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Publication in Focus: Report on the Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities

A new report on the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities reviews achievements since the founding of the Network in 2007, challenges and how to overcome them, and together with its Affiliate programs, outlines steps to guide action over the next decade. Eleven accompanying case studies from Network members around the world examine local age-friendly programmes in depth.

Download the report (in English, French, Spanish)
Browse the case studies
Learn more about the Network

Ireland: The First Age-friendly Country

On 16 December 2019, Ireland became the first Country in the world where all local administrations are members of the World Health Organization’s Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities.

An event to recognize this achievement was hosted in Slane Castle, Meath County Council, and attended by all levels of Government including: An Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar; Minister for Health, Jim Daly; Minister for Housing and Development, Damien English; representatives from Age-friendly Ireland Shared Service; local authority chief executives and the WHO.

Ireland has been working for over a decade to develop age-friendly environments, and now all 31 Local Government led programmes have an age-friendly strategy and are committed to ensuring that they are more inclusive and supportive of older people, addressing concerns across a range of areas such as health, housing, social care, safety, etc. Using a whole of community and a whole of Government approach, Ireland aims to make every community a great place in which to grow older.

Explore the Global Network

First ever Hispanic conference on age-friendly cities and communities

Madrid, Spain, 14-16 October 2019 - the Spanish Ministry of Health, Consumer Affairs and Social Welfare together with the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization, hosted the first Hispanic Conference on Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. The conference was opened by  the Minister Carcedo Roces and brought together 250 participants, including Mayors, practitioners, academics and older adults, from 14 countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Spain, Uruguay).

Bringing Spanish speakers together enabled rich sharing of knowledge, experience and tools and was the first step in developing a Spanish speaking movement within the Global network for age-friendly cities and communities.  The first two days of the conference included a series of round tables and workshops where participants presented and discussed experience on a range of thematic areas related to the development of age-friendly cities and communities including how to support enhance mobility, tackle ageism, reduce social isolation and support older people in rural communities. The third day involved field visits to Soto del Real, an age-friendly community, and Coslada, an age-friendly city. These visits gave participants the opportunity to discover the transformation that these two places underwent on their age-friendly journey, and to derive insights and lessons that could be useful in their own cities and communities.

Find out more about the conference

Alexander Kalache

“Los niños de ayer son los adultos de hoy, las personas mayores de mañana.”
2014-06-04T13:59:42+00:00
“Los niños de ayer son los adultos de hoy, las personas mayores de mañana.”

Andreia Merícia Polido de Almeida

" We are one of the senior friendly city but we aim to go further than just obtaining the title as a charitable town. It’s more than a title, it’s a code that you assume, an indication that signals that the elder in the Municipality of Vila Nova de Foz Côa are given a very important status as a personal level because of their great human and social experience. They are the principal protagonists when it comes to transmit values that form our society. They represent the first-hand experienced passed that we need for our well-being and emotional equilibrium. They form the link that connects us to the world and all in it. They are the trustees of great knowledge that’s accumulated over the years.Experience and knowledge together with reflection and wit, terms that, in many cases, lack amongst men today, are fortunes that the elder possess and that we never should dismiss in any way because every time we do that society withdraws in its historical progress. "
2014-06-05T15:31:52+00:00
" We are one of the senior friendly city but we aim to go further than just obtaining the title as a charitable town. It’s more than a title, it’s a code that you assume, an indication that signals that the elder in the Municipality of Vila Nova de Foz Côa are given a very important status as a personal level because of their great human and social experience. They are the principal protagonists when it comes to transmit values that form our society. They represent the first-hand experienced passed that we need for our well-being and emotional equilibrium. They form the link that connects us to the world and all in it. They are the trustees of great knowledge that’s accumulated over the years.Experience and knowledge together with reflection and wit, terms that, in many cases, lack amongst men today, are fortunes that the elder possess and that we never should dismiss in any way because every time we do that society withdraws in its historical progress. "

