Halton Region to host Age-Friendly Communities Forum

By 2015 it is estimated that one out of every seven people in Halton will be aged 65 or over. This demographic shift will impact many elements of life in Halton, including businesses, health and social services, recreation, transportation, and government. There is a growing need for communities in Halton to examine what changes can be made that will make it easier for seniors to be safe, maintain their health, and participate fully in their community

On Thursday, June 2, 2011 the Halton Region Elder Services Advisory Committee (ESAC) will host an Age-Friendly Communities Forum that aims to bring together Halton seniors, business representatives, and community stakeholders to develop ideas on how to continue to build age-friendly communities in Halton. The information collected at this forum will be used to develop opportunities for action that will be shared with Regional Council and the Halton community. Registration for the Age-Friendly Communities Forum is open to all Halton residents.

“This forum is an excellent opportunity for businesses, service providers, and community organizers to hear directly from Halton seniors about what their needs are and how these needs can be met,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr.

Sponsored by a federal grant from the New Horizons for Seniors Program, the Age-Friendly Communities Forum will share and build on the results of focus group research recently conducted by ESAC. The forum will focus on understanding seniors’ perspectives and generating ideas on how communities can support them through the challenges they face and tap into their knowledge and skills as key members of our communities.

The ESAC age-friendly project is based on an approach developed by the World Health Organization that seeks to engage older citizens in making their communities better, healthier and safer places for seniors to live and thrive. In an age-friendly community, businesses, policies, services, and structures related to the physical and social environment are designed to support and enable older people to continue to be contributing members of their community.

For more information or to register please go to www.halton.ca/esac or call Halton Region by dialling 311 or 905-825-6000, toll free at 1-866-442-5866, TTY 905-827-9833. Registration is open until May 18, 2011.

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