What is Age-Friendly?

An age-friendly community is one where there are no barriers to access services, programs, businesses and facilities. We are committed to creating a community that is inclusive, accessible, and supportive of all residents, throughout their lifespan.

Overview of the Age-Friendly Initiative

Phase 1 - Community Engagement (2023-2024)

Extensive public engagement opportunities from June 2023 – April 2024 invited community members to share their insights on the current state and desired future of an age-friendly Cochrane.

Report to the Community

The 'What We Heard' Report summarizes the feedback that we received from the survey, workshops, focus groups and interviews. Thank you to the community members who contributed to the public engagement process. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and will help us to reach our goal of ensuring that Cochrane is a vibrant and inclusive community for all residents, regardless of age.

Phase 2 - Age Friendly Action Plan Development (2024-2025)

The information gathered from Phase 1 helped to guide the development of an Age Friendly Action Plan. The Action plan aims to position Cochrane as an inclusive, supportive and vibrant community where residents of all ages, particularly older adults, can thrive.

Cochrane Age-Friendly Action Plan

The "Action Plan" identifies eight core actions that will be completed over the next five years. The action plan is the result of years of collective effort delivered by a broad cross-section of community members working towards a becoming a community where everyone can enjoy a high quality of life, feel connected to where they live, and age with dignity and independence.

The action plan prioritizes accessible public spaces, expanded housing and transportation option, and stronger social support networks. It also emphasizes improved healthcare access, inclusive communication, and increased opportunities for civic and economic participation. To tackle the broad objectives outlined in the plan, age-friendly working groups will be established for each of the identified actions. Opportunities for the community to become involved will be advertised.