The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2007 presented its Age-Friendly Cities Guide, now a global movement - an Age-Friendly World. It is primarily about developing strategies to incorporate the life needs of an older population within the community.
In future, if input beyond current older populations is to be encouraged, a more appropriate term is Age Inclusive. The evolution of community is every generation’s project.
Aging demographics have varying influences on social structures and business markets around the world. Opportunity or challenge, we face a future where the potential for society, with increased life expectancy, is greater than at any time in human history.
Longevity in this context becomes an inter-generational matter. We all have a vested interest in shaping changes to social policy related to such matters as pension reform, health care, home care & life-long learning.
In the expansive world of a Longevity Economy, many business sectors are marketing specific products and services largely identifiable to segments of a diverse older adult population.
Gerontechnology is one of the most significant areas of work where so much product research & development is on fast forward. This is a new horizon where technology is at an intersection with aging and longevity to help older adults stay engaged and live healthier lives.
For many attendees such as myself, this has been a much looked forward to weekly appointment for facilitated exchange of questions and insights with international perspectives. However, with the passage of time, like most routines, after a while things need a rethink; and so it has come that as of October 2025, the IFA Café
As we near the close of 2025, it is also the half way mark of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030); but some days to me it seems like a stretched out decade. For at this point I reflect on my attendance at the 2018 International Federation on Ageing (IFA) conference in Toronto when
In February 2020, SE Health, a Canadian social enterprise health care services organization, launched under their initiative The Future of Aging a new book by the same name. Since then their SE Futures research and education team has engaged in a number of other initiatives including collaborations with other organizations such as Covenant in the
As I’ve commented before, I miss the early days of this pitch competition when there was more of an advance opportunity to participate as a citizen which was a great marketing and general public education exercise. In 2018, AGE-WELL invited people Canada-wide to vote for our favourite innovation from 60 entrants featured in video pitches
In 2007 the WHO Age-friendly Cities Guide was published and since then, nearly 20 years later, it has grown into a widely accepted global movement. But at times I’ve felt that it needs a reboot to improve its messaging; age-friendly is not just about mobility, accessibility and social participation for older adults. In 2023 the UK
Two stories, both set in Toronto, pop up upon reflection, several weeks since I finished reading. These connect well with the concept of “desire lines” noted in my part one of this Messy Cities review. As a refresher, desire lines are pathways through the urban built environment which, says Dylan Reid “….reveal how people shape