Introduction

On October 1, 2007 the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Age-Friendly Cities: A Guide as a result of an extensive research project which was conducted in 33 cities across the world. This tool allows you to take an objective look at active aging and on various ways to adapt living environments to the seniors’ needs.

In this context, and as a result of the public consultation on the living conditions of seniors held in 2007, the Seniors’ Secretariat (SS) has supported the development and implementation of the Age-Friendly Municipalities approach (AFM) in Quebec, with the Research Centre on Aging (CRDV) of the Health and Social Services Centre – University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke (CSSS-IUGS).

Given the results of the pilot projects of the AFC-QC research (for more details, please refer to the section The team), the Government of Quebec set up, in 2009, the Age-Friendly Municipalities program (AFM). This program is intended to adapt policies, services and structures to the realities of aging populations. One of the winning conditions is to ensure that seniors participate in each of the steps and that the community as a whole contributes to it. At the beginning of 2014, more than 700 Quebec municipalities joined the AFM program.

The Support Program

Since 2009, the Seniors’ Secretariat (SS) has provided financial assistance to municipalities and regional county municipalities (RCMs) that undertake an AFM initiative. The goal of the AFM initiative is to help municipalities and RCMs encourage older people to become actively involved in their communities and make the vision of a society for all ages a reality. Municipalities and RCMs interested in the project will find in The Support Program of the AFM approach the support they need to achieve a local or regional mobilization approach and an action plan promoting active aging.

In an AFM, a culture of social inclusion develops, irrespective of the age or capacities of the people concerned. The policies, services and structures that shape built and social environments are designed to support older people and help them stay active as they age.

5 Objectives

A Senior-friendly municipality works to : (Click on each objective to read more.)