Defying the Barriers of Ageism

1. Defying the Barriers of Ageism A Summary of a Forum to Transform the Culture and Barriers to Positive Active Aging

2. Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizen’s Organizations OCSCO’s mission is To improve the quality of life for Ontario’s seniors by: - encouraging seniors involvement in all aspects of society, keeping them informed on current issues, and, focusing on programs to benefit an aging population.

3. Starting Point….. • A grant application to New Horizons for Seniors’ in 2012 to: • Focus on identifying barriers to ageism • Focus on solutions to barriers to ageism • Identify cultural barriers • Identify systemic barriers and gaps • Identify changes so that a growing aging population has resources needed and ages with dignity and respect

4. Overview of the Approach • The Forum was held on October 1st, National Seniors Day in Canada. • The Forum was kicked off by the Chair of OCSCO, CarolannFernandes (Seniors Advisory Council of Hamilton) who spoke to the purpose the day and welcomed participants and speakers. • Speakers included Minister of State (Seniors) Hon. Alice Wong, Mr Monte Kwinter, MPP for York Centre, and Lauren Bates, Senior Lawyer and Project Head the Law Commission of Ontario. She presented on the work done by the Law Commission’s “A Framework for the Law as it Affects Older Adults” released in 2012

5. Discussions and Conversations 3 topics for discussion in smaller groups – namely: • What does ageism look like in your community? How have you or your family or friends experienced it? (participants were reminded of the principles noted in the Law Commission Framework and to keep this in mind as they thought about ageism) • How could your community be better for older persons – what needs to be done? • What specific actions can we take – either as individuals or as groups or as associations – to improve (topic assigned to each table based on results of first two discussions).

6. Participant Audience • Effort was made to ensure that the Forum had attendees who were experiencing barriers because of low income or other issues such as language • Participants were very able to speak to the barriers to active aging and what they thought could address them • Comprised mostly of non-provider older adults 

7. Process Inclusiveness • Support a ‘world café’ type of discussion, which allowed for movement by participants from table to table • Each table had fifteen persons and 1 table facilitator (who was an older person) • Session info capture by group posted on the walls so participants could review results. As well participants had access to ‘stick on dots’ for the purposing of highlighting or ‘voting’ for a particular comment or recommendation that they thought was important.

8. Issue Identification • Income • Affordability • Employment • Education • Access to Information • Health Care • Language and Culture • Transportation • Accountability • Framework for active aging to guide investments, planning

9. Findings and Recommendations: Changes/ Action Income: moving from current state to significantly assist older persons with income challenges. These included: • paid mentoring by seniors in the work place or schools • pension income reform/adequate income supplements (A ‘right’ as seniors) • local information exchange networks, accessible public information • means to match skills to work opportunities • social enterprise among seniors • planning for future & financial education • discounts – abolish seniors bureaucracy • debt relief – decrease income disparity • remove government subsidies for off shoring; • encourage hiring older adults

10. Findings and Recommendations: Changes/ Action Affordability: observations made were • incomes don’t keep pace with cost of living • taxing retired persons with same tax approach as is applied to people who are working is not a good approach • financial planning education and support is good – • reduced buying power of older adults can also lead to reduced power and influence in society – creates a cycle of diminishing opportunities for older adults • eliminate incentives for companies to hire/out-source out of country e.g. RBC is doing this and instead promote companies hiring older adults for these type of jobs • ensure public funds are used responsibly so as to maximize support available for older adults

11. Findings and Recommendations: Changes/ Action Employment recommendations included: • Some programs serving primarily seniors should be staffed by seniors • Laws exist to protect the elderly from ageism in employment situations, but they need to be revisited to see if they are adequate • Seniors need access to information about their legal rights in employment situations and how to exercise these rights • Intergenerational alliances so that older workers can help and support younger workers and vice versa

12. Findings and Recommendations: Changes/ Action The Education group identified 4 important sources of information/education, which need to be strengthened as part of promoting active aging and combatting ageism, namely: • Community resources providers/centres • Media • Hospitals and Health Care Providers • Provincial organizations/outreach

13. Findings and Recommendations: Changes/ Action Access to information Services (versus education and information) identified this as an issue for funders and providers including: • comprehensive government information impacting older adults – at all 3 levels • specific, targeted and regular sponsored public information programs for older adults

14. Identifying and Addressing Issues of Power “We need to provide older adults the information they need to access the programs and services available to them; utilization of some good programs is lower because of lack of information.”

15. Findings and Recommendations: Changes/ Action Health Care as a topic was reviewed by 3 groups which identified gaps and improvements for: - Policy/Political - Models of Care - Specialization in Health Care streams and HR - Access - Costs (affordability)

16. Identifying and Addressing Issues of Power “There is no hospital champion/coordinator so you get lost in the resident team shuffle” “Stop passing the buck’ take the time to listen to seniors when they interact with you”

17. Findings and Recommendations: Changes/ Action Language and Culture looked at • providing sharing opportunities of culture in more communities; more community space allocated to programs and services related to cross cultural sharing of experiences • workshops that go out to other geographical areas • more ESL classes for Older adults as they learn differently; • opportunities for cultural interpreters to ensure seniors can access programs about abuse, 911, social programs • older women (identified by culture/religion, income, single status/widowed) – system may not meet their needs, we need to know more about how to support them – e.g. research in older women’s health, income support for older women who usually live longer

18. Developing A Framework for Active Aging Support emerged for a comprehensive active aging framework with elements including: • 7 principles of Law Commission report (also use these for planning) • Definition of ageism • definition of diversity • Build a positive economic model • incorporate anti-oppression strategy

19. Identifying and Addressing Issues of Power “The feeling is that a senior has no of value, can be discarded to save money.”

20. Next steps….. • Presentation of report to key stakeholders, influencers and government officials • Creating a unified “voice” representing seniors • Learn from from feminist and civil rights movements when addressing inequities • Build awareness to the question – who profits from ageism? what is their values?

21. Thank you ! PRESENTER Elizabeth NykorowytschMacnab Executive Director, Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizens Organizations 333 Wilson Avenue, #406 Toronto, ON M3H 1T2 416-785-8570 ex 222 elizabeth.macnab@ocsco.ca www.ocsco.ca