Niagara has joined a global effort led by the World Health Organization to become an age-friendly community.
The goal is to create safe and secure environments that foster community participation, personal health and well-being.
Local action committees will be formed to identify and start age-friendly activities specific to their local community's needs.
Input and ideas from residents are key to the success of the project.
Volunteer for the Age-friendly Initiative
Age-friendly communities take into consideration the needs of all residents in the following areas:
Our initiative will be built around the following:
Principles
Respect, inclusion, engagement, livability, accountability
Building Blocks
Being informed, enabled, supported, encouraged
Becoming an Age-Friendly Community
Defining, strategizing, implementing, evaluating
A Niagara-wide partnership has been formed to lead the region's age-friendly initiatives. The partners include:
A steering committee is working with residents to identify and develop community supports for older adults and young and physically challenged individuals.
Members of the committee are: Joe Bouchard, Steve Cino, Jerry Cunningham, Ken Forgeron, Lynn McCleary, Margaret Sanderson, Maureen McRae, Nicole Stefanovici, Wendy Walker.
The Niagara Age-Friendly Community Initiative is supported by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, which maintains a website on ageing and the non-profit sector.
For more information email Virginia Stewart or call 905-685-1571 ext. 3869.