Positive Ageing for growing problem
Senior citizens in New Plymouth are seeking your help in preventing potential chaos unwittingly created by their parents more than 60 years ago.
Chairman of New Plymouth Positive Ageing Lance GirlingButcher said that in the celebrations, family reunions, and joy at the end of World War ll an unprecedented wave of children were created and the baby boomer generation was born.
This demographic aberration had caused problems as it has aged and now with its members starting to retire this was expected to see a doubling of those older than 65. The problems and benefits were obvious and could cause the most dramatic difficulties yet for all society unless it is planned for.
With this in mind Positive Ageing is undertaking research into what might happen and how to prepare for an increasing ageing population.
As a result the district will become the first area in New Zealand to develop an Age Friendly Strategy under World Health Organisation specifications (WHO).
To assist with professional support, Dr Louise Tester was contracted to conduct a survey and prepare a strategy report. Her work was being done with help from the Office of Seniors, staff from the council, Taranaki Area Health Board and Taranaki Regional Council.
WHO encourages communities to consider eight key dimensions - housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communications and information, health services and community support, outdoor spaces and buildings and transportation.
’’This means working towards providing services, amenities and supports that will result in a district that is a great place to live, work, visit and age,’’ Grey Power chairman Roger Catlin said.
Girling-Butcher said being Age Friendly was not a strategy for older people only. We have made significant strides in making the district more disabled friendly, but we have a long way to go.
To help the NP Age Friendly Strategy, the Positive Ageing Trust is looking to talk with as many people as possible. A survey has been developed and can be found on the Grey Power NP and NP Positive Ageing websites.