Age & Dementia Friendly Community Plan

Age-friendly communities help seniors live safely, enjoy good health, and stay connected. They recognize and respect the skills, abilities, and contributions of older adults. These communities benefit people of all ages and abilities, making Vernon more inclusive and accessible.

Dementia-friendly communities support people living with dementia and their care partners, promoting independence and reducing social stigma and isolation. The City received funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to pilot activities aimed at reducing dementia stigma and making Vernon more dementia-friendly.

In collaboration with the Vernon Seniors Action Network, the City developed four initiatives:

1) Dementia Stigma Reduction Training

• For City staff and community service providers
• Covers basic dementia facts, common myths, customer service, and making Vernon dementia-friendly

2) Social Marketing Campaign

• Encourages discussions about dementia, staying connected with loved ones, and promoting active lives for people with dementia

3) Neighbourhood Walk-Along

• For City planning staff and project partners
• Assesses pedestrian paths, crossings, signage, benches, transit stops, and other public amenities

4) Creating Plans, Policies, or Design Guidelines

• For Council, City staff, and the general public
• Focuses on housing, transportation, parks, facilities, and services

• Alzheimer Society of British Columbia
• BC Healthy Communities
• Interior Health
• Nexus BC Community Resource Centre
• Vernon Seniors Action Network
• DemSCAPE
• Public Health Agency of Canada

Acknowledgements

The City of Vernon thanks its funders and project partners for their valuable contributions. Special thanks to the Vernon Seniors Action Network (VSAN), Interior Health, Simon Fraser University’s Department of Gerontology, UBC’s Institute of Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, and the Alzheimer Society of BC.

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