António Gonçalves Bragança Fernandes

"We want, through this recognition of Age-Friendly City, to continue that which has been for many decades the work of this Municipality. We know there is still a long way to go to correct some situations, but we cannot forget that a city such as Maia, with its history and dimension, implies the existence of a guideline for this work, a plan to be achieved and that will mean for right some more time. Having our people, especially the elderly, the center of our concerns, developing policies and answers specific to their needs is what drives us every day."
2014-06-18T14:16:14+00:00
"We want, through this recognition of Age-Friendly City, to continue that which has been for many decades the work of this Municipality. We know there is still a long way to go to correct some situations, but we cannot forget that a city such as Maia, with its history and dimension, implies the existence of a guideline for this work, a plan to be achieved and that will mean for right some more time. Having our people, especially the elderly, the center of our concerns, developing policies and answers specific to their needs is what drives us every day."

Ethel Percy Andrus

"This is a country where it is wonderful to be young. It must also become a country where it is wonderful to be old."
2014-06-18T14:20:39+00:00
"This is a country where it is wonderful to be young. It must also become a country where it is wonderful to be old."

Brenda Halloran

“I am so pleased to see the progress that this group of passionate citizens has made toward the goal of ensuring this city is inclusive and accessible to our older residents. We have achieved much since our first forum on age-friendliness in 2009, including the establishment of an advisory committee and culminating in our being named among the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities by the World Health Organization.”
2014-06-18T14:24:01+00:00
“I am so pleased to see the progress that this group of passionate citizens has made toward the goal of ensuring this city is inclusive and accessible to our older residents. We have achieved much since our first forum on age-friendliness in 2009, including the establishment of an advisory committee and culminating in our being named among the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities by the World Health Organization.”

DeAndre Windom

“Highland Park, the city that revolutionized the automobile industry and launched the middle class with Henry Ford’s assembly line and $5/day wage, is excited to participate in the Age Friendly Community Initiative, another innovative project that will change the world.”
2014-06-18T14:27:02+00:00
“Highland Park, the city that revolutionized the automobile industry and launched the middle class with Henry Ford’s assembly line and $5/day wage, is excited to participate in the Age Friendly Community Initiative, another innovative project that will change the world.”

Debbie Amaroso

"Not only does the Age-Friendly Communities approach address some of the challenges Sault Ste. Marie will experience from our ageing demographics, it offers the necessary skills, tools and future planning to bring a healthy and supportive life to all ages.
2014-06-18T14:36:09+00:00
"Not only does the Age-Friendly Communities approach address some of the challenges Sault Ste. Marie will experience from our ageing demographics, it offers the necessary skills, tools and future planning to bring a healthy and supportive life to all ages.

Deke Copenhaver

"As we continue to focus on making Augusta a more liveable city, this designation shows that we are making great progress and will undoubtedly help with recruiting new businesses and residents alike."
2014-06-18T14:42:25+00:00
"As we continue to focus on making Augusta a more liveable city, this designation shows that we are making great progress and will undoubtedly help with recruiting new businesses and residents alike."

Dorian Block

“In six years, we have transformed hundreds of NYC streets, swimming pools, retail businesses and community organizations into places that welcome older adults. We recently won “Best Existing Age-friendly Initiative in the World.” Yet, we have only scraped the surface of the change in practice, policy and attitude needed to become a city that embraces older people.”
2014-06-18T14:48:12+00:00
“In six years, we have transformed hundreds of NYC streets, swimming pools, retail businesses and community organizations into places that welcome older adults. We recently won “Best Existing Age-friendly Initiative in the World.” Yet, we have only scraped the surface of the change in practice, policy and attitude needed to become a city that embraces older people.”

Dr Jane Barratt

"The field of ageing holds so much promise to be a vehicle for social change and economic development."
2014-06-18T14:49:19+00:00
"The field of ageing holds so much promise to be a vehicle for social change and economic development."

