AGE FRIENDLY OTTAWA & THE OLDER ADULT PLAN

On the road to an age-friendly Ottawa

May 23, 2012 1

1. What is an age-friendly City ?2. About Age Friendly Ottawa and

the Municipal Older Adult Plan 3. Results from the public

consultations4. Results according to target

groups 5. Next steps on the road to an age-

friendly city May 23, 2012 2

WHAT IS AN AGE-FRIENDLY CITY?

“...an inclusive and

accessible urban

environment that promotes

active and healthy

ageing.”-WHO

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2012

In an age-friendly city:

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Policies, services, settings and structures support and enable people to age actively by:

Recognizing the wide range of capacities and resources among older people

Anticipating and responding flexibly to aging-related needs and preferences

In an age-friendly city:

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Respecting their decisions and lifestyle choices

Protecting those who are most vulnerable

Promoting the inclusion of older adults in, and valuing their contribution to all areas of community lifeFederal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors(2007). Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A Guide

Linking Together to Form a Whole

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CITY OF OTTAWA OLDER ADULT PLAN

Focuses on City infrastructure and servicesPart of community-wide plan

AGE FRIENDLY OTTAWA PLAN

Community-wide focusEngage the diversity of seniors

• A priority of City Council

• Purpose is to make changes so that municipal services and infrastructure are responsive to the specific needs of older adults in Ottawa today and into the future

• Will focus on areas that are under municipal responsibility

• Three main phases: Background research, consultation with older adults and an action plan

• Will be presented to Committee and Council for approval

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1. Background Research

2. Consultation with

Older Adults

3. Development of Older Adult

Plan

•Completed in early 2011

•Demographic and socio-economic profile (and population projections)

•Inventory of City programs and services

•Consultations with front-line staff

•Completed in early 2011

•Demographic and socio-economic profile (and population projections)

•Inventory of City programs and services

•Consultations with front-line staff

•Oct and Nov 2011

•Over 600 older adults

•Mayor’s Seniors Summit, community sessions & focus groups, survey

•Partnered with Age Friendly Ottawa

•Oct and Nov 2011

•Over 600 older adults

•Mayor’s Seniors Summit, community sessions & focus groups, survey

•Partnered with Age Friendly Ottawa

•Jan to Sept 2012•Strategy and action plan

•Based on all research and consultation findings

•Jan to Sept 2012•Strategy and action plan

•Based on all research and consultation findings

The Age Friendly Ottawa InitiativeIn partnership with the Centre on Governance

of the University of Ottawa, the City of Ottawa and many community partners, the Council on Aging of Ottawa leads the Age Friendly Steering Committee since 2009.

Our mission is to enhance and improve the age-friendliness of Ottawa for all seniors, in collaboration with government, business, the voluntary sector and other partners using the processes of community engagement and action.

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Working towards the same goalWe share a common vision

of Ottawa as an age-friendly and caring community

We share a common framework focused on improvements in 8 WHO areas

We presented a successful joint application to join the WHO Network of Age Friendly Cities

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Methodology Mayor’ Senior Summit: October 3,

2011– launch of Older Adult Plan and community consultations with older adults

Joint Consultations: Age-Friendly Ottawa and City of Ottawa – October-November 2011

Over 600 participants engaged in city-led community consultations, AFO targeted focus groups and a consultation survey

Final report of findings and analysis May 23, 2012 12

Older Adults Told Us:

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What it’s like to live in Ottawa

About good experiences and bad experiences

About ideas for improving the lives of seniors in the 8 age-friendly areas

Current age-friendly aspects:City of Ottawa: manageable size & sense of

communityGreen spaces: city parks, bike lanes..... Free bus transportation on certain days Wealth of services and activities: seniors

centres, museums, public libraries, community centres, the arts....

Safe city in the daytime Efficient emergency services

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1.Outdoor Spaces and buildings Improve city-wide access to buildings

and public spaces – restaurants, private offices

Fix roads and sidewalks – cracks, grading, curbs..

Add more ramps, rails & automatic doors ...doors too heavy

Remove snow and ice - bus stops, roads and sidewalks…

Add outdoor benches & washrooms – on main roads, parks, bus stops

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2. TransportationMake sure stops are close to destinations Improve safety on-board buses Add flexibility to Para-transpo scheduling Add adapted parking spots for seniors Reduce cost and complicated payment

process for parking– especially at hospitals

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3. Housing Design accessible adapted housing for seniors Improve supply of affordable housing Improve knowledge about and access to

resources to age at home

Offer support during life-long transitions Shorten wait-lists for social housing and

long-term care Standardize quality of care in supportive

housing and private seniors residences

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4. Social Participation Support community groups to provide

own culturally appropriate programs Remove financial barriers to access

social activities– including cost for renting facilities

Provide safe & affordable spaces for seniors’ gatherings

Improve access to information about programs and activities

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5. Respect and Social Inclusion Celebrate the contributions of older adults

and fight ageism Provide more opportunities for

intergenerational activities such as mentoring youth

Pay particular attention to the unique needs of older adults, according to: ability, health, culture, income, language, gender, sexual orientation …

Provide sensitivity training for those who provide direct services to older adults

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6. Civic Participation Paid/Unpaid work Provide incentives to volunteers Provide more opportunities for paid/unpaid

work to older adults Improve communication about

opportunities for paid and unpaid work

Simplify police checks and application process

Better recognize contributions of volunteers

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7. Communication and Information Slow down the move towards paperless and

internet-based information and automated phone systems

Maintain the traditional methods - mail, radio, paper, posters, TV...

Improve awareness on how to get information when needed

Make better use of informal networks with close links to seniors

Provide information in different languages

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8. Community Support and Health Services Make it easier to find the correct

information at the appropriate time

Reduce the long waiting lists for services Improve transitions between levels of

care Improve supports for aging at home Add more volunteer drivers and

door-to door escorts to get to medical appointments

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List of target groups 1. Rural2. Aboriginal 3. Francophone 4. Multicultural5. Low – income 6. With disabilities7. Isolated (phone

interviews and home visits)

8. Natural Caregivers

9. Senior Pride Network

10. Seniors over 75

11. Business community

12. Service Providers

13. Age Friendly Ottawa

Reference Group

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Some seniors are more vulnerable to exclusion and isolation

Low income seniors face financial exclusion from services, events, and information (internet, tv) – links between poor health and poverty are well established Older seniors and seniors with disabilities are more affected by the lack of general accessibility (building, roads, sidewalks, housing) and lack of availability of public transportation Multicultural and Aboriginal older adults face discrimination and exclusion from mainstream society

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More Examples…Francophone seniors seek city-wide access to

services in French & fiscal equity for centres who provide services in French

Gay and lesbian older adults advocate for policy changes so same-sex couples can be welcomed in retirement housing and long-term care

Natural caregivers are concerned about finding and accessing needed support services

Rural seniors also want to age at home! They need better access to home services and transportation

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•Finalize a draft action plan

•Review this plan with community stakeholders during the month of June

• Integrate feed-back

•Present Older Adult Plan to Council for approval in September 2012

• Implement actions beginning in fall 2012

Next Steps for AFO

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Consult with older adults to validate findings and set priorities for community action

Community forums on June 5Target group visits Develop an AFO action plan that aligns with

city’s OAP and engages seniors in areas that are community driven

Chose one or two community projects that will make a difference

Monitor progress & continue to build momentum

Together, we can do it!

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