The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the Municipality’s efforts to become an age-friendly community. The WHO is an agency of the United Nations that monitors global public health issues, and manages health crises.
The Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities is one of its programs, designed to help communities manage the growth in the aging population.
Accessible infrastructure and community services, and inclusive social environments help people remain active, healthy and independent throughout their lives.
This in turn can delay both the on-set and severity of age related illness and disease, and prevent people from becoming as dependent on family, community and social service providers to meet day to day needs.
In 2015, the Chatham-Kent Senior Advisory Committee completed the first stage in the process.
Teams of volunteers conducted a needs analysis and directly consulted local older adults to identify needs and barriers in the community.
A community action plan to address the biggest issues was endorsed by council and released in June of last year.
The WHO supports Chatham-Kent’s aim to become age-friendly.
The Municipality is the newest member of the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.
A certificate of membership has been issued to Mayor Hope and the Municipality by the WHO and tt was presented to the Mayor at the council meeting on Monday, March 21.
The network allows member communities the world over to share research, and policy and program ideas.
“It is important to recognize the work of the Senior Advisory Committee, our volunteers, residents and municipal staff on this project, as well as the commitment made by Council toward becoming an age-friendly community,” said South Kent Coun. Karen Herman, “Congratulations to all for reaching this milestone.”
Dr. David Colby, Medical Officer of Health for Chatham-Kent, added: “Municipal policies that are age-friendly can help ensure that people continue to live healthy and independent lives in Chatham-Kent, and continue to make meaningful contributions to their community. With our population demographics, this is especially important.”
Members of the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, the WHO and Chatham-Kent’s senior population, look forward to tracking the Municipality’s progress and further learning how this community will achieve its goals.
For more information on what an age-friendly Chatham-Kent can look like, or to get a copy of the community’s action plan, please visit www.ckseniors.ca.
– Submitted photo: From left, Devin Andrews, Age Friendly Plan Project Coordinator, Councillor Karen Herman, Mayor Randy Hope at Chatham-Kent Council meeting, March 21, 2016.
