Committed To Becoming More Age-Friendly
Basque Country – Euskadi Lagunkoia Spain
Euskadi is a Spanish autonomous community, located in the northeastern part of the Cantabrian fringe, bordering the north with the Bay of Biscay and France. Integrate the provinces Álava, Gipuzkoa anda Bizkaia.
Euskadi Lagunkoia is an initiative promoted by the Department of Welfare, Youth and Demographic Challenge of the Basque Government and implemented by Matia Instituto. Its main objective is to encourage the participation of older people and the wider community in improving neighbourhoods and local environments across municipalities in the Basque Country, fostering more inclusive, age-friendly, and supportive communities.
Euskadi Langunkoia Berria works with a number of communities across the Basque Country to develop a network of age-friendly communities and facilitate the exchange of good practice between them.
Goals:
- Tapping the potential represented by seniors in the life of villages and cities as welfare generators.
- Create and promote community participation processes.
- Create a Network of friendly initiatives.
- Facilitate the introduction of changes in the environments to improve the quality of life.
Euskadi Lagunkoia began in 2012 with the aim of promoting a friendly territory for all ages in the Basque Country. The Network currently has 90 municipalities involved in Euskadi Lagunkoia in July 2026. Each municipality has its own itinerary and Euskadi Lagunkoia accompanies them by advising them and providing them with all the necessary resources to develop the process of friendliness and implement actions.
Euskadi Lagunkoia Berria operates as a facilitating and enabling structure that supports municipalities throughout the full cycle of age-friendly development, from initial engagement and diagnosis to planning, implementation, and evaluation. Over the years, the programme has developed a robust methodological framework, including step-by-step guidance materials and practical tools that enable municipalities to translate the WHO age-friendly framework into effective local action. The programme also provides tailored technical assistance and continuous accompaniment, ensuring that municipalities can adapt the approach to their specific contexts and needs.
METHODOLOGICAL GUIDES
They are step-by-step guides with the necessary tools to develop each of the phases to become a friendly municipality:
– How to set up a Promoter Group?
– How to make a diagnosis?
– How to make a friendliness plan?
– How should the assessment be carried out?
All the guides are elaborated after the collection of experiences and implementation work of the municipalities of the network and the collection of good practices from other cities and countries. All the guides are tested with elderly people and staff of the municipalities and designed under the Easy Reading methodology.
ES: https://euskadilagunkoia.euskadi.eus/weblgk00-materiales/es/#metodologicas
AGE-FRIENDLY PROGRAMS
Euskadi Lagunkoia Berria has developed a set of flagship programmes that exemplify its commitment to practical implementation and innovation. These include the Friendly Businesses Programme, which promotes training, certification and engagement of local businesses, and the Age-friendly Pharmacies Programme, which is being progressively expanded across municipalities. These initiatives contribute to embedding age-friendly principles into everyday community environments.
Age-Friendly Business Programme and Guide
The Age-Friendly Business Programme aims to create a network of local businesses and services that are responsive to the needs of older people. Participating establishments commit to improving the accessibility and age-friendliness of their services while also helping to identify and respond to situations of frailty, isolation, and vulnerability.
To support this process, Euskadi Lagunkoia provides businesses with tools, guidance, and training to assess needs, adapt their spaces and services, and become welcoming places that foster social interaction and community support networks. The programme also promotes citizen leadership, as local Age-Friendly promotion groups play a key role in coordinating, implementing, and monitoring the initiative within their communities.
ES: https://euskadilagunkoia.euskadi.eus/weblgk00-programas/es/#establecimiento
Age-Friendly Business Guide (Spanish): https://euskadilagunkoia.euskadi.eus/media/materiales/monograficas/weblgk00-guia-formacion-establecimientoES.pdf
Age-Friendly Pharmacy Programme
The Lagunkoia Pharmacy Programme strengthens the community role of pharmacies by transforming them into key local spaces for support, guidance, and early detection of needs among older people. Participating pharmacies work closely with local Age-Friendly promotion groups, social services, professionals working with older people, health centres, and other community stakeholders.
Through this collaborative network, the programme seeks to improve the quality of life, well-being, and social inclusion of older people across the Basque Country, while reinforcing community-based support and care.
ES: https://euskadilagunkoia.euskadi.eus/weblgk00-programas/es/
GUIDES AND SPECIALISED TOOLS
Housing Guide: Where and How Do I Want to Live?
The guide is structured around two main pathways. The first, “I want to continue living in my own home,” focuses on supporting people who wish to age in place. It provides information on home adaptations, financial considerations related to housing, and the services and supports available to help people remain in their homes as they grow older.
The second, “I want or need to move to another home,” explores a range of alternative housing options for those considering or requiring a change of residence. It presents different solutions designed to respond to a variety of needs, including economic, social, and care-related circumstances, helping people make informed decisions about their future living arrangements while maintaining their autonomy and quality of life.
