Shaping an Age Friendly City
Published on 17 April 2023 01:50 PM
We are calling for Norwich to become an Age Friendly City to ensure it is prepared to meet the needs of a growing, ageing population. 45% of Norfolk’s population is aged 50+ and this is projected to increase by 36% in the next twenty years (ONS). The population aged 85+ is expected to double in size by 2040, and Age UK Norwich wants to ensure that the World Health Organisation (WHO) “Age Friendly Principles” are embedded in the design of the city, its services and culture.
Age UK Norwich hosted an event on April 3rd with local professionals, supporters and experts in later life to raise the profile of this social challenge and discuss what needs to happen to re-imagine how many aspects of day-to-day life need to change to cope with an older population.
Chief Executive Officer Dan Skipper said: “We’re delighted to bring people together to talk seriously about this social change. We’re going to have to re-think how certain things work in the city. The WHO Principles touches every aspect of our society, from housing, transport, health and care, employment as well as the physical space and how older people are perceived.
We want the city to celebrate later life and the contribution of its 50+ aged population, and plan now to ensure ageing is part of the vision for the city, as a inclusive place to live, work, visit or retire.”
Age UK Norwich was joined by local leaders and experts such as Paul Farmer the CEO of Age UK National, Anne-Marie Minihane, Professor of Nutrigenetics and Director of the Norwich Institute of Healthy Ageing, and James Bullion, Executive Director of Adult Social Care.
Alastair Roy, Age UK Norwich’s Chair said: “We hope the event showcased all the positive initiatives making a difference to older people today, but critically to acknowledge the challenges the city needs to collaborate to overcome – we need to get this right to ensure our future population, which will have an older profile, is well served to live healthy, connected and independent lives.”
The charity is interested to hear from organisations or people who are passionate about helping this social change, and encourages them to make contact with the charity.