WHO-age-friendly-cities-checklist — File 210118

PAGE 1 Checklist of Essential Features of Age-friendly Cities Th is checklist of essential age-friendly city features is based on the results of the WHO Global Age-Friendly Cities project consultation in 33 cities in 22 countries. Th e checklist is a tool for a city’s self-assessment and a map for charting progress. More detailed checklists of age-friendly city features are to be found in the WHO Global Age-Friendly Cities Guide. Th is checklist is intended to be used by individuals and groups interested in making their city more age-friendly. For the checklist to be eff ective, older people must be involved as full partners. In assessing a city’s strengths and defi ciencies, older people will describe how the checklist of features matches their own experience of the city’s positive characteristics and barriers. Th ey should play a role in suggesting changes and in implementing and monitoring improvements. Outdoor spaces and buildings ☐ Public areas are clean and pleasant. ☐ Green spaces and outdoor seating are suffi cient in number, well-maintained and safe. ☐ Pavements are well-maintained, free of obstructions and reserved for pedestrians. ☐ Pavements are non-slip, are wide enough for wheelchairs and have dropped curbs to road level. ☐ Pedestrian crossings are suffi cient in number and safe for people with diff erent levels and types of disability, with non- slip markings, visual and audio cues and adequate crossing times. ☐ Drivers give way to pedestrians at intersec- tions and pedestrian crossings. ☐ Cycle paths are separate from pavements and other pedestrian walkways. ☐ Outdoor safety is promoted by good street lighting, police patrols and community education. ☐ Services are situated together and are accessible. ☐ Special customer service arrangements are provided, such as separate queues or service counters for older people. ☐ Buildings are well-signed outside and inside, with suffi cient seating and toilets, accessible elevators, ramps, railings and stairs, and non-slip fl oors. ☐ Public toilets outdoors and indoors are suffi cient in number, clean, well-main- tained and accessible. Transportation ☐ Public transportation costs are consistent, clearly displayed and aff ordable. ☐ Public transportation is reliable and fre- quent, including at night and on weekends and holidays. ☐ All city areas and services are accessible by public transport, with good connections and well-marked routes and vehicles.

PAGE 2 ☐ Vehicles are clean, well-maintained, acces- sible, not overcrowded and have priority seating that is respected. ☐ Specialized transportation is available for disabled people. ☐ Drivers stop at designated stops and beside the curb to facilitate boarding and wait for passengers to be seated before driving off . ☐ Transport stops and stations are conve- niently located, accessible, safe, clean, well- lit and well-marked, with adequate seating and shelter. ☐ Complete and accessible information is provided to users about routes, schedules and special needs facilities. ☐ A voluntary transport service is available where public transportation is too limited. ☐ Taxis are accessible and aff ordable, and drivers are courteous and helpful. ☐ Roads are well-maintained, with covered drains and good lighting. ☐ Traffi c fl ow is well-regulated. ☐ Roadways are free of obstructions that block drivers’ vision. ☐ Traffi c signs and intersections are visible and well-placed. ☐ Driver education and refresher courses are promoted for all drivers. ☐ Parking and drop-off areas are safe, suffi - cient in number and conveniently located. ☐ Priority parking and drop-off spots for people with special needs are available and respected. Housing ☐ Suffi cient, aff ordable housing is available in areas that are safe and close to services and the rest of the community. ☐ Suffi cient and aff ordable home mainte- nance and support services are available. ☐ Housing is well-constructed and provides safe and comfortable shelter from the weather. ☐ Interior spaces and level surfaces allow freedom of movement in all rooms and passageways. ☐ Home modifi cation options and supplies are available and aff ordable, and providers understand the needs of older people. ☐ Public and commercial rental housing is clean, well-maintained and safe. ☐ Suffi cient and aff ordable housing for frail and disabled older people, with appropri- ate services, is provided locally. Social participation ☐ Venues for events and activities are con- veniently located, accessible, well-lit and easily reached by public transport. ☐ Events are held at times convenient for older people. ☐ Activities and events can be attended alone or with a companion. ☐ Activities and attractions are aff ordable, with no hidden or additional participa- tion costs.

