Launch of ‘age friendly’ communities

COTA Victoria will today launch its Age Friendly Communities initiative which aims to build environments allowing people to “thrive”. Victoria will reportedly be the first state in Australia to be recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an age friendly community.

COTA Victoria will today launch its Age Friendly Communities initiative which aims to build environments allowing people to “thrive”.

Victoria will reportedly be the first state in Australia to be recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an age friendly community.

The number of people living in Victoria who are aged 65 years and over is predicted to double in the next 40 years.

COTA Victoria is working with local councils and older people throughout Victoria to identify what is needed to make their community age friendly.

The initiative is led by Dr Kathleen Brasher, COTA’s manager of active ageing. She has extensive experience in the health sector, age friendly projects and community development.

“Age friendly communities must involve older people in decision making and we must build an environment which supports older people to participate and live meaningful lives,” Dr Brasher says.

Sue Hendy, COTA Victoria chief executive, adds the program is designed to “enable older people to take action in their local community and to educate their community about active ageing”.

“We have already started to tackle sexism and racism; now it’s time to tackle ageism. To achieve an age friendly community it will mean working for better access to good transport services, appropriate housing, age-friendly designed buildings, civic participation, employment, supportive health services and respect for older people. These are key factors for ensuring an age-friendly community that is safe and enjoyable,” she said.

A network of older people in each community will identify local outcomes such as an age friendly park, ‘space’ for intergenerational collaboration and age friendly local shops and workplaces.

The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation has provided a grant of $300,000 over the next two years to fund the program.

The factors which influence ‘age friendly’ communities?