Calderdale residents are asked to take part in a survey to help shape future plans and support healthy ageing.
Calderdale Council is looking to support the aims of the Calderdale Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2022-2027, to make Calderdale a place where everyone can realise their potential and live a larger life.
Part of this is to support good health and wellbeing through each stage of life from starting well for babies and young children to ageing well for older people. The goal for older people is that they have strong social networks and live in vibrant communities.
In 2021, the Council joined the UK network of age-friendly communities(external link) to ensure Calderdale is somewhere that people can stay living in their homes, be involved in the activities they enjoy, and contribute to their communities, for as long as possible.
As part of this commitment, the Council previously asked local older people what would make Calderdale a great place in which to grow old. This identified five key themes which have shaped local plans:
- Housing
- Getting about
- Accessibility
- Safety and belonging
- Having things to do
To find out if these themes are still important, the Council is asking residents over 50 to take part in the Ageing Well Survey 2024.(external link)
The survey is split into two parts, the first, which should take about five minutes, asks about people’s views of their local neighbourhood. The second part, which should take 5 to 10 minutes to complete, includes some optional questions on different topics, including:
- Parks and green spaces
- Towns in Calderdale
- Digital activities
- Leisure, culture and social activities
- Employment
- Getting around
- Housing
- Community support and health services
The information shared as part of the survey will be used to shape future plans in Calderdale. To complete the survey, visit online1.snapsurveys.com/AgeingWell2024 (external link)The survey will close at midnight on 12 May 2024.
Calderdale Council’s Director for Public Health, Debs Harkins, said:
“We know that people experience ageing differently depending on the circumstances of their lives, and so although some people feel 50 is far too young to be considered old, this isn’t the case for everyone. On average men in Calderdale can expect to live in good health until 59 and women until 63 but this figure hides bigger variations within the borough.
“We have an ageing population, and we want to ensure that Calderdale is a great place to live and grow older. Through the Ageing Well Survey, we’re keen to hear how local people experience the conditions which help people live well and understand if the current themes are still important to them. We also want to understand whether there are differences in different parts of the borough.
“The responses will be used to update our Ageing Well plan, and findings will be shared online. We want to hear from as wide a range of people as possible, so if you know someone who might find it difficult to complete the survey on their own, please consider helping them.”
To see the current Ageing Well plan, visit https://new.calderdale.gov.uk/council/data/priorities-and-performance/corporate-plan/adults Supporting Calderdale residents to live a larger life is part of the Vision 2024 for the borough. The year 2024 marks Calderdale’s 50th birthday. Find out more at www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision