National programmes for age-friendly cities and communities: a guide
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Age-friendly Environments ECHO Learning Programme (AFE-ECHO)
Are you a new or emerging leader of age-friendly cities and communities? Do you want to join a community of age-friendly champions and develop the skills required to create better places to grow, live, work, play, and age?
Participate in the Age-friendly Environments ECHO Programme (AFE-ECHO): a multi-session learning cycle part of the MENTOR-AFE programme aligned with the latest approaches and guidance on age-friendly environments from WHO.
Participants will be taken through the main components of the WHO age-friendly framework by global experts. Each session will also create a space for participants to apply what they learn through collaborative problem-solving.
The third round of AFE-ECHO in English will run later in 2024.
Member in Focus: Kochi, India
![Kochi Kochi](https://extranet.who.int/agefriendlyworld/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/AFKC-300x300.jpg)
In Kochi city, the journey towards becoming age-friendly began in 2013 when discussions on addressing the needs of older persons took place. Recognizing the importance of this initiative, the Center of Excellence for Developing Age-friendly Communities (CEDAC) under MAGICS NGO, the Kerala State Branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA), and the Kochi Municipal Corporation collaborated to develop age-friendly programs.
Academic workshops and talks paved the way for innovative solutions such as the University of 3rd Age (U3A), Senior Taxi service, Elder-helpline, and age-friendly college initiatives. These programs aimed to promote development, health, social inclusion, and opportunities for older persons.
Since 2015, the U3A has been providing continuing education and skill development opportunities, enabling older individuals to engage in lifelong learning. The Senior…
Read moreAge-friendly Practice in Focus: Las Nieves Multiservice Community Center
![Las Nieves Multiservice Community Center – Centro Comunitario Multiservicios Las Nieves Las Nieves Multiservice Community Center – Centro Comunitario Multiservicios Las Nieves](https://extranet.who.int/agefriendlyworld/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Imagen1.jpg)
The Las Nieves Multiservice Community Center in the municipality of Campoo de Yuso (Cantabria – Spain), which is changing the lives of residents – especially older people – in this rural area with low population density. The center is accompanied by a mobility resource (transport) – paid for by the city council – that allows older people – especially women – who do not have their own vehicle to attend regularly. A community space co-created and co-managed by the people of the community, with the support of the municipality , the PEM/UNATE Foundation and the Government of Cantabria. The social impact evaluation confirms the positive effects of the Center, which promotes meaningful aging, combats isolation and loneliness, and promotes citizen…
Read moreUpplands-Bro, Sweden joins the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities
Upplands-Bro is a municipality in Sweden that is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for older adults. As part of their age-friendly initiative, Upplands-Bro has implemented several activities and services aimed at improving the quality of life for our older residents.
One ongoing initiative is the “Omdaning-Bro” project, which aims to renovate and create new spaces in Upplands-Bro. The initiative includes a strong focus on the perspective of older adults, listening to their wishes and needs. The project has also planned to build new senior housing in an area mixed with preschools and other residences, in order to create diversity in the communities.
Upplands-Bro also provides a range of social and health care services for older adults with such needs, including home care services, rehabilitation services, and access to health and fitness activities.
To make the municipality more age-friendly, Upplands-Bro is also investing in technology and digital solutions. This includes the development of digital platforms that provide older adults with easy access to information and services, as well as the introduction of new technologies that can help improve their health and well-being. The municipality also offers training to understand technological developments for older individuals.
The municipality has also begun to write an action plan and conducted a baseline assessment based on WHO principles to become an age-friendly community.
Penang Island, Malaysia joins the Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities
Penang Island, measuring about 301 square kilometres, is located off the coast of Northwest Malaysia. It is a bustling developed city and features two UNESCO sites that complement its socio-economic developments.
Data from the Department of Statistics, Malaysia has revealed that Penang will have the largest proportion of people aged 60 and above in Malaysia at 26.2% by 2040, an increase from 14.87% in 2020. In preparation for this, the City Council of Penang Island and the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) has recently entered into a three-year public-private partnership in consultation with the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS) to introduce an Age-Friendly City Project. This project will adopt WHO guidelines in implementing, monitoring and reporting on a city-wide action plan. The project’s primary goal is to successfully establish Penang Island as an age-friendly city by providing facilities and services that meet the needs and requirements of residents of all ages and abilities.
The purpose of joining the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities is to allow us to share and exchange information for a better outcome in our Age-Friendly City Project while at the same time, provide valuable insights into successful and effective practices.
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Umit Uysal
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Kathi Bailey
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Adam Ogilvie
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London, Canada Community
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Ray Withy
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Robert Reichert
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Roger Sigouin
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Senarath Attanayake
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Shane Rattenbury
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Josep Visa Bonet
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Vincent C. Gray
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Zoran Janković
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Gwen Hassall
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Iain Deboys
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Anna-Kaisa Ikonen
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Adding life to years
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Nuestro grano de arena a la Red Global de Ciudades Amigables con las personas mayores!
A su vez, en la generación de opciones para que esta población mantenga una calidad de vida digna. Donde se fomente la formación y educación permanente, los espacios de salud mental y de relación con pares.
Queremos aportar en la transformación de roles de la población adulta mayor, donde pasen de ser sujetos pasivos a sujetos autónomos!
Ana Victoria Madrigal Boza, Oficina de Bienestar Social y Familia, Área Desarrollo Humano y Cohesión Social, Municipalidad de Mora
Ana Victoria Madrigal Boza, Oficina de Bienestar Social y Familia, Área Desarrollo Humano y Cohesión Social, Municipalidad de Mora
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Jason Kitkat
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Hugo Luís Pereira Hilário
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Gulnara Minnigaleeva
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François Rebsamen
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Éliane Ciraud-Lanoue
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Dr Jane Barratt
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Dorian Block
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Deke Copenhaver
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Debbie Amaroso
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DeAndre Windom
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Brenda Halloran
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Ethel Percy Andrus
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António Gonçalves Bragança Fernandes
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Andreia Merícia Polido de Almeida
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