As a response to global population aging, the World Health Organization established the Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities in 2010 to connect organizations worldwide with the common vision of making their community a great place to grow old in. It focuses on action at the local level that fosters the full participation of older people in community life and promotes healthy and active aging. Cities and communities join the Network with a commitment to become more age-friendly and to share their experience, achievements and lessons learned with others. The Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities provides a global platform for information exchange, mutual learning and support. Membership is not a certification of age-friendliness. Rather, it reflects cities’ commitment to listen to the needs of their aging population, assess and monitor their age-friendliness and work collaboratively with older adults and across sectors to create accessible physical environments, inclusive social environments, and an enabling service infrastructure.
Dementia Friends USA is a global movement that is changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. Developed by the Alzheimer’s Society in the United Kingdom, the Dementia Friends initiative is underway in the USA. By helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects people, each of us can make a difference for people touched by dementia.
A Dementia Friend is someone who, through viewing a series of online videos, learns about what it’s like to live with dementia and then turns that understanding into action. From telling friends about the Dementia Friends program to visiting someone who is living with dementia, every action counts. Anyone of any age can be a Dementia Friend – we all have a part to play in creating dementia friendly communities!
While global in reach, the Network focuses on action at the local level. Any local government with a commitment to becoming more age-friendly and the decision-making power to do so is welcome to join. At this point in time, the network does not extend to states or nations. Age-friendly programs or networks at regional or national levels might consider joining the Network as an Affiliated Program instead. Membership is reserved for cities, communities and programs in WHO Member States.
There is no membership fee but participation in the Network requires a commitment to invest time and resources in developing an age-friendly environment in all aspects, and to share learnings and achievements with fellow Network members.
Cities are not required to have achieved age-friendliness at the time of joining the Network. However, they must commit to working towards it. Cities and communities can join the Network with the commitment by the political leadership to engage in this process and they are welcome to remain in the Network for as long as they stay engaged and share their experience with fellow members.
