Foster City Age Friendly Community Initiative
Foster City is embarking on a new initiative to achieve an Age-Friendly City designation from the World Health Organization! Please check back regularly as we continue to develop this page with information on its progress, as well as opportunities for the community get involved.
ABOUT AGE FRIENDLY CITIES
The concept of Global Age Friendly Cities was developed in 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help cities consider and implement policies and services to support older adults as they grow older to live healthy and vibrant lives. According to WHO, population aging and urbanization are two global trends that comprise major forces shaping the 21st Century.
WHO also recognizes that older people often require supportive and enabling living environments to compensate for physical and social changes associated with aging. Thus, in order to retain a vibrant and enriching population of older adults, cities must provide the structures and services to support their well being and productivity. Making cities more age friendly is a necessary and logical response to promote the well being and contributions of older urban residents and to keep cities thriving.
WHO has identified eight (8) key domains requiring a conscious effort to create an age friendly community. It includes:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Social Participation
- Respect and Social Inclusion
- Civic Participation and Employment
- Communication and Information
- Community Support and Health Services
- Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
FOSTER CITY'S VISION
To become designated as an "Age Friendly City" through the World Health Organization (WHO), Foster City must demonstrate that it is committed to providing places for older adults to be engaged, as well as providing for social opportunities and services that ensure older adults can thrive and be part of the community.
Many cities are experiencing rapid increases to their aging population, particularly the proportion of people aged 65 years old and over. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey Program, the population of persons 65 years old and over in Foster City was estimated at 15.5% in 2018. The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) also provides forecasting projections of demographic, economic, and land use changes in coming decades -- the most recent of which covers the period between 2010 and 2040. For Foster City, the population of people aged 65 years old and over is expected to nearly double from 13% in 2010 to 24% in 2040.
In 2018, the Board of Supervisors for the County of San Mateo committed to joining WHO’s Age-Friendly Global Network and established the San Mateo County Age Friendly Initiative. The County also then partnered with the Center for Age Friendly Excellence (CAFE) to help achieve this designation over the coming years. CAFE is a project of the Los Altos Community Foundation whose mission is to create vibrant, sustainable, supportive, and inclusive communities for all generations.
As part of the San Mateo County Age Friendly Initiative, Foster City were selected as one of the next communities to partake in this designation process. During the upcoming months, Foster City will work closely with CAFE, who will be providing technical assistance, consultation, applied research access, community organizing synergy, coordination of the assessment process, and will also help write the official application to be submitted to WHO for Foster City to receive the Global Age Friendly Cities Designation.
AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY TASK FORCE MEMBERS
At the July 6, 2020 meeting, the City Council established a task force comprised of a City Council liaison, City staff, and residents to help inform and guide the Age Friendly Community effort. We thank all members for volunteering their time to serve!
List of Age Friendly Community Task Force Members:
- Sam Hindi - City Councilmember
- Dante Hall - Interim City Manager
- Jennifer Liu - Parks & Recreation Director, Parks & Recreation Department
- Julie Paping - Management Assistant, Public Works Department
- Jennifer Phan - Principal Management Analyst, City Manager Department
- Steve Okamoto - Resident, former Councilmember and PRC Member
- Debra Owdom - Chair, Parks & Recreation Citizen’s Advisory Committee (PRC)
- Patricia Player-Maxwell - Resident, Founder Foster City Village, Rotary Club
- Ray Rosenthal - Resident, Lions Club
- Amit Saini - Resident, former PRC Member
TIMELINE/KEY MILESTONES
- July 6, 2020 - Introductory Report to City Council
- July, August, September, October 2020 - Age Friendly Community Task Force Meetings
- August & September 2020 - Community Focus Group Meetings
- November 16 2020 - Draft Application & Report to City Council
- December 2, 2020 - Submission to AARP/WHO
LATEST UPDATES
Read past press releases on the Foster City Age Friendly Community Initiative here:
A webinar on Age Friendly Cities was hosted by Supervisor David J. Canepa on November 12, 2020 at 5:30 PM, where six Age Friendly participating cities (including Foster City) shared how they are working to make San Mateo County better, more integrated, more accessible, and more enjoyable for our residents, especially older adults. This was milestone event as we aim to have all cities and the entire San Mateo County designated as Age Friendly! Watch it here.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
With the guidance of CAFE, a series of virtual resident focus group meetings were held during the months of August and September. Although focus group meetings have wrapped up for this phase of the Age Friendly Initiative, the City welcomes any feedback on how we can help make Foster City a more “livable” community than it already is for older adults. Please feel out the form below or email agefriendly@fostercity.org.