ES: https://extranet.who.int/agefriendlyworld/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/AFW-Guide-updating-your-profile-page-v3.1-Jan-2018-KY_ES.pdf
Guide to an Age-Friendly Home
This guide is intended for older people and for anyone planning ahead for the ageing process. Its purpose is to provide practical and easy-to-use information to help individuals assess their housing needs and identify ways to adapt their homes to changing circumstances.
The guide offers recommendations for creating safer, more accessible, and comfortable living environments, supporting independence, well-being, and ageing in place. By raising awareness of the importance of age-friendly housing, it encourages people to make proactive changes that can enhance quality of life both now and in the future.
ES: https://euskadilagunkoia.euskadi.eus/media/materiales/monograficas/weblgk00-GuiaViviendaGAZTELERAZ-231×163.pdf
Dementia-Friendly Home Guide
The Dementia-Friendly Home Guide was developed to provide practical recommendations and solutions for addressing situations and behaviours commonly associated with dementia within the home environment. Its aim is to support people living with dementia, as well as their families and caregivers, in creating safer, more comfortable, and enabling living spaces.
The guide offers simple and practical advice on adapting the home to changing needs, helping to promote autonomy, well-being, and quality of life.
ES: https://euskadilagunkoia.euskadi.eus/media/materiales/monograficas/weblgk00-GuiaDemencia-CAST.pdf
Loneliness: A Guide for Action
The Loneliness: A Guide for Action was developed to provide a deeper understanding of loneliness and to support municipalities and communities in addressing this growing social challenge. The guide explores the different dimensions of loneliness, its impact on well-being and quality of life, and practical approaches for prevention, detection, and intervention.
Its content was informed by the experiences and contributions of municipalities participating in Euskadi Lagunkoia, drawing on personal interviews, local knowledge, and the analysis of good practices from both the Basque Country and other countries. The guide offers practical recommendations and examples of community-based actions aimed at strengthening social connections, fostering participation, and building more inclusive and supportive communities.
ES: https://euskadilagunkoia.euskadi.eus/media/materiales/monograficas/weblgk00-guia_soledad_castellano.pdf
Loneliness Toolkit
This kit is designed to be able to implement different actions related to loneliness in the municipalities that are members of the Euskadi Lagunkoia network. This toolkit includes tools to address loneliness through programmes of:
- Awareness-raising: Get to know loneliness
- Prevention: Cineforum
- Identification: Friendly Establishments and Friendly Pharmacies
- Intervention: A coffee with Sole
ES: https://euskadilagunkoia.euskadi.eus/weblgk00-materiales/es/#herramientas
Social Participation Guide
The Social Participation Guide brings together key concepts, recommendations, and practical tools to promote the social participation of older people and encourage their active involvement in community life. The guide highlights the importance of creating age-friendly environments where older people can contribute their knowledge, experience, and skills, while remaining connected to their communities.
By providing guidance for local governments, community organizations, and citizen groups, the guide supports the development of initiatives that foster inclusion, strengthen social networks, and promote active citizenship. Its aim is to help build communities in which older people are recognized as active participants and valued contributors to collective well-being.
ES: https://euskadilagunkoia.euskadi.eus/media/materiales/monograficas/weblgk00-Guia_Participacion_Castellano_Final_Digital_06112023.pdf
EXPERIENCIES AND GOOD PRACTICES
Annual Conference and Age-Friendly Good Practice Award
The Annual Age-Friendly Good Practices Conference provides a space for sharing knowledge, experiences, and innovative initiatives that contribute to creating more age-friendly communities. The event brings together municipalities, organizations, professionals, and citizens to exchange lessons learned, showcase successful projects, and promote collaboration around active and healthy ageing.
ES: https://euskadilagunkoia.euskadi.eus/jornada-buenas-practicas-2025/weblgk00-jornadas/es/
Age-Friendly Good Practice Award
The Age-Friendly Good Practice Award is an annual call that recognizes and celebrates initiatives developed by organizations across the Basque Country that stand out for their innovation, effectiveness, and contribution to age-friendliness. The award highlights practices that help create supportive and enabling environments for people as they age, while promoting their participation, well-being, and quality of life.
ES: https://euskadilagunkoia.euskadi.eus/weblgk00-premios/es/
Good Practices Database
The Euskadi Lagunkoia Good Practices Database is an online repository of age-friendly initiatives developed by municipalities and organizations across the Basque Country. It collects and organizes inspiring examples that promote accessibility, inclusion, participation, safety, well-being, and active ageing, enabling communities to learn from and replicate successful experiences.
The database is structured around the eight domains of the WHO Age-Friendly Cities and Communities framework, including outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation and community support, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community and health services. It serves as a practical resource for municipalities and stakeholders seeking innovative approaches to creating more age-friendly environments.
ES: https://euskadilagunkoia.euskadi.eus/weblgk00-buenaspracticas/es/
TRAINING PLATFORM
Euskadi lagunkoia has developed a tool which includes specific training courses that can be used to support the municipalities in the Network both for the development of the stages of the friendliness process and for the implementation of programmes.
ES: https://euskadilagunkoia.euskadi.eus/weblgk00-formacion/es/