As well as taking joint action with partners transport, initiatives to improve the physical outside the health sector on loneliness, key environment (eg, accessible shops and areas for improvement include: dementia-friendly libraries), better housing, opportunities for civic participation and prevention, identification and reduction employment, improved community support of elder abuse and neglect and health services and positive perceptions the quality and range of age-friendly of ageing. Health agencies will partner with housing for older people, with a focus on older people and local governments to rental housing stock, which older people support the development of age-friendly are increasingly likely to live in, and communities and build networks and run supported living housing options initiatives that promote healthy ageing. an increase in alternative means of transport for older drivers, especially for Our vision for healthy ageing those who are no longer permitted to Older people are physically, mentally and drive, to help prevent isolation and an socially active; and healthy lifestyles and increase in the flexibility of social services greater resilience throughout life mean in areas where transport options are that we spend more of our lives in good most limited health and living independently. an increase in age-friendly communities. Everyone in the health system We will work with social housing providers understands what contributes to healthy to ensure that social housing is warm, safe ageing, and takes part in achieving it. and dry, and with others to promote options Older people are health smart, able to for housing that meet the needs of an ageing make informed decisions about their population. In partnership with the social health and know when and how to get and justice sector, we will work to reduce help early. family violence and sexual violence to older All older populations are supported to people and the impacts of such violence on age well in ways appropriate to their wellbeing. needs. There has been a recent surge of interest in Communities are age-friendly with age-friendly communities among older initiatives to keep people healthy, people and local government workers in independent, respected and particular. Age-friendly communities directly able to participate fully in their aim to improve social and environmental communities and with family and factors that also influence health – access to whānau.
As well as taking joint action with partners outside the health sector on loneliness, key areas for improvement include: prevention, identification and reduction of elder abuse and neglect the quality and range of age-friendly housing for older people, with a focus on rental housing stock, which older people are increasingly likely to live in, and supported living housing options an increase in alternative means of transport for older drivers, especially for those who are no longer permitted to drive, to help prevent isolation and an increase in the flexibility of social services in areas where transport options are most limited an increase in age-friendly communities. We will work with social housing providers to ensure that social housing is warm, safe and dry, and with others to promote options for housing that meet the needs of an ageing population. In partnership with the social and justice sector, we will work to reduce family violence and sexual violence to older people and the impacts of such violence on wellbeing. There has been a recent surge of interest in age-friendly communities among older people and local government workers in particular. Age-friendly communities directly aim to improve social and environmental factors that also influence health – access to transport, initiatives to improve the physical environment (eg, accessible shops and dementia-friendly libraries), better housing, opportunities for civic participation and employment, improved community support and health services and positive perceptions of ageing. Health agencies will partner with older people and local governments to support the development of age-friendly communities and build networks and run initiatives that promote healthy ageing. Our vision for healthy ageing Older people are physically, mentally and socially active; and healthy lifestyles and greater resilience throughout life mean that we spend more of our lives in good health and living independently. Everyone in the health system understands what contributes to healthy ageing, and takes part in achieving it. Older people are health smart, able to make informed decisions about their health and know when and how to get help early. All older populations are supported to age well in ways appropriate to their needs. Communities are age-friendly with initiatives to keep people healthy, independent, respected and able to participate fully in their communities and with family and whānau.