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What are Building Blocks?
The three building blocks – An Informed Society, an Enabling and Supportive Environment, and Personal, Social and System connectedness are the practical components of building age friendly communities.
Click on each building block (see the blue panel at the top of the page) to view:
- a brief description of the building block
- reflective questions that can help your group identify the strengths of your community and where the gaps might be
- additional tips and strategies that will help you answer the reflective questions
Why Use Reflective Questions?
- Creating an age friendly community is more complex than checking items off from a checklist. A more holistic and reflective approach is needed
- Reflective questions allow for deeper thinking to occur
- The process of collectively working through reflective questions allows for relationships to build through developing a shared understanding of multiple of perspectives
- This format also helps the focus to not only be on the end results or outcomes, but also on the process
Website TipsThe three building blocks serve as the main structure of an age friendly community. For more information about each building block, click the title located in the blue panel at the top of the page.
Instructional Video - Building Blocks
Key Points When Using Reflective Questions
- The reflective questions are the starting point, not the ending point to becoming more age friendly
- You don’t need to answer all of the questions immediately - break the sections up!
- Avoid answering these questions with simple yes/no responses and recognize the variety of perspectives sitting at your table - do all of these individuals have the same information and the same perspective?
- Be sure to make notes along the way. What are your strengths? What are the areas that may need improvements? What areas have not been addressed at all? These notes will help with identifying your short, mid, and long-term goals for your community.
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