Charlestown, Nevis’ capital, has been declared as a Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) or World Health Organization (WHO) Age Friendly City. This makes it the very first in the Eastern Caribbean to reach this status.

According to PAHO an age friendly city is one that “adapts its services and physical structures to be more inclusive and receptive to the needs of its population to improve their quality of life as they age.”

This is Minister of, Social Empowerment, et. al., in Nevis, the Hon. Jahnel Nisbett:

Charlestown is now a part of the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (GNFACC) created by the WHO “to encourage cities and communities to adapt to the needs of the aging population.”

The network consists of over 900 cities worldwide. Characteristics that make a city age friendly include access to essential services such as electricity and water, opportunities to socialize and participate in various events, respect and inclusive commercial services like banking amongst many others.