Age-Friendly Communities - Active Aging Alliance

The Age-Friendly Communities Research Alliance is a 5-year program of research that is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada under its Community-University Research Alliance (CURA) funding program.

Assisting communities in becoming "age-friendly" may be one of the best ways to optimize health, ensure seniors' continued participation in society, and foster a sense of security - all aspects of what the World Health Organization has labeled "active aging" (WHO, 2002). How can we make a community "age-friendly"? According to the WHO, an age-friendly community is one that provides support and opportunities in eight areas: outdoor spaces and buildings; transportation; housing; respect and inclusion; social participation; civic participation and employment; communication and information; and community supports and health services.

World Health Organization. Global Age-Friendly Cities: A Guide. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2007.