The New Brunswick Age-Friendly Recognition Program recognizes success and encourages communities and municipalities to take sustainable action towards becoming Age-Friendly through four simple steps based on the World Health Organization framework.

• Step 1: Pass resolution
• Step 2: Establish an advisory committee
• Step 3: Conduct age friendly assessment
• Step 4: Develop an action plan

Step One

The Mayor and Council must commit to the Age Friendly Community (AFC) approach by passing a resolution to actively support, promote and carry-out the age friendly initiative on behalf of their community. There are various formats for this, but it must clearly show that the community understands what an age friendly community is and what is required to be recognized as such. The resolution must be signed and dated.

Step Two

 Establish an Age Friendly Advisory Committee that is comprised of a group of volunteers from within the community and develop a term of reference for the committee. This should include seniors, other community members, representatives of various community organizations, seniors' groups, local businesses, and other potential partners. In addition, it is important to include either a municipal councilor or a staff member assigned responsibility to lead the age friendly community initiative.

In the terms of reference, be sure to include the affiliation of each member. That is, seniors, representative of a specific non-profit community organization, etc. Be sure that the advisory committee selects a chair to lead the meetings and that they make regular presentations at municipal meetings to ensure the elected officials are aware of the steps being taken and the outcomes along the journey.  

Step Three

Complete a Community Needs Assessment. This step will require input to be gathered from citizens of the community to figure out the needs within the eight domains for an age friendly community. Different ways to gather this information could include surveys, focus groups, or other sessions.

The community assessment should include a detailed inventory of both infrastructure and social supports. The assessment will help identify what services currently exist in the community to support seniors. Comparing what exists and what citizens say is needed for them to remain in their community as they age will determine the gaps in programs and services. This will allow the community to consider how to fill the gaps to be able to be an age friendly community and address the needs of their aging citizens. Leveraging what currently exists in the community, to support seniors, will be helpful when developing the action plan. The community assessment should say who was engaged and how they were engaged; meetings, focus groups, online surveys, printed surveys, community events, etc.). Also, include the dates for the engagement activities.

Step Four

Developing an action plan based on the information collected in the age friendly community assessment that responds to the needs identified. 

The plan must consider initiatives under the eight domains and must respond to the needs identified by seniors from the age friendly community needs assessment. The action plan should cover a 3-year timeframe and include the following information: 

1. The age friendly domain being addressed 

2. The action to be completed (should be specific and be action oriented. Generally, an action statement starts with a verb. Example, "Increase the number of benches along the walking trail.") 

3. Who will be responsible to lead the implementation of the action (the community should leverage partners in the implementation of some of the actions)

 4. What resources may be needed (human, technical, partners, financial) 

5. When each action will be implemented (timeline)

It is important that the action plan be available to the public. You should include the plan on the community's website. You may also want to update the plan regularly so you can be transparent about what is being done. 

Step Five

• An Age Friendly Recognition Plaque and a Pull-Up Banner for display in the community.

• A one-page action summary highlighting steps and initiatives taken to achieve Age friendly status will be posted on the department's Age Friendly Community web page to recognize the community's leadership and achievement.

• An opportunity to receive national recognition from the Public Health Agency of Canada and an invitation to join the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Network for Age friendly Cities and Communities.

To be recognized for their age friendly efforts, communities must complete a series of steps that show their commitment to age friendly principles through engagement and action. Each step will help communities increase awareness and gather support from partners such as citizens, local agencies, non-government organizations and local businesses. 

Applications are accepted throughout the year. The completed application including the required documents is emailed to seniors@gnb.ca

Please make sure you include these with your application:

• Age friendly council resolution, including date passed.
• Age friendly committee terms of reference.
• Age friendly community assessment.
• Age friendly action plan.
• One-page action summary highlighting community steps and initiatives taken to achieve age friendly status.