Éliane Ciraud-Lanoue

"Royan has the desire to go further in public health and to promote active ageing. It is nowadays essential not to look seniors only by the prism of dependency and nursing homes. The current expectations of seniors are not the same as those of 40 years ago and we have a duty to adapt our view. Seniors are an asset for our city and our society, and especially if we manage to preserve their dynamism and their autonomy."
2014-06-18T14:51:54+00:00
"Royan has the desire to go further in public health and to promote active ageing. It is nowadays essential not to look seniors only by the prism of dependency and nursing homes. The current expectations of seniors are not the same as those of 40 years ago and we have a duty to adapt our view. Seniors are an asset for our city and our society, and especially if we manage to preserve their dynamism and their autonomy."

François Rebsamen

“We must build a society in which social bonds are strengthened, not only between people but also between generations, a society which brings citizens together and which refuses the isolation of individuals. All and every one of us must be given the opportunity to live freely their life project through their life course, up to their old age.”
2014-06-18T14:53:14+00:00
“We must build a society in which social bonds are strengthened, not only between people but also between generations, a society which brings citizens together and which refuses the isolation of individuals. All and every one of us must be given the opportunity to live freely their life project through their life course, up to their old age.”

Gulnara Minnigaleeva

"The age-friendly progress begins when people realize that the experience of the years already lived is to be treasured and relied on and that there is always room for new experiences, learning and joy; and when bottom-up initiatives meet top-down support."
2014-06-18T14:54:22+00:00
"The age-friendly progress begins when people realize that the experience of the years already lived is to be treasured and relied on and that there is always room for new experiences, learning and joy; and when bottom-up initiatives meet top-down support."

Hugo Luís Pereira Hilário

"In a rural inland county, Ponte de Sor asserts itself in the support of those whose spring of life has gone by, providing all the care they need."
2014-06-18T14:55:54+00:00
"In a rural inland county, Ponte de Sor asserts itself in the support of those whose spring of life has gone by, providing all the care they need."

Jason Kitkat

“We want to achieve real, tangible improvements for the quality of life of our older residents. The Age-Friendly Cities initiative gives us a clear way forward, and it also enables us to learn from the experiences and expertise of other cities that have the same goals.”
2014-06-18T14:59:21+00:00
“We want to achieve real, tangible improvements for the quality of life of our older residents. The Age-Friendly Cities initiative gives us a clear way forward, and it also enables us to learn from the experiences and expertise of other cities that have the same goals.”

Josep Visa Bonet

“The cross-generational dialogue arising from the Age-friendly City initiative is especially interesting for us, since we definitely believe it will contribute to different actions aimed at improving elderly people’s life quality as well as optimising resources. Therefore, following this conviction we joined in the project with no hesitation.”
2014-06-18T15:00:38+00:00
“The cross-generational dialogue arising from the Age-friendly City initiative is especially interesting for us, since we definitely believe it will contribute to different actions aimed at improving elderly people’s life quality as well as optimising resources. Therefore, following this conviction we joined in the project with no hesitation.”

Kathi Bailey

“Yarmouth - A great place to Age - for a day or a lifetime!”
2014-06-18T15:01:41+00:00
“Yarmouth - A great place to Age - for a day or a lifetime!”

Adam Ogilvie

“We want Leeds to become age-friendly in order to help meet the increasing challenges posed by demographic change. We want to celebrate and respond positively to the increasing number of older people living in Leeds and we think the best way to do that is by including and involving older people in all areas of life in our city. Older people in Leeds already make an invaluable contribution to the life of our city, but by valuing them, working holistically and enabling them to be independent and to participate in community activities; we hope to harness that contribution to help improve the quality of life on offer to all older people in Leeds.”
2014-06-18T15:02:35+00:00
“We want Leeds to become age-friendly in order to help meet the increasing challenges posed by demographic change. We want to celebrate and respond positively to the increasing number of older people living in Leeds and we think the best way to do that is by including and involving older people in all areas of life in our city. Older people in Leeds already make an invaluable contribution to the life of our city, but by valuing them, working holistically and enabling them to be independent and to participate in community activities; we hope to harness that contribution to help improve the quality of life on offer to all older people in Leeds.”

