Council launches strategy for Age-Friendly future

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Published: 02 Sep 2021

Timaru District Council is launching a new strategy to help make Timaru District a more Age-Friendly community.

The Timaru District has one of the fastest growing populations of older people in New Zealand. By 2038 it is projected that the proportion of our population aged 65 years and over will increase by approximately 8.5%. This accounts for about a third of Timaru District residents.

An Age-Friendly Community is one where these older people are engaged and connected to a community that values, respects and supports them.

As part of the creation of the strategy, Timaru District Council is now asking the whole community to take part in a survey to gauge how Age-Friendly the community currently is, and help identify priority areas where it can improve things.

The survey is now available at timaru.govt.nz/agefriendly

Timaru District Mayor Nigel Bowen said that the aim of this strategy was to help build a community where older people can have the best possible future with opportunities to achieve their full potential, regardless of their capacities, resources, lifestyles, or preferences.

“A really important first step in creating a strategy like this is to see what position we’re currently in and work out the actions we can take to make the biggest difference.

“This survey isn’t only open to people 65 and over, we’re wanting feedback from anyone about what they believe older people need to thrive in our community, as what’s helpful for older people is often great for everyone in the community.

“Due to COVID-19, we’re initially making the survey available online, but when alert levels drop we’ll have hard copies of the survey available across the district in libraries and other council and community facilities.

“We’re also looking forward to rolling out a series of in-person community workshops in Timaru, Pleasant Point, Temuka and Geraldine, and attending various community group meetings to engage with individuals and existing networks when COVID-19 restrictions allow.

“This is an important first step in creating a more Age-Friendly community, so we want as many people as possible to have their say.”

Following the close of the survey the information collated from it and the in-person workshops will inform an action plan being developed by the Community Age-Friendly Steering Group and Council.

The plan will identify priority areas under key themes, it will also identify key partners across the community, resources needed, indicators to measure change and a timeframe.

For more information about the Age-Friendly Community strategy, and to take part in the survey, visit timaru.govt.nz/agefriendly

Last updated: 02 Sep 2021