In an age-friendly community, older adults are supported to age-in-place, living active, socially engaged, independent lives. The BC Age-friendly Communities Program provides funding, resources and capacity-building supports to help Indigenous and local governments, as well as other partners to achieve this vision. The program, originally designed in 2005 by the B.C. Ministry of Health and partners, has been updated collaboratively with and is now delivered by BC Healthy Communities.

What steps can I take to make my community more Age-friendly?

All communities are unique and have different assets and challenges in community planning. The Age-friendly Communities Approach is adaptable to most contexts in B.C.—including small, rural, urban, suburban, and Indigenous communities.

Looking to get started? Learn more about the Age-friendly Communities Approach, see some sample projects completed by communities in B.C., explore some of our age-friendly tools and resources, learn about age-friendly community recognition, or find out about our upcoming grant opportunities.

Age-friendly Funding & Support

All local and Indigenous B.C. governments working to build age-friendly communities through equitable policies, programs, and services have access to age-friendly communities funding and support to help make it happen. BC Healthy Communities (BCHC) is the new administrator for the Age-friendly Communities Grant Program in partnership with the Ministry of Health. The program is open for applications across two funding streams: Planning (Stream 1) up to $25,000, and Projects (Stream 2) up to $15,000. Both grant streams include in-kind, customized capacity-building supports provided by BCHC staff.