FAQs

What is an age-friendly world?

A world in which you would want to grow older.

Age-friendly environments foster healthy and active ageing. They enable older people to: 

• age safely in a place that is right for them
• be free from poverty
• continue to develop personally; and to contribute to their communities while retaining autonomy, health and dignity. 

Because older people know best what they need, they are at the centre of any effort to create a more age-friendly world. (World Health Organization)

The City of Cambridge has become a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities. As a member, Cambridge will be part of a growing global movement of communities, cities and other sub-national levels of government that are striving to better meet the needs of older residents.

By joining the Network, Cambridge commits to sharing and promoting the values and principles central to the WHO Age-friendly approach, implementing the four steps to create age-friendly local environments, and actively participating in the Network, including sharing experiences with other members.

The WHO has identified eight key dimensions of community life, which includes the following:

1. Civic Participation and Employment 
2. Communication and Information
3. Community and health care
4. Housing
5. Outdoor Spaces and buildings
6. Respect and Social Inclusion
7. Social Participation 
8. Transportation

The City of Cambridge is committed to sharing and promoting the values and principles central to the WHO Age-friendly approach which includes:

• Listening to the needs of the aging population
• Assessing and monitoring the community’s age-friendliness
• Working collaboratively with older residents and across sectors to create age-friendly physical and social environments