Age- and Dementia-friendly Action Plan
The Age- and Dementia-friendly Action Plan is the second strategy focused on older adults prepared by the Township since 2014. This updated Plan will sustain Township actions and programs that help people age in the right place and be connected and active for as long as they choose. In recognition of the increasing number of people living with dementia due to population aging, this updated Plan includes a dementia-friendly perspective.
Age-friendly communities support and enable people to age in the right place with dignity, respect, and independence, and promote the participation of older adults in all areas of community life. People of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds benefit from initiatives that increase safety, accessibility and social inclusion. Dementia-friendly communities complement age-friendly initiatives by considering the needs of people living with dementia.
The updated Age- and Dementia-friendly Action Plan was endorsed by Township of Langley Council on December 13, 2021.
Read the 2021 Age- and Dementia-friendly Action Plan.
The Township has been recognized as an age-friendly community under the Provincial Age-friendly Recognition program since June 2015.
About dementia
Dementia is an overall term for a set of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain, including memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language, severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. Aging does not cause dementia. While mild changes in cognition may come with aging, dementia is not a normal part of the aging process. However, age is the strongest known risk factor for dementia, though some younger people, in their 40s or 50s, are diagnosed with early onset dementia.
For more information and support, visit the Alzheimer Society of B.C.
Background
In May 2013, Council passed resolutions toward its commitment to becoming an Age-friendly Community, and designated the Seniors Advisory Committee (SAC) as the Age-friendly Advisory Steering Committee. Building on an existing age-friendly evaluation in 2010 and other policies, programs and practices, key issues and opportunities were identified through workshops that targeted stakeholders, partner agencies, members of SAC and Youth Advisory Committee and the general public. The information and ideas gathered from the workshops served as the foundation for the development of the Age-friendly Strategy.