Is an Equity Lens being applied in your community? By Connie Allsopp In 2023, BC Healthy Communities offered its innovative online PlanH Equity Curriculum to local government leadership teams across British Columbia. The curriculum consists of self-study modules that begin by explaining the concept of equity and then outlines how to create equitable engagement, through…
This guide is for local governments across the province working to implement and champion equity across social, economic, environmental and cultural domains. Equity is the fair distribution of opportunities, power and resources to meet the needs to all people, regardless of age, ability, gender, income, education level, culture or background. This means providing support based on an…
Social well-being is a significant component of overall health and well-being. The homes we live in play a substantial role in shaping our mental and social well-being, and the way we design homes can promote—or impede—social connectedness, inclusion and trust between neighbours.[i][ii] To guide the implementation of their Official Community Plan, the Township of Esquimalt…
How neighbourhoods and residents have an impact in developing Age-friendly communities Creating Age-friendly Communities is an effective local way to address the aging of our population, allowing people to remain in their homes and connected to their community as they actively grow older. The framework for Age-friendly Communities comes out of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Age-friendly Cities work…
As human beings we tend to thrive when we are socially connected, and it does in fact negatively affect health outcomes when people are socially disconnected. As we grow older, social networks tend to decrease over time, potentially leading to social isolation and loneliness. Often these two terms are used interchangeably, but a person can be socially isolated while not…
The development of Age-friendly Communities involves a policy approach to creating conditions that allow older adults to stay connected and age healthily in place, whether in their home or in their community. However, what does this look like when older adults don’t have a home? With the population aging in Canada and around the world,…
Canada’s population is aging and by 2037, the number of Canadians 65 years and older is predicted to be approximately 10.4 million. Over the next 20 years, this group is forecasted to grow by 68%. These statistics highlight the fact that it is becoming increasingly important to develop policies, processes and partnerships that support upstream action and…
The diversity of the B.C. population cultivates connections and celebrates cultures, experiences, and life paths that combine to create connected and resilient communities. However, these differences also bring attention to the diverse needs of our population which are essential to consider in creating healthy communities for all. The proportion of adults over 65 in B.C. is…
The Public Health Agency of Canada has prepared the Age-Friendly Communities Evaluation Guide to provide communities with practical information on how to use indicators to measure progress and evaluate their age-friendly initiatives. Age-friendly communities are those communities that are taking steps to help their older residents remain healthy, active and independent, and to continue to make important…