It seems Oxford County is a great place to get older
The Ontario government has recognized Elgin-St. Thomas and Oxford County as age-friendly communities for their work creating more inclusive physical and social environments for older adults.
The designation was announced Jan. 18 at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference in Toronto, where Minister for Seniors and Accessibility Raymond Cho acknowledged nearly 70 age-friendly communities across the province. The Ontario communities join a growing global network recognized for planning and policies that support healthy aging.
“We are honoured to recognize and celebrate Elgin-St. Thomas and Oxford County as age-friendly communities,” Cho said, noting the role of community-led initiatives that promote social engagement, physical activity and accessibility for seniors.
Local efforts are guided by the Elgin-St. Thomas Age-Friendly and Oxford Age-Friendly steering committees, which include older adults, community organizations, municipal and county representatives, and public health partners. The committees focus on embedding aging-related priorities into community planning, services and infrastructure.
Meagan Lichti, chair of the age-friendly committees for both regions, said the recognition reflects years of collaborative work. She said the initiatives are rooted in the belief that residents should be able to age safely, with dignity, and remain connected to community life.
Data from Southwestern Public Health underscore the growing need for age-friendly planning. Adults aged 65 and older increased from 16.1 per cent to 20.2 per cent of the regional population between 2011 and 2021. The data also show rising rates of low income among seniors, about one in five seniors living alone, and a higher-than-average rate of emergency department visits related to falls.
Age-friendly initiatives in Elgin-St. Thomas date back to 2017, when the region established its first Age-Friendly Community Plan. That plan is now being updated following a recent needs assessment completed with Southwestern Public Health. Oxford County launched its partnership for aging populations in 2024 and completed a local needs assessment in 2025.
Revised age-friendly strategies for both regions are expected to be released this spring.
