Surrey unveils new “Age Friendly Action Plan”
The City of Surrey has launched an Age Friendly Action Plan aimed at supporting residents ages 55 and older in leading healthier, more active, and engaged lives. Photo: Adobe Stock
The City of Surrey has launched an Age Friendly Action Plan aimed at supporting residents ages 55 and older in leading healthier, more active, and engaged lives. The plan was developed in collaboration with the Surrey Age Friendly Network and informed by community feedback.
The plan focuses on ensuring that Surrey meets the diverse needs of older adults throughout the city and remains inclusive, welcoming and accessible for everyone.
“The Age Friendly Action Plan aims to enhance the well-being and vitality of older adults in Surrey, empowering them to lead active and fulfilling lives,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “This comprehensive plan is a testament to our commitment to fostering a community that prioritizes vital needs such as safety, transportation, housing, and accessibility. Council is taking a leading role in creating an age-friendly city and we look forward to bringing this vision to life.”
Canada’s Growing Population
Data indicates that while Canada’s population is growing, it’s also aging.
Statistics Canada forecasts that the portion of the population aged 85 and older could triple by 2073. In June, Statistics Canada forecasted that the share of people aged 65 and older would increase from just under 19 per cent in 2023 to between 21.9 per cent (slow-aging scenario) and 32.3 per cent (fast-aging scenario) in 2073. The organization also said that Canadians’ average age could increase to between 42 and 50 years old.
“As population aging continues, the share of older adults (aged 65 and older) in the total population would continue to increase in all provinces and territories in the coming years,” the release states. “The proportion of persons aged 85 and older would also increase rapidly in all provinces and territories.”
Those forecasts mean that Canada’s municipalities need to plan for a future with more residents who are older.
Surrey’s Plan
The plan is designed around four focus areas:
- Safety, Health, and Wellness: Seniors are supported to be active and engaged in their community, with engagement practices in place to prevent isolation.
- Transportation: Seniors have a range of safe, convenient, and affordable transportation choices.
- Home: Seniors have access to affordable and appropriate housing, with the necessary support to remain as independent as possible.
- Buildings and Outdoor Spaces: Public places, outdoor spaces, and buildings are designed to be welcoming, safe, and accessible for all.
“This action plan underscores our ongoing dedication to creating a community where older adults can thrive, actively participate, and remain engaged throughout their lives,” said Locke.
The mayor added that with over 28 per cent of Surrey residents aged 55 and older it is important for the city to address the unique and evolving needs of people in that age group.
“Surrey is committed to creating partnerships across all sectors to meet the evolving needs of residents aged 55 and older,” a statement from the city states. “The city is working closely with community partners to ensure the plan’s implementation in the coming years. To learn more about Surrey’s age-friendly programs and services.”
BC Senior’s Advocate Speaks Up
In September, British Columbia’s seniors advocate urged the provincial government to develop and implement an action plan to support and strengthen services for seniors.
“The province needs a concrete plan with targets and performance measures that define how government will meet the needs of the growing seniors’ population in B.C.,” said BC Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt. “The recent flurry of announcements of new and replacement long-term care spaces and the updated poverty plan are encouraging, but seniors also need assurance that government is working to improve availability of seniors subsidized housing, access to health care, affordable transportation and home care, and better income supports.”
Levitt added that new challenges are disproportionately impacting seniors, such as the lack of affordable and suitable housing. In addition, a lack of long-term care facilities means many seniors are not getting the assistance they need.
In its 2023 Monitoring Seniors Service report, the Office of the Seniors Advocate reported the average wait time for a long-term care bed went up 54 per cent to 209 days last year compared to 2019. The number of seniors on the waitlist increased 136 per cent to 5,175 over the same period. The report also notes there was a 59 per cent increase in the waitlist for seniors subsidized housing between 2019-2023, and of those, 17 per cent of applicants have been waiting more than five years.
“Within 10 years, one in four British Columbians will be a senior. Government must act quickly to ensure the supports, services and programs are available to help older people age comfortably in their home communities in a manner of their choosing,” said Levitt. “Many local governments have endorsed resolutions specific to improving the lives of seniors in B.C. and want to ensure services are available and can be accessed when needed.”
Hamilton’s Age Friendly Community Plan
In September, the City of Hamilton released the 2023 community progress report on its plans to create a more age-friendly community by 2026. The plan’s primary guiding principles are focused on improving accessibility, equity diversity and inclusion, and building a dementia-friendly community. Launched in April 2021, it includes seven strategic goals, 21 objectives and 61 recommendations.
According to the 2021 Census, there are 104,290 older adults age 65-plus living in Hamilton, which represents just over 18 per cent of the population. Over the next two decades that number is expected to double.
In 2013, Hamilton partnered with the Hamilton Council on Aging and Seniors Advisory Committee of Council to develop the city’s first age-friendly plan. The plan was endorsed by city council in 2014. The following year, Hamilton became a certified member of the World Health Organization’s Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. MW
✯ Municipal World Executive and Essentials Plus Members: You might also be interested in Sarah Marshall and Jodi Ball’s article: Penetanguishene becoming an age-friendly community.
Ibrahim Daair is staff writer at Municipal World.
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