Sonoma County Joins Global Age-Friendly Cities, Communities Network

SONOMA COUNTY, CA – News from the Sonoma County Human Services Department:

The County of Sonoma has been accepted as a member of the World Health Organization Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.

As a member, Sonoma County joins a growing global movement of cities and communities striving to better meet the needs of their older residents.

Age-friendliness indicates a community that encourages people of all ages to actively contribute to the community and to stay connected, optimizes opportunities for health and well-being across the lifespan, and provides services to support older adults’ quality of life.

Sonoma County is one of 117 communities in the United States and more than 320 across the world in the Age-Friendly Network.

Under Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane’s leadership, the Board of Supervisors approved Sonoma County’s Age-Friendly Community application in April, as requested by Aging Together, a local initiative that strives to make Sonoma County “a place that supports all people to thrive across the lifespan and achieve their life potential.”

Sonoma County is home to 125,000 people who are age 60 or older, 25 percent of the local population. In its 2016 Area Plan and Community Report, the Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging estimates that by 2030, 28 percent of the county population will be aged 60 or older.

“To ensure the quality of life of this growing part of our community, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors considers it imperative to become an age-friendly community,” says Supervisor Zane. “The concern for meeting the diverse needs and improving the lives of aging adults motivated us to apply for members in the WHO Global Network.”

To support Aging Together in meeting the WHO Age-Friendly Cities and Communities requirements, the Board has allocated $50,000 annually, for two years, in County general funds. Federal funds will augment that funding.

With guidance from the Aging Together leadership committee, the Human Services Department has contracted with the Council on Aging to plan and implement the work of making Sonoma County age-friendly. Plans include providing information and guidance to Sonoma County cities interested in applying to the network.

To learn more about Age-Friendly Sonoma County, including volunteer opportunities and what the County and local cities are doing to be more age friendly, visit www.agefriendlysonomacounty.org, or visit Sonoma County’s page on the WHO website: https://extranet.who.int/agefriendlyworld/network/county-of-sonoma/.

For details about WHO age-friendly cities, visit www.who.int/ageing/publications/Age_friendly_cities_checklist.pdf.

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--Image via Sonoma County Human Services Department