About Age-Friendly Communities
The City of Vaughan is taking steps to create a more age-friendly community, where all residents can be active and engaged members of society at every stage of life.
As the senior population across Canadian communities continues to increase, it is more important than ever to support the health and well-being of older adults. The city of Vaughan is a growing municipality, expected to reach a population of approximately 500,000 by 2041. It is projected that older adults (55 years and older) will make up the largest portion of the population of Vaughan, representing more than 30 per cent of the total population by 2031.
Age-friendly communities support aging with dignity, respect and independence, and promote the inclusion of older adults in all areas of community life. Importantly, by planning for the needs of the older-adult population, age-friendly communities are designed to better meet the needs of all residents. As part of its Global Age-Friendly Cities Project, the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies eight key areas of community life in which communities can become more age-friendly:
- Outdoor spaces and buildings
- Transportation
- Housing
- Respect and social inclusion
- Civic participation and employment
- Communication and information
- Community support and health services
- Social participation