Opinion: Seniors Advisory Panel

Panel chairperson Margaret Devlin and member Judy Blakey explain the importance of creating an Auckland that people of all ages can enjoy.

An age-friendly city

One in ten Aucklanders is over 65, so it makes sense that we design an age-friendly city – one with an urban environment that enables all residents to optimise their quality of life.

Getting it right for the rapidly increasing numbers of older Aucklanders requires active engagement and innovative planning.

Making universal access the default

Universal access should be an automatic consideration in all initiatives from urban design to event management to information services.

Many of the actions are achievable through designing and planning in a smarter way, using existing resources and building on some of the great features we already have in place across Auckland.

Diversity and inclusion important

This planning will also need to take into account the growing diversity of ethnicities in the senior community. Let’s ensure that our community is an inclusive one that celebrates our seniors as vital contributors to Auckland’s social diversity, and let’s start seeing development in all areas that will put Auckland on the global stage as the world’s most age-friendly city.

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