age-friendly city

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

a concept and global movement initiated by the World Health Organisation through its Age-Friendly Cities and Communities programme, which identifies eight domains of urban life — outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community support and health services — that must be adapted to enable older people to live active, healthy, and contributing lives in cities and communities; the WHO's Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, launched in 2010, now includes over 1,400 cities in 46 countries that have committed to a continuous improvement cycle of assessing current conditions, developing action plans, and evaluating progress in making urban environments more supportive of aging populations; age-friendly city principles have influenced transportation planning — accessible public transit, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes — housing policy, digital inclusion programmes, and the design of public spaces; the movement operates on the insight that cities designed to support the oldest and most vulnerable residents work better for everyone