London, Canada Community

"An age-friendly London is a diverse, vibrant, caring and healthy community, which empowers all individuals to age well and have opportunities to achieve their full potential."
2014-06-18T15:37:12+00:00
"An age-friendly London is a diverse, vibrant, caring and healthy community, which empowers all individuals to age well and have opportunities to achieve their full potential."

Ray Withy

“The concept of continuing to create a City that works for all of its residents is of utmost importance to me as the Mayor of Sausalito. As a Council, we recognize that whatever we are able to simplify and improve for the oldest members in our community will benefit our youngest members as well.”
2014-06-18T15:39:07+00:00
“The concept of continuing to create a City that works for all of its residents is of utmost importance to me as the Mayor of Sausalito. As a Council, we recognize that whatever we are able to simplify and improve for the oldest members in our community will benefit our youngest members as well.”

Robert Reichert

"My vision for Macon-Bibb is a more cohesive community that attracts opportunities, enhances the quality of life, promotes pride, and inspires hope."
2014-06-18T15:39:42+00:00
"My vision for Macon-Bibb is a more cohesive community that attracts opportunities, enhances the quality of life, promotes pride, and inspires hope."

Roger Sigouin

“Seniors play a most significant role in the Hearst community with their vast knowledge, expertise and know-how that they use to help the younger generation and the time that they devote to improving the quality of life for their fellow citizens.”
2014-06-18T15:40:33+00:00
“Seniors play a most significant role in the Hearst community with their vast knowledge, expertise and know-how that they use to help the younger generation and the time that they devote to improving the quality of life for their fellow citizens.”

Senarath Attanayake

“Creating an inclusive society for the elderly and persons living with disabilities should be among our top priorities.”
2014-06-18T15:41:53+00:00
“Creating an inclusive society for the elderly and persons living with disabilities should be among our top priorities.”

Shane Rattenbury

“The key challenge we face is in catering for the changing needs of our older population and in creating accessible and inclusive environments that value older people, support their active participation and enable them to lead lives of quality and dignity. At the heart of the matter, we are talking about a sense of place, and a sense of belonging. Australia’s increasing longevity is something to prepare for, and at the same time, something undoubtedly to celebrate. In building more age-friendly cities and communities, we can work together to do both.”
2014-06-18T15:42:41+00:00
“The key challenge we face is in catering for the changing needs of our older population and in creating accessible and inclusive environments that value older people, support their active participation and enable them to lead lives of quality and dignity. At the heart of the matter, we are talking about a sense of place, and a sense of belonging. Australia’s increasing longevity is something to prepare for, and at the same time, something undoubtedly to celebrate. In building more age-friendly cities and communities, we can work together to do both.”

Umit Uysal

“Our elders, who are our ancestors, were the main workers of today’s Turkish Republic’s establishment and they are our roots. Therefore, they have been always precious and we have been holding them in high honour. We are sure that, this network will be a great asset and will make us closer to the other members. Our aim is, by maintaining common knowledge, information sharing and collaborative international project involvement, to make our elders live happily. We claim our elders and our memories and ask for your support from our heart and soul. As James A. Garfield says; “Wrinkles are not in our hearts, they appear only on our faces, because human soul is ageless.”
2014-06-18T15:48:31+00:00
“Our elders, who are our ancestors, were the main workers of today’s Turkish Republic’s establishment and they are our roots. Therefore, they have been always precious and we have been holding them in high honour. We are sure that, this network will be a great asset and will make us closer to the other members. Our aim is, by maintaining common knowledge, information sharing and collaborative international project involvement, to make our elders live happily. We claim our elders and our memories and ask for your support from our heart and soul. As James A. Garfield says; “Wrinkles are not in our hearts, they appear only on our faces, because human soul is ageless.”

Vincent C. Gray

"Older DC residents love where they live and want to stay put. Utilizing our partnerships with residents and organizations in the private sector, including AARP and George Washington University, we want DC to be recognized as the best place to live regardless of age. I anticipate that this new Age-Friendly DC Task Force will listen carefully and present ideas that, when asked in 2017, DC residents will say that staying healthy has become less challenging, life is more fulfilling and getting out and about is easier.”
2014-06-18T15:49:09+00:00
"Older DC residents love where they live and want to stay put. Utilizing our partnerships with residents and organizations in the private sector, including AARP and George Washington University, we want DC to be recognized as the best place to live regardless of age. I anticipate that this new Age-Friendly DC Task Force will listen carefully and present ideas that, when asked in 2017, DC residents will say that staying healthy has become less challenging, life is more fulfilling and getting out and about is easier.”

