Hamilton’s plan for successful aging
Housing and transit among areas to be enhanced
An age-friendly city benefits people of all ages.
Hamilton City Council earlier this month updated its vision statement for our City to become “the best place to raise a child and age successfully.”
The Hamilton Council on Aging commends Council for committing to a vision that provides a clear guidepost for making decisions that will benefit residents of our city across the lifespan.
Hamilton has a plan that can contribute toward achieving this vision. The Hamilton Council on Aging, in collaboration with the City of Hamilton and the Seniors Advisory Committee, developed Hamilton’s Plan for an Age-Friendly City in 2014. It is based on consultations with seniors and others in our city who identified gaps and challenges, as well as what is working well to promote optimal aging. Hamilton city council has endorsed this plan and implementation is now underway.
In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) created an international Age Friendly framework, identifying dimensions of community life that can foster supportive and enabling environments. Hamilton’s Plan for an Age-Friendly City is organized around 7 goals, 25 objectives and more than 100 actions. Our goals include enhancing housing, transportation, communication and information, health and community services, social participation, civic engagement and public service. Older adults and seniors are integrally involved in Hamilton’s Age Friendly leadership, on committees, as champions and as project participants. An age-friendly city benefits people of all ages. Safe neighbourhoods, accessible communication, welcoming communities and barrier-free spaces enhance life for both young and old. The community also benefits through the many assets, wisdom, knowledge, experience and involvement of older adults in civic life.
Some achievements to date include the following. Under Hamilton’s age-friendly housing goal that “everyone should have a place to live” and older adults be supported to access information on a variety of housing options, the Senior’s Advisory Committee has produced “Housing Options Guide for Older Adults in Hamilton.” To promote the health benefits of walking and the opportunities for older adults to participate in outdoor recreational walking along trail systems in Hamilton the Hamilton Council on Aging has produced “Let’s Take a Walk An Age-Friendly Guide to 18 of Outdoor Recreational Trails.” And to enhance opportunities for social participation, Sackville Hill Seniors’ Recreation Centre, a program of the City of Hamilton, is piloting a cycling program. These are but a few actions already occurring toward becoming an age-friendly community. Additional resources, programs, and projects are also underway which are contributing toward making progress on Hamilton’s Age-Friendly Plan.
Cities across Canada are taking up the call to become more age-friendly, and we are fortunate that there is some supplementary funding becoming available nationally, provincially and municipally to support the implementation of good ideas. However, agefriendly actions aren’t limited to introducing new projects and services. It also involves doing things differently so as to be inclusive of the needs and preferences of people as they age. With this in mind, Hamilton has the benefit of an Age Friendly Community Engagement Advisory Group, composed of committed community-based leaders, who are helping us connect with existing initiatives in Hamilton that could include an “age friendly lens” to achieve Hamilton’s new vision.
If you are interested in becoming involved, please contact the Hamilton Council on Aging at admin@coahamilton.ca
Information on Hamilton’s Plan for an Age-Friendly City, resources and tools can be found at https://www.hamilton.ca/cityinitiatives/strategies-actions/hamiltonsplan-age-friendly-city Margaret Denton, PhD, is Vice President, Board of Directors, Hamilton Council on Aging