Are you a community that wants to improve the lives of your seniors?
The New Brunswick Age Friendly Community Recognition Program is a way of encouraging communities across the province to become welcoming places for all ages. The program encourages the creation of policies, services and structures that promote healthy aging and wellness.
The Age Friendly Community movement encourages healthy aging and wellness under the following eight domains:
- outdoor spaces and buildings
- transportation
- housing
- social participation
- respect and social inclusion
- civic participation and employment
- communication and information
- community support and health services
Work in these key areas can help seniors to live in secure, healthy environments where they can contribute fully to society.
An age friendly community is a place where seniors can flourish. When a community takes on age-friendly initiatives, it’s creating a supportive place where seniors are respected for their contributions and strengths. This helps build communities that are more inclusive for everyone.
What are the Rewards?
Recognition for a community’s commitment to become age friendly will include:
- An Age Friendly Recognition Plaque and a Pull-Up Banner for display in the community.
- A one-page action summary highlighting steps and initiatives taken to achieve age friendly status will be posted on the department’s Age Friendly Community web page to recognize the community’s leadership and achievement.
- An opportunity to receive national recognition from the Public Health Agency of Canada and an invitation to join the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Network for Age friendly Cities and Communities.
Any community in New Brunswick can apply to become recognized as Age Friendly.
To be recognized for their age friendly efforts, communities must complete a series of steps that show their commitment to age friendly principles through engagement and action. Each step will help communities increase awareness and gather support from partners such as citizens, local agencies, non-government organizations and local businesses.
The Age Friendly Recognition Program recognizes communities that have completed the following steps in their journey to become an age friendly community:
- Secure official commitment for the Age Friendly Community approach.
- Establish an Age Friendly Advisory Committee.
- Conduct an age friendly community needs assessment.
- Establish a comprehensive action plan.
Applications are accepted all year round. To apply, please submit the required documents listed below by email to seniors@gnb.ca or by mail:
Department of Social Development
Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat
551 King St., Fredericton, NB
E3B 1E7
Applications are reviewed by qualified members for completeness and quality. Please allow 8 to 10 weeks for processing.
Please make sure you include these with your application:
- Age friendly council resolution, including date passed.
- Age friendly committee terms of reference.
- Age friendly community assessment.
- Age friendly action plan.
- One-page action summary highlighting community steps and initiatives taken to achieve age friendly status.
If applying by email, please send your documents in PDF format.