Public health news: Age Friendly Communities

Public health news: March 2025

In 2023, a baseline survey and a series of events helped to shape the South Tyneside Age Friendly Communities Strategy and Action Plan 2024 to 2028.

The Age Friendly Steering Group meets every 6 weeks. Each meeting focuses on one of the 8 age friendly themes and the leads for that theme are invited to give updates.

In December, the focus was on communication and information. Examples from this theme are:

• To provide opportunities for older people to improve their digital skills and to support those who don't have or want digital access.
• Carers have access to the information and support they need now and in the future.
• To ensure that the people who need to be targeted about their entitlements (including pension credit) know what services and organisations there are to support them.

In January, the focus was on communities and health. Examples from this theme are:

• To improve outcomes for people at risk of falls and frailty, through the Living Well Alliance.
• Raise awareness of poor mental health in older people, to increase the number of people who are offered support.
• To implement a sexual health charter for older people.

We are pleased with the progress across the whole strategy. Our conversations are bringing people together to make South Tyneside keeps moving forward on their age friendly journey.