age-friendly community efforts and in turn, be recognized by the PHAC and the WHO.
As the Province of Manitoba continues to invite local governments to join the Age-Friendly Communities Initiative, it encourages communities to adopt the Milestone approach to support and sustain their efforts. Achievement of the Milestones is also required to be formally recognized as an Age-Friendly Manitoba Community.
Two of the Milestones are:
Community Engagement Milestone
Creating a committee is an effective way to engage local government, businesses, service providers (e.g. health professionals, seniors organizations, police, clergy, youth organizations) and other interested citizens in developing a vision and an action plan for a more age-friendly community.
Active participation and leadership of older residents ensures their needs and interests are reflected – and who better to help guide the process than those who have contributed so much to the development of the community. An intergenerational committee also recognizes that an age-friendly community benefits residents of all ages.
Municipal Council Resolution Milestone
Local government is a key player in providing information, resources and support to community development initiatives. A council resolution signifies that it recognizes the value of an age-friendly community, actively embraces the concept and is committed to including age-friendly planning in its ongoing agenda.
Creating a more age-friendly community requires the effort and resources of the entire community. The local government cannot go it alone. The interest, resources and ability of the Age-Friendly Committee and organizations will be central to success.
Excerpt from Rural Municipality of Bifrost Council Meeting Minutes of Thursday, July 14, 2011:
Resolution #6 – Moved by Councillor Donald Vigfusson, Seconded by Councillor Richard Chomokovski:
RESOLVED that the RM of Bifrost recognize the value of an age-friendly community, actively embraces the concept and is committed to including age-friendly planning in its ongoing agenda.
CARRIED