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Slide1: 

International Urban Design Conference Gold Coast, Australia Waves of Change: Cities at Crossroads Presenter: Dr. Elaine Gallagher Director, Centre on Aging University of Victoria Victoria, BC, Canada    

An age-friendly environment:: 

An age-friendly environment: recognizes the great diversity among older persons promotes their inclusion and contribution in all areas of community life respects their decisions and lifestyle choices, and anticipates and responds flexibly to aging-related needs and preferences.

The world population is ageing: 

The world population is ageing Population Pyramid in 1995 and 2025 UN Population Division, 1998 Revision

Population 60 years and over as Percentage of total Population in selected Developing Countries: 

Population 60 years and over as Percentage of total Population in selected Developing Countries % of total population

Slide5: 

UN Statistics 2005

Slide6: 

UN Statistics 2005

Slide7: 

UN Statistics 2005

Slide8: 

UN Statistics 2005

Slide9: 

UN Statistics 2005

Slide10: 

UN Statistics 2005

Cities Population Increases : 

Cities Population Increases New York: Population 65 plus expected to rise 44.2 % from 980,000 in 2000 to 1.35 million in 2030. Toronto: Population age 65 plus to rise to 16% by 2031 Helsinki: Population 65 plus expected to rise 50% by 2025 from 78,000 to 120,000.

EU Cities Population Stats - 2001: 

EU Cities Population Stats - 2001

Older people are theprinciple carers for AIDS patients and AIDS orphans in Africa: 

Older people are the principle carers for AIDS patients and AIDS orphans in Africa Photo: UNICEF

Ageing in the development agenda: 

Ageing in the development agenda “Ageing is a development issue. Healthy older persons are a resource for their families, their communities and the economy.” WHO Brasilia Declaration on Ageing, July, 1996

Why Focus on Cities?: 

Why Focus on Cities? They are the hub of human activity and progress. In the developed world, three-quarters of older persons live in cities already. In developing countries, the convergence of rapid demographic ageing and rapid urbanization makes it critical to design cities to support and enable the massive increase of older residents. Making cities age-friendly is one of the most effective policy approaches for responding to demographic ageing.

Objectives of The WHO Age-friendly Cities Project : 

Objectives of The WHO Age-friendly Cities Project The WHO Age-friendly cities project had two main objectives: to identify indicators of an age-friendly city and produce a practical tool to stimulate and guide advocacy, community development and policy change to make urban communities age-friendly. to increase awareness of local needs, gaps and ideas for improvement in each participating city to catalyze community development leading to more age-friendly urban settings

Slide18: 

Age-Friendly Collaborating Cities Credit: BC Ministry of Health

The Canadian Project: Remote and Rural Communities: 

The Canadian Project: Remote and Rural Communities Rural and remote communities face very different social and environmental challenges that can have a different impact on health and healthy aging. There is a need to undertake action research in rural/remote communities in order to understand how more supportive environments can be developed for an aging population. A large proportion of seniors live in rural or remote areas.

Slide20: 

The Canadian Rural and Remote Age-Friendly Communities Initiative

Phase 1: Community Assessment: 

Phase 1: Community Assessment To identify features of the physical and social environment which: are age-friendly are not age-friendly To elicit local ideas and suggestions to improve age-friendliness

8 Areas of Focus for the Project: 

8 Areas of Focus for the Project outdoor spaces and buildings transportation housing respect and social inclusion social participation communication and information civic participation and employment, community support and health services

Phase 2: Community Dissemination: 

Phase 2: Community Dissemination To disseminate the local findings regarding the community's age-friendliness to the participants in the focus groups, civil society, the media and decision makers with a view to catalyzing subsequent community action.

