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making Hertfordshire an

Age Friendly County

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Age Friendly Hertfordshire Findings

Hertfordshire is proud to be the first upper-tier county in the UK to join the UK Network of Age Friendly Communities. We are working with residents, professionals and organisations to make Hertfordshire the best county to age in. Find out what over 3000 people aged 55+ in Hertfordshire have already told us.
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Next Steps: Get Involved

Now that we have listened to over 3,000 older adults and published our Baseline Report, we are using what we learned to shape an action plan – with older adults, organisations and communities at the centre.
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Local Stories and Ideas in Action

Real change starts with listening – but it continues through action. Across Hertfordshire, individuals, groups and organisations are already doing brilliant things to make their communities more age friendly. This section shares case studies, stories and examples of what is working well – from walking audits and intergenerational events to inclusive activities and small changes that make a big difference. We hope these ideas inspire others to get involved and take action in their own area.
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We can help your business be more Age Friendly

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With our guidance and support you can make your business friendly to older clientele, from extra seating to staff training we can get you age friendly accredited, to find out more click the button.

Our Approach

Our work follows the World Health Organization’s Age Friendly Communities model. This involves improving eight key areas that influence how we age:

Link through to 8 key areas of living image with collapsible domains listed as here – 8 Key Areas (have copied wording for now but will review later -have removed the examples for now, as these need to be later updated with examples from Herts)

The Eight Key Areas of Age-Friendly Communities 

These Eight Key Areas focus on areas in our environment that can help older adults live well. The improvements we make depend on what each community needs. Age-friendly Communities bring together different partners and older people to make these changes. By focusing on these Eight Key Areas, Age-friendly Communities help older adults live healthy, active, and engaged lives. 

Click on the Key Areas names below to find out more information

Staying connected and getting timely information is crucial as we age. Age-friendly communities ensure information is accessible to everyone. 

An Age-friendly Community might: 

  • Offer digital skills training for older people. 
  • Produce newsletters in print and digital formats. 

Run campaigns to ensure people know about benefits they’re entitled to. 

Age-friendly communities provide options for older people to continue working or volunteering. These activities benefit mental health and finances. 

An Age-friendly Community might: 

  • Support local employers to become age-friendly. 
  • Offer employment support to older jobseekers. 
  • Advertise accessible volunteering opportunities. 

Age-friendly communities include everyone and treat them with respect. They challenge negative stereotypes about ageing. 

An Age-friendly Community might: 

  • Use positive images of older people in communications. 
  • Launch “Time for You” tills at supermarkets for those needing extra time. 
  • Celebrate older people’s contributions through events. 

Participating in community activities is important for health and wellbeing. Age-friendly communities make sure activities are accessible to everyone. 

An Age-friendly Community might: 

  • Support initiatives for older residents to socialise and learn new skills. 
  • Work with local cafes and restaurants to provide chatter tables. 

Arrange intergenerational workshops. 

As the older population grows, the need for community support and health services increases. Age-friendly communities ensure health services are accessible and promote physical activity. 

An Age-friendly Community might: 

  • Launch local walking sports clubs. 
  • Distribute information on staying safe and well, especially in winter. 

Make falls prevention programs appealing and accessible.

Public spaces and buildings affect our mobility, independence, and quality of life as we age. Age-friendly communities work to make these areas safe, accessible, and comfortable for everyone. 

An Age-friendly Community might: 

  • Map out benches or toilets in the area. 
  • Work with local businesses to provide places to rest. 

Conduct walk audits with older people to improve pavements and crossings. 

Affordable, reliable, and convenient transport helps older people stay active and involved. Good transport is essential for shopping, meeting friends, and attending healthcare appointments. 

An Age-friendly Community might: 

  • Promote Journey Assistance Cards for extra support on public transport. 
  • Create community transport options. 
  • Offer cycling classes for older adults.  

The right housing helps older people live comfortably and safely in their community. Good housing can improve health and social connections. 

An Age-friendly Community might: 

  • Create a list of reliable maintenance workers. 
  • Use a checklist to assess the suitability of homes for older people. 
  • Offer free advice on housing options.