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Our three part series on Ageism is coming to a close, in this issue we look to the future! What will the senior experience be like in the years to come? And what a perfect way to celebrate National Seniors Day, October 1st, by celebrating older adults across Canada - whether a parent, a co-worker, a neighbour, or a friend. Let’s celebrate by considering how we can work together to end ageism for our future generations.
Looking forward, not back
The key to the future, experts like Paul Irving, the chairman of the Center for the Future of Aging at the Milken Institute says, is “purposeful aging” that empowers older people themselves as the agents of change. “Purposeful aging recognizes that people who age with purpose – this sense of meaning, direction, and desire to contribute – don’t just help others, they help themselves as well.”
Our social landscape is changing alongside population ageing. Combined, this means that getting older in the future will be very different from the experience of previous generations. We need to be considerate of this evolution in how we think about and provide service to seniors.
Many developments that we’ve become accustomed to can have major impacts for seniors. Technological changes for example, creates opportunities that were never previously available. The Internet can allow regular connections with family despite distance, or access to resources that can guide an older person’s well being or autonomy. Assistive devices, such as hearing aids, are more functional and more affordable than in the past, and wearable devices provide new opportunities for health monitoring and personalized health care. There will be an obvious need for new methods of senior care moving forward as the elderly population grows. Age Friendly Edmonton is here to develop alongside these new needs and to ease this transition forward.
How Do We Get There?
“Around the world populations are aging, more people are living in cities, and these are accompanied by other demographic changes – increased women in the workforce, migration towards cities and hence children living away from their parents. All of these demographic changes have huge implications for cities and communities,” says Alana Officer, senior health adviser at the WHO.
World Health Organization launched a network of “age-friendly” cities in 2010 with about a dozen affiliates; since then about 320 communities have signed up to rethink their urban designs and social environments. Edmonton has been a proud part of the WHO Age Friendly cities since the beginning.
In 2010, City Council adopted the Edmonton Seniors Declaration, and the Edmonton Seniors: A Portrait was released. A five-year action plan “Vision for an Age Friendly Edmonton” was developed in 2012 using the WHO’s age-friendly checklist. The plan identifies gaps, needs and recommended actions in nine key areas. Edmonton’s City Council endorsed the plan and approved ongoing municipal funding.
To achieve the vision that “Edmonton is a community that values, respects and actively supports the safety, diversity and well being of seniors”, Age Friendly Edmonton partners lead and support projects that strive for impact in the following areas:
- Seniors are engaged, participating, and contributing to their communities
- Seniors are safe and well in their home and communities
- Seniors are respected and included
- Seniors have access to the programs, services, and resources they need
After 5 years of hard work we’re moving forward onto the next steps! AFE 2.0 will focus on four key priority areas: Reducing Ageism, Supporting Aging in Place, Promoting Intergenerational Connections, and Responding to Diversity. We’re in the process now of creating a Leadership table and Action Hubs for each one of our priority areas.
What does this work look like?
- Informing the design of public spaces with all generations in mind
- Reducing the stigma associated with ageist attitudes and behaviour
- Promoting positive perceptions of aging
- Helping Edmontonians to understand what is needed to age in place
- Nurturing partnerships that contribute to inclusion and promote and support a sense of belonging
- Continuing to celebrate the contributions of Edmonton seniors
- Encouraging connections between generations
A truly age friendly city treats its citizens the way they want to be treated: as builders, creators, and contributors.
We’re excited about this next step in the journey towards creating safe spaces for people of all ages!
Sources: WHO Report, aging.com, https://www.csmonitor.com/World/2017/0102/As-world-grays-seniors-step-up-to-create-an-age-friendly-future
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