Creating Age Friendly supportive environments for health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities are at the core of the WHO Health 2020 European policy framework and strategy for the 21st century and of the WHO Strategy and action plan for healthy ageing in Europe, 2012-2020.
Enhanced quality of life and the health and wellbeing of older people is at the heart of the vision but local government and health systems alone cannot address all of the challenges involved. The move to collaborative planning across and between agencies requires vision, leadership, organisational and systemic change, and a radical shift in culture.
Ageing, of course, is a lifelong process. The choices that we make when young will determine how healthy we will be in our old age. We must think of innovative ways to sustain individual as well as population health and wellbeing, independence and participation, taking a holistic and inclusive approach as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This two-day conference provides an opportunity to explore how we can increase our capacity to deliver an Age Friendly Europe. The conference will be highly interactive and it is anticipated that speakers and delegates will together address the following key issues:
- Harmonising visions: Framing a smart, sustainable, inclusive and equitable future for all.
- Organising resources: Collaborative leadership, citizen empowerment and business community engagement.
- Information for improvement: Measurement, indicators and an information base for improved decision-making, supporting greater health and well-being.
To help set the scene, a number of panels will enable participants to share their experiences and insights on a range of topic areas including;
How can ‘healthy and active ageing’ be best stimulated across our cities, towns and neighborhoods? What are the links and synergies between ‘Age Friendly’, ‘Healthy’ and ‘Smart’ Cities? Can wider stakeholder coalitions be made and sustained to support effective focus on active and healthy ageing? How do we capitalise on these synergies and sustain the overlapping agendas simultaneously?
Other challenges that will be addressed as part of this conference are:
How can we use data to make our environments safer, healthier and more sustainable? What role do indicators and tools such as the Covenant on Demographic Change and the new Age Friendly Environments in Europe (AFEE) publications have to play in promoting and sustaining political and social commitment to active and healthy ageing?
Download the conference programme here (pdf)
To register your interest in attending the conference please email Age Friendly Ireland at conference2016@agefriendlyireland.ie
