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Aging Well in Chilliwack

Aging Well in Chilliwack. Listening to Seniors. Why promote aging well?. Chilliwack’s population is aging Support people through a focus on prevention Improve health and wellness services Relieve future pressure on healthcare system Educate people about the implications of lifestyle choices

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Aging Well in Chilliwack

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  1. Aging Well in Chilliwack Listening to Seniors

  2. Why promote aging well? • Chilliwack’s population is aging • Support people through a focus on prevention • Improve health and wellness services • Relieve future pressure on healthcare system • Educate people about the implications of lifestyle choices • Enable older adults to maintain their independence

  3. Research Goals: • To learn what seniors feel are the most significant issues that affect their personal health and wellbeing • To gauge seniors’ awareness of and their opinions on local health and wellness services • To hear seniors’ opinions on ways to improve local health and wellness services so they reflect seniors’ values • To increase community awareness of existing services for seniors • To get contributions from seniors, their family members and their caregivers to inform the planning, development, and delivery of health and wellness services

  4. Method – What we did • 8 listening exercises • Selected locations frequented by older adults • Used an open ended, semi-structured interview style • Qualitative information

  5. Where we went • Heritage Village • Elder College/UCFV • Promontory Lake Estates • Coqualeetza Elders’ Meeting • Chilliwack Seniors’ Recreation Centre • Parkholm