Methodology: Focus Groups : 

Methodology: Focus Groups WHO Cities project – 8 Focus Groups 4 groups with seniors ages 60 to 74 and 75 and older 1 group with informal caregivers 1 group with professional staff 1 group with business people and merchants 1 group with members of volunteer organizations For Remote and Rural Communities – 2 Focus Groups 1 group with seniors and caregivers 1 group with professionals, volunteers and business people

Challenges: 

Challenges Recruiting men and isolated seniors to come to the focus groups The great snow fall of 2007 Finding suitable transportation for people needing assistance Finding appropriate amplification device for group meetings Tapes that break Preparing for the next steps

Benefits of these Age-friendly Initiatives: 

Benefits of these Age-friendly Initiatives Enhanced opportunities for various stakeholders (including governments, municipal associations, businesses, seniors and their organizations) to work collaboratively to support a healthy aging agenda. A legacy to demonstrate how supportive environments increase options for healthy aging and healthy choices so that older adults are better able to remain within and contribute to their communities. An approach that addresses multiple issues that limit seniors from contributing to their communities.

Results: 

Results Things they Liked Issues and Challenges Suggestions for Change

Outdoor Spaces and Buildings: 

Outdoor Spaces and Buildings Sidewalks and trails: cracked, snow & ice, missing sidewalks, no crosswalks or ramps Buildings: inaccessible, doors heavy, no public toilets, washrooms too small, no indoor spaces, need wheelchairs for public use. Road-related: parking, crosswalks, potholes. Safety: feeling threatened by youth “

Priority Areas: 

Priority Areas INDOOR Doors: minimal resistance Furniture: good height, stable Walkways OUTDOOR Entrances well lit Level walkways clear of obstacles or slip hazards e.g., ice/snow PUBLIC PLACES Sidewalks in good repair Cross walks: well designed LIGHTING Adequate Non-glare Easily accessible switches, touch lights, night lights, motion detector light FLOORING Non-slip Level thresholds STAIRS Geometry Visibility Handrails

Transportation: 

Transportation Driving Patterns: speeding, parking in handicapped spaces Road Conditions: lighting poor, glare, no pedestrian footpaths, slippery crosswalks Senior specific issues: cost, availability, loading zones Public transportation: not accessible

Housing: 

Housing Availability: range of types, long wait lists, Affordability: expensive, heating, taxes, maintenance etc. expensive Appropriateness: too small Accessibility/Safety:

Respect and Inclusion: 

Respect and Inclusion Ageism: age segregation, overcharging, feeling like a burden to family Isolation: people not neighborly, hard to take the first step to getting involved. Safety Inclusion

Communications: 

Communications Media coverage of seniors issues Technology gaps and issues Special challenges for seniors

Civic Participation & Employment: 

Civic Participation & Employment Volunteering Red Tape Transportation

Health and Social Services: 

Health and Social Services Age-friendly Shortages and gaps in service Senior-specific issues Remote and rural-specific issues Affordability Continuity

Slide36: 

A committee has been established of representatives that attended the three focus groups of seniors, caregivers and business/community. The District of Saanich is reviewing recommendations and will be making an announcement on October 1st, 2007 where the focus will be and to release an action plan Implementation in Saanich

Slide37: 

The community has produced an Information for Seniors brochure. 2,500 brochures have been produced and circulated throughout Comorant Island including the Whe-La-La-U Area Council and ‘Namgis First Nation. A local First Nations contractor has been commissioned to construct public benches where seniors have identified a need for a place to rest while walking to local amenities. Implementation in Alert Bay, BC

Slide38: 

The Village has a new Official Community Plan with goals and polices relating to seniors. The results of the focus groups are being used to check whether the goals and policies are aligned with the senior’s requirements. They are exploring the potential of new funding to enable specific challenges identified in the focus groups to be addressed. Implementation in Lumby, BC

An Age-friendly Community:: 

An Age-friendly Community: promotes 'active ageing'; helps prevent and correct the barriers that people encounter as they grow older; and ensures policies, services and structures related to the physical and social environment are designed to support and enable older people to age actively – to live in security, enjoy good health and participate fully in their communities.

To err is human: 

To err is human To forgive design

Contact Information: 

Contact Information Dr. Elaine Gallagher Director, Centre on Aging University of Victoria Victoria, BC Canada V8X 2Y2 Egallagh@uvic.ca