David Regan, Director of Public Health, Manchester City Council - presentation from Age UK's For Later Life conference, 25th April. For more information: www.ageuk.org.uk/forlaterlife

1. David Regan
Director of Public Health
Manchester City Council
Creating age-friendly communities

2. Key arguments 1
Conceptual approach
• Dominant policy
narratives of ageing
can limit the
development of
citizenship-based
approaches to ageing
and older people.
Policy
• Policy needs to
respond in particular
to ageing in
disadvantaged
communities,
including those now in
‘mid-life’.

3. Key arguments 2
Evidence
• There is (inter)national
evidence, and good
practice, to support
this approach.
Leadership
• Public health groups in
local authorities are
well placed to lead
comprehensive ageing
programmes, even
within current financial
constraints.

4. Medical Care Citizenship
Patient Customer Citizen
Focus on individual Focus on individual,
family and informal
networks
Focus on
neighbourhood and
city
Clinical interventions Care interventions Promoting social
capital and
participation
Commission for ‘frail
elderly’
Commission for
vulnerable people
Age-proofing
universal services
Prevention of entry
to hospital
Prevention to delay
entry to care system
Reducing social
exclusion
Health (and care
system)
Whole system Changing social
structure and attitudes
Citizenship-based policy
approach

5. Citizenship-based approach
• Asset-based model:
building on resources
of the city and its older
citizens
• Focus on civic
participation and social
inclusion
“Manchester has established itself at an
international level as a leading authority in
developing one of the most comprehensive
strategic programmes on ageing.”
John Beard, Director, Department of
Ageing and Life Course
World Health Organisation

6. A wealth of evidence

7. The Approach in Practice

8. The Approach in Practice:
improving social participation

9. The Approach in Practice:
new approaches for baby-boomers

10. Conclusions
• Impact of cities on
ageing
• Austerity and
centralisation of
services creates
challenges
• Reduce demand for
high-end services
• Sustainable and
balanced communities
• Public health teams
can play a leading role
in their new home

11. Thanks…. For more information:
www.manchester.gov.uk/vop
We’re here!