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Age-Friendly Communities: Messages from the Research

Age-Friendly Communities: Messages from the Research. Pamela Fancey Nova Scotia Centre on Aging Mount Saint Vincent University www.msvu.ca Preventing Falls Together Conference October 29, 2009. Key premise - an age-friendly community promotes active ageing .

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Age-Friendly Communities: Messages from the Research

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  1. Age-Friendly Communities: Messages from the Research Pamela Fancey Nova Scotia Centre on Aging Mount Saint Vincent University www.msvu.ca Preventing Falls Together Conference October 29, 2009

  2. Key premise - an age-friendly community promotes active ageing. Active ageing is “the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance the quality of life as people age” (Active Ageing: A Policy Framework, WHO, 2002). What is an age-friendly community?

  3. Overview-Age-Friendly Communities Work 33 cites Implemen-tation and Action • Research Outcomes • Practical guides • Increased awareness of seniors’ needs Participatory Research re advantages and barriers Evaluate Guiding Framework 10 rural/remote communities

  4. Research Background Age-Friendly features Age-Friendly barriers Suggestions for improvement • Outdoor spaces and buildings • Transportation • Housing • Respect and social inclusion • Social participation • Communication and information • Civic participation and employment • Community support and health services

  5. Four Communities in Guysborough County • Canso • Sherbrooke • Sunnyville • Town of Guysborough 4 focus groups, April-May 2007 41 seniors and caregivers

  6. “When you go for a walk, anybody that can’t walk any distance, it’d be nice to have a bench.” Outdoor Spaces & Buildings • Strengths: • Buildings increasingly accessible • Plenty of parks, walking trails • Barriers: • Parks not wheelchair friendly • Accessibility to public buildings hit-and-miss • Lack of benches in public places (e.g., parks, grocery stores, banks, pharmacies) • Safety issues – lighting • Lack of paved shoulders on country roads hinder walking “Cross walks signals are made for Olympic runners.” Halifax city

  7. Transportation …going to and from Halifax costs you hundreds of dollars, if you spend the night…” • Strengths • One van service • Volunteer drivers (e.g.,friends - seniors) • Well ploughed streets in winter • Barriers • Where have all the gas stations gone? • distance and cost to access services e.g., specialists, denturists, opticians • inconvenient appointment times (health care) • winter weather • night-time driving • anxiety about town/city driving (senior drivers) “...it’s 50 kms to the next gas station”. “…if it looks like snowflakes today, I’m scared to death to drive.”

  8. Housing • Lack of Housing Options • e.g. assisted living, seniors’ apartments • Larger units needed (changing lifestyles) • Placement in LTC far from home • Expenses • maintenance • Outmigration – shortage of labourers • Houses in disrepair (seniors helping seniors) • heating old homes • NB: Hazards related to wood stoves • house insurance (many don’t have) • Isolation of many homes • Power outages (be prepared in winter!) • Going up and down stairs/fear of falling “When we first [moved] here, all [my husband] did was go to fires. Constantly, for years…” “We pay $3000 a year to stay warm…” “We need accessible 2-bedroom apartments-no steps! Or very few steps.”

  9. Summary • Idea of viewing our surroundings through an “age-friendly” lens is new but critical to support persons to age in place • Falls prevention work very relevant • Increased knowledge and awareness are key • Some are very simple changes • Others more complex and will require more investment of time and money • Need to learn from other communities and understand to what extent actions make a difference

  10. Acknowledgements • Participants – seniors, caregivers, service providers • Advisory Committee • Community contacts/liaisons • NSCA Research team – Brenda Hattie, Dr. Janice Keefe • Halifax Regional Municipality • Nova Scotia Department of Seniors

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