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Finding the Right Fit: Age-Friendly Community Planning

Finding the Right Fit: Age-Friendly Community Planning. Finding the Right Fit Age-Friendly Community Planning. Presenters. Dr. Margaret Denton, McMaster University Amanda Peters, McMaster University Ruth Wilford, Lakehead University Dr. Mary McGeown, Lakehead University.

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Finding the Right Fit: Age-Friendly Community Planning

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  1. Finding the Right Fit:Age-Friendly Community Planning Finding the Right Fit Age-Friendly Community Planning

  2. Presenters • Dr. Margaret Denton, McMaster University • Amanda Peters, McMaster University • Ruth Wilford, Lakehead University • Dr. Mary McGeown, Lakehead University

  3. Outline of Presentation • Age-friendly Cities and Communities • What is happening in Ontario today • What is the Government of Ontario doing to promote age-friendly communities • Overview of the guide Finding the Right Fit: Age-friendly Community Planning • Lessons learned on building an age-friendly community • Contact Information

  4. Aging Seniors in Ontario: A Demographic Imperative • 2012 1.9 Million (14.9%) • 2036 4.1 Million (25%) Is it a Silver Tsunami or a Triumph of Our Times????

  5. Age-Friendly Cities & Communities (AFC) AFC is an effective local policy approach for responding to demographic aging. AFCs establish policies, programs, services and infrastructure that supports the physical and social environments designed to enable older people to live in safety, enjoyment, good health and well-being while continuing to participate in society in meaningful ways.

  6. Origins of the AFC ConceptPerson-Environment Fit (P-E fit) • Roots in Environmental Gerontology discipline that suggests the ongoing relationship between people and their physical and social environment affects their quality of life (p-e fit). “The goodness of fit” • For example: • What is the p-e fit between older adults with mobility limitations and the public transportation system? • What is the p-e fit between older adults who are isolated and lonely and the number of social activities in the community and why they are not able to attend?

  7. 8 Dimensions of an Age-Friendly City or Community

  8. Heart of the Guide is the Age Friendly Checklist • Tool for self assessment and a map to chart progress. • Going beyond the checklist is possible.

  9. What is Happening in Ontario Today? • Many Communities have not begun • Others are at various stages of the process (26): • Central Region : Burlington, Mississauga, Collingwood, Halton, Hamilton, Richmond Hill, Toronto, Town of Caledon, York Region • West Region: Brantford, Cambridge, Port Colborne, Welland, Erie St Claire, Guelph, Kitchener, Niagara Region, Oxford County, Petrolia, Sarnia-Lambton, Waterloo • East Region: Kawartha Lakes ; Halliburton Highlands, Peterborough. Sharbot Lake Region • North Region: Dryden, Sudbury • Twelve (12) Ontario communities are members of the WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: • Central Region : Welland • West Region: London, Waterloo, Windsor, Port Colborne, • East Region: Ottawa, Kingston • North Region: Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie; Francophone Communities: Hearst, Noëlville, Verner. • Sources: Ontario Seniors Secretariat (December 2013); MAREP AFC Communities Stories Website

  10. Leadership Varies (based on contact information)In many cases Public and Private are working together! • City/ Region including (N=16) • Community Organization (e.g. Social Planning Council; Community Development) (N=2) • Health Unit (e.g., District Health Unit, CCAC) (N=6) • Seniors Group (e.g., Council on Aging, Senior Advisory Committee) (N=5) • University (N=1) • Unknown (N=3)

  11. What is the Ontario Government Doing to Promote Age-Friendly Cities & Communities Age-friendly communities (AFCs) is a key component of Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors

  12. Finding the Right Fit Age-Friendly Community Planning

  13. Contents Section 1: Background Section 2: Using this Guide Section 3: Age-Friendly Community Dimensions Section 4: Defining Local Principles Section 5: Custom Needs Assessment Section 6: Developing an Action Plan Section 7: Implementation and Evaluation Appendix I – V, Glossary, Business Tool ‘A society for all ages is multigenerational. It is not fragmented, with youths, adults and older persons going their separate ways. Rather, it is age-inclusive, with different generations recognizing – and acting upon – their commonality of interest.’ ~ Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations

  14. The Four Steps of the AFC Process Section 4 1 4 2 Section 7 Section 5 3 Section 6

  15. Is this your community?

  16. Respect and Social Inclusion Civic Participation and Employment Communication and Information Community Support and Health Services Outdoor Spaces and Public Buildings Transportation Housing Social Participation

  17. Section 4 Step 1: Defining Local Principles Objectives • Create structure around local initiative • Determine which AFC dimensions are most relevant to your community Tasks 1. Form a steering committee 2. Create guiding principles 3. Build partnerships 4. Create and age-friendly community profile 5. Discuss priorities

  18. Section 5 Step 2: Custom Needs Assessments Objectives • Collect more detailed information about age-friendly priorities in your community • Identify your community’s person-environment (p-e-) fit Tasks 1. Examine your tool set 2. Create a draft list of questions 3. Create person-environment question pairs 4. Finalize the needs assessment

  19. Appendix III: Age-Friendly Community and Quality of Life Instrument Studies

  20. Create a Draft List of Questions

  21. Section 6Step 3: Developing an Action Plan Objectives • Lay out specific strategic actions that address the key gaps in your community’s p-e fit Tasks 1. Analyze your needs assessment data 2. Identify specific strategies that address gaps identified by your needs assessment 3. Compile strategies into an action plan with specific goals and objectives

  22. Section 7Step 4: Implementation and Evaluation Objectives • Identify primary users • Determine the purpose of your evaluation – summative vs. formative • Identify methods and measurement • Interpret findings and make judgments • Develop future AFC plans • Improve existing AFC action plan Tasks 1. Establish a direction for monitoring and evaluating the success of the plan 2. Determine an appropriate monitoring mechanism 3. Specific goals and objectives

  23. Additional Materials • Appendix I: Key Resources • Glossary of Acronyms • Is Your Business Age-Friendly? • Reference List

  24. Some Lessons Learned in Moving to an Age-friendly Community AFC • Older adults must be involved in all stages of the process. • To be successful, a-f initiatives must be both bottoms up and top down (City, Region, as well as community led seniors group). • It must involve multiple stakeholders, both public and private. • Look for Champions or advocates to champion AFC and build alliances • Both outside the City and Inside • Be aware of current initiatives that may contribute to a-f (e.g. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Municipal Plans, Complete Streets, Vibrant Communities etc.) • Use an AFC lens to assess current policies and practices, organizations and services.

  25. continued • Where is the accountability? Need a strategic older adult plan to achieve AFC • Need a community plan • Municipality responsible for infrastructure & some services • Community responsible for other aspects • Two levels of government (City/Region) must develop an over arching strategy • Evaluation (need indicators, measures) • Sustainability • AFC initiative must be sustainable across political regimes • AFC must be sustainable over time. • Start up and core funding is critical.

  26. Contact Information McMaster University (Central & Eastern Ontario) Margaret Denton mdenton@mcmaster.ca 905-525-9140 ext 23923 905-379-5099 Amanda Peters petera8@mcmaster.ca Lakehead University (Northeast/Northwest Ontario) Mary McGeown mmcgeown@lakeheadu.ca 807-766-7123 Waterloo University (Western & Eastern Ontario) John Lewis j7lewis@uwaterloo.ca 519-8884567 ext 33185 Mark Groulx Mark.Groulx@gmail.com ***Content Expert on Customized Needs Assessments Using the University of Waterloo Data Base

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