Overview

This article reviews both the terms ‘Age’ and ‘Community’ as they apply to Age-Friendly Communities. The article particularly looks at how the perception of ‘Age’ may have changed since the WHO conceived AFCs. It will illustrate that the WHO concept has not changed.

1. THE AGE IN AGE-FRIENDLY

1.1 Introduction

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

Our Age-Friendly Champion explains her view on our Home Page:

“I certainly agree that an age-friendly community involves the entire community. It affects everyone’s lives, from the youngest residents and especially to those who are growing older.”

1.2 The Latest Age-Friendly Communities Initiative

Welsh Government (WG) funds Local Authorities to create an Age-Friendly Wales. This is part of their latest strategy for older people. The Older people’s Commissioner for Wales (OPC) supports this programme. Her office acts as an affiliate to the “World Health Organisation’s Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities”. They offer help and guidance for local Age-Friendly Communities to join this network. Cymru Older People’s Alliance has campaigned for the engagement of older people in the development of local plans. 50+ Forums are part of this engagement process.

Has this changed the perception of many individuals that AFCs target older people?

1.3 Historical Perspective

The European Union adopted the “Dublin Declaration on Age-Friendly Cities and Communities,” in 2013. It was a landmark document that aimed to promote the development of communities that are inclusive and supportive of older adults. The declaration recognised the global demographic shift towards an ageing population. Cities and communities needed to adapt. Address the specific challenges and opportunities associated with aging.

The Welsh Government has shown great perception regarding the needs of a growing, older population. The “Strategy for Older People in Wales: Living Longer, Ageing Well,” 2003, illustrated this.

In 2013, they recognised in the Dublin Declaration that the growing demographic needed greater consideration. It felt necessary to point out that:

…..make the difference between independence and dependence for all people, but especially for those growing older.

Also:

…… and participation of all citizens, including their older citizens.

These statements are NOT excluding younger generations. Nor are they suggesting only focusing on the older generation. But they suggest a perception that older people were not being treated equally and inclusively.

1.4 World Health Organisation (WHO)

WHO document Global Age-Friendly Cities: A Guide:

Section 2; “Active ageing: a framework for age-friendly cities”, states:-

Because active ageing is a lifelong process, an age-friendly city is not just “elderly-friendly”. Barrier-free buildings and streets enhance the mobility and independence of people with disabilities, young and old. Secure neighbourhoods allow children, younger women and older people to venture outside in confidence to participate in physically active leisure and social activities. Families experience less stress when their older members have the community support and health services they need. The whole community benefits from the participation of older people in volunteer or paid work.  Finally, the local economy profits from the patronage of older adult consumers. The operative word in age-friendly social and physical urban settings is enablement.

1.5 The Older People’s Commissioner’s Website

On the Website, it states:

In an age-friendly community, we feel valued, included and respected and can:

• get out and about
• do things that we want to do
• lead healthy and active lives
• access information
• make our voices heard

The ‘we’ in the first line means everyone. NOT older people as ‘others’.

1.6 In Conclusion

“Life course” and “Active ageing” are key phrases used to describe the Age-Friendly process. There is a close relationship between the life course perspective and active ageing. The life course perspective helps us to understand how our past life experiences can affect our health and well-being in later life. Active ageing helps us to understand how we can stay healthy and active as we age.

Age-Friendly is not about just services for older people, and never has been. It is why the wider context of community is crucial. Why programme leaders put emphasis on inclusion and partnership in the Age-Friendly development processes. An Age-Friendly Community development programme must be include older people. They must be involved alongside everyone else. The WHO clearly state the principles of equity, alongside a life-course approach (e.g. ageing as a process, applicable to all).