Zoran Janković

“I am convinced that a city friendly to the elderly, disabled and children is a friendly place for everyone. Therefore, the City of Ljubljana, together with its public institutions and enterprises, has been putting a lot of effort into ensuring the conditions that would allow a healthy, active, and thus quality life for our senior citizens.”
2014-06-18T15:50:51+00:00
“I am convinced that a city friendly to the elderly, disabled and children is a friendly place for everyone. Therefore, the City of Ljubljana, together with its public institutions and enterprises, has been putting a lot of effort into ensuring the conditions that would allow a healthy, active, and thus quality life for our senior citizens.”

Gwen Hassall

This gives us a positive focus for creating a City that is friendly and inclusive for all ages, and encourages us to consider the needs we all share, whatever our age. We look forward to working co-operatively across our departments and with the business, voluntary, statutory and regulatory sectors to improve quality of life for our older citizens.
2014-07-03T08:34:46+00:00
This gives us a positive focus for creating a City that is friendly and inclusive for all ages, and encourages us to consider the needs we all share, whatever our age. We look forward to working co-operatively across our departments and with the business, voluntary, statutory and regulatory sectors to improve quality of life for our older citizens.

Iain Deboys

The Age-friendly Belfast Plan highlights what we will do, how we will do it and the commitment of organisations to make Belfast a more Age-friendly city. We thank all the many contributors to the plan, especially the older people of Belfast who volunteered their time and offered their views and experiences.
2014-07-24T11:26:08+00:00
The Age-friendly Belfast Plan highlights what we will do, how we will do it and the commitment of organisations to make Belfast a more Age-friendly city. We thank all the many contributors to the plan, especially the older people of Belfast who volunteered their time and offered their views and experiences.

Anna-Kaisa Ikonen

Happiest senior citizens of the world live in Tampere in 2020.
2014-07-24T11:27:31+00:00
Happiest senior citizens of the world live in Tampere in 2020.

Adding life to years

2018-02-02T09:45:33+00:00

Ana Umbelino

" Torres Vedras, made by the citizens and for all citizens! Developing policies that promote active and healthy ageing has been a priority in our political agenda and influences our vision and all the planning process we have been pursing. We believe that is crucial to create opportunities that enable senior citizens to make part of the community contributing to its enrichment. Their skills and Knowledge are valuable. We can not dismiss that! Pursing that goal, we have design several programs in as universal and target-specific fashion. All of then rest in a common ground: bring different generations together; create life-learning opportunities; promote volunteering and social participation; stimulating social relations; develop physical and cognitive activities; ensure access to health and culture and obviously supporting those which have special needs. We also have designed programs directed to informal and professional caregivers in order to empower them, contributing to a better performance towards the ones they care: the elderly. "
2014-06-04T13:51:59+00:00
" Torres Vedras, made by the citizens and for all citizens! Developing policies that promote active and healthy ageing has been a priority in our political agenda and influences our vision and all the planning process we have been pursing. We believe that is crucial to create opportunities that enable senior citizens to make part of the community contributing to its enrichment. Their skills and Knowledge are valuable. We can not dismiss that! Pursing that goal, we have design several programs in as universal and target-specific fashion. All of then rest in a common ground: bring different generations together; create life-learning opportunities; promote volunteering and social participation; stimulating social relations; develop physical and cognitive activities; ensure access to health and culture and obviously supporting those which have special needs. We also have designed programs directed to informal and professional caregivers in order to empower them, contributing to a better performance towards the ones they care: the elderly. "

City in Focus: Maipú, Argentina

Maipú

The Municipality of Maipú through the different departments of the Ministry of Government, seeks to respond to all the demands of our older adults and provide them with a better…

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