PAGE 3 ☐ Good information about activities and events is provided, including details about accessibility of facilities and transportation options for older people. ☐ A wide variety of activities is off ered to appeal to a diverse population of older people. ☐ Gatherings including older people are held in various local community spots, such as recreation centres, schools, libraries, com- munity centres and parks. ☐ Th ere is consistent outreach to include people at risk of social isolation. Respect and social inclusion ☐ Older people are regularly consulted by public, voluntary and commercial services on how to serve them better. ☐ Services and products to suit varying needs and preferences are provided by public and commercial services. ☐ Service staff are courteous and helpful. ☐ Older people are visible in the media, and are depicted positively and without stereo- typing. ☐ Community-wide settings, activities and events attract all generations by accommo- dating age-specifi c needs and preferences. ☐ Older people are specifi cally included in community activities for “families”. ☐ Schools provide opportunities to learn about ageing and older people, and involve older people in school activities. ☐ Older people are recognized by the com- munity for their past as well as their pres- ent contributions. ☐ Older people who are less well-off have good access to public, voluntary and pri- vate services. Civic participation and employment ☐ A range of fl exible options for older vol- unteers is available, with training, recog- nition, guidance and compensation for personal costs. ☐ Th e qualities of older employees are well- promoted. ☐ A range of fl exible and appropriately paid opportunities for older people to work is promoted. ☐ Discrimination on the basis of age alone is forbidden in the hiring, retention, promo- tion and training of employees. ☐ Workplaces are adapted to meet the needs of disabled people. ☐ Self-employment options for older people are promoted and supported. ☐ Training in post-retirement options is provided for older workers. ☐ Decision-making bodies in public, pri- vate and voluntary sectors encourage and facilitate membership of older people. Communication and information ☐ A basic, eff ective communication system reaches community residents of all ages. ☐ Regular and widespread distribution of information is assured and a coordinated, centralized access is provided.

PAGE 4 ☐ Regular information and broadcasts of interest to older people are off ered. ☐ Oral communication accessible to older people is promoted. ☐ People at risk of social isolation get one-to- one information from trusted individuals. ☐ Public and commercial services provide friendly, person-to-person service on request. ☐ Printed information – including offi cial forms, television captions and text on vi- sual displays – has large lettering and the main ideas are shown by clear headings and bold-face type. ☐ Print and spoken communication uses simple, familiar words in short, straight- forward sentences. ☐ Telephone answering services give in- structions slowly and clearly and tell call- ers how to repeat the message at any time. ☐ Electronic equipment, such as mobile telephones, radios, televisions, and bank and ticket machines, has large buttons and big lettering. ☐ Th ere is wide public access to computers and the Internet, at no or minimal charge, in public places such as government of- fi ces, community centres and libraries. Community and health services ☐ An adequate range of health and commu- nity support services is off ered for promot- ing, maintaining and restoring health. ☐ Home care services include health and personal care and housekeeping. ☐ Health and social services are convenient- ly located and accessible by all means of transport. ☐ Residential care facilities and designated older people’s housing are located close to services and the rest of the community. ☐ Health and community service facilities are safely constructed and fully accessible. ☐ Clear and accessible information is pro- vided about health and social services for older people. ☐ Delivery of services is coordinated and administratively simple. ☐ All staff are respectful, helpful and trained to serve older people. ☐ Economic barriers impeding access to health and community support services are minimized. ☐ Voluntary services by people of all ages are encouraged and supported. ☐ Th ere are suffi cient and accessible burial sites. ☐ Community emergency planning takes into account the vulnerabilities and ca- pacities of older people. WHO/FCH/ALC/2007.1 © World Health Organization 2007. All rights reserved.