Who Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities©: Background 1. Planning (Year 1-2)
Who Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities©: Background 1. Planning (Year 1-2)
Who Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities©: Background 1. Planning (Year 1-2)
The guide identifies eight domains of city life that might influence the health and quality of life of older people: 1. outdoor spaces and buildings; 2. transportation; 3. housing; 4. social participation; 5. respect and social inclusion; 6. civic participation and employment; 7. communication and information; and 8. community support and health services.
www.who.int/
Background
submit a letter from the Mayor and municipal administration to WHO indicating their commitment to the Network cycle of continual improvement. commence a cycle of four stages:
The Age-friendly Cities Programme is an international effort to help cities prepare for two global demographic trends: the rapid ageing of populations and increasing urbanization. The Programme targets the environmental, social and economic factors that influence the health and wellbeing of older adults. In 2006, WHO brought together 33 cities in 22 countries for a project to help determine the key elements of the urban environment that support active and healthy ageing. The result was The Global Age-friendly Cities Guide (http://www.who.int/ageing/publications) which outlines a framework for assessing the agefriendliness of a city. A core aspect of this approach was to include older people as active participants in the process.
To build on the widespread interest generated by this programme, WHO has established the WHO Global Network of Age-friendly Cities. The Network will: 1. Link participating cities to WHO and to each other. 2. Facilitate the exchange of information and best practices. 3. Foster interventions that are appropriate, sustainable and cost-effective for improving the lives of older people. 4. Provide technical support and training.
a. Establishment of mechanisms to involve older people throughout the Age-friendly City cycle. b. A baseline assessment of the age-friendliness of the city. c. Development of a 3-year city wide plan of action based on assessment findings. d. Identification of indicators to monitor progress.
Advantages of membership
Connection to a global network of ageing and civil society experts. Access to key information about the programme: latest news, best practices, events, results, challenges and new initiatives through the Age Friendly CitiesCommunity of Practice (www.who.int/ezcollab/ afc_network). Provision of technical guidance and training throughout the AFC implementation process. Opportunities for partnerships with other cities.
On completion of stage 1, and no later than two years after joining the Network, cities will submit their action plan to WHO for review and endorsement. Upon endorsement by WHO, cities will then have a three-year period of implementation.
Network Membership
Cities participating in the Network commit to a cycle of continually assessing and improving their age-friendliness.
4. Continual improvement
If there is clear evidence of progress against the original action plan, cities will move into a phase of continual improvement. Cities will be invited to develop a new plan of action (duration of up to 5 years) along with associated indicators. Progress against this new plan will be measured at the end of this second implementation period. Cities will be able to continue their membership to the Network by entering into further implementation cycles.
What are the future plans for the Network? A further and later step may be to identity standards that would allow cities to receive an award if they reach a particular level. WHO is also interested in exploring similar agefriendly approaches in different settings, for example rural communities, hospitals and workplaces. What is an Age-friendly Cities community of practice? It is a social online platform for: Sharing approaches Enhancing access to knowledge Linking experts Facilitating collaboration Promoting learning Strengthening partnerships The Age-friendly Cities Community of Practice can be accessed at www.who.int/ezcollab/afc_network
Involving older people is an essential element of an age-friendly city. Their contributions are important for city assessments, setting priorities, proposing solutions for action, and monitoring progress.
Years 1-2
Years 3-5
1. Planning
3. Evaluate progress
a. Measure progress b. Identify successes and remaining gaps c. Submit progress report
Ageing and Life Course (ALC) Family and Community Health (FCH) World Health Organization Avenue Appia 20 CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland activeageing@who.int www.who.int/ageing/en Fax: + 41 (0) 22 791 4839
Pictures HelpAge International 2009 and Health Canada, Minister of PWGSC 2001
a. involve older peopole b. assessment of age- friendliness c. develop an action plan d. identify indicators
2. Implementation
a. implement action plan b. monitor indicators