Launching Age Forward: British Columbia, Canada’s 50+ Health Strategy and 3-Year Action Plan

Purpose

With >2.1 million British Columbians ≥50 years-of-age, the Ministry of Health recognized the need for a proactive approach to supporting health and wellness in aging. Age Forward is a comprehensive strategy and 3-year action plan to prevent and reduce significant factors contributing to increased health-care utilization and poor health outcomes observed among older adults: frailty, falls, fall-related injuries.

Implementation

Age Forward presents five focus areas addressing specific aspects of health and well-being: Prevention & Health Promotion; Screening, Early Identification & Risk Reduction; Supporting Health at Home; Restoring & Preserving Health; and Collaboration, Accountability & Continuous Improvement. The Action Plan outlines 16 priorities and 35 evidence- and practice-informed actions.

The goals of Age Forward are to: promote an increase in health span, extending the years older adults live in good health; provide necessary services to support adults to age in their homes; and reduce preventable emergency care, hospitalizations, and admissions to long-term care through the enhancement of home-based and community supports and improving the responsiveness of health services to meet the diverse needs of the aging population.

Evaluation

The strategy and action plan were informed by engagement with key health sector partners, interest holders, subject matter experts, and Indigenous Elders from across British Columbia. Collaboration across government, the health-care system, partner organizations, and communities will ensure comprehensive and coordinated planning, implementation, evaluation, and adaptation of programs and policies. A measurement and surveillance framework will monitor outcomes and impacts.

Findings

Age Forward is positioned to increase the number of years people live in good health, with dignity. Supporting the 50+ population allows for earlier interventions to prevent or manage health issues that increase the risk of frailty and falls. Through lifestyle changes, early risk identification, and targeted health interventions, both frailty and falls can be prevented or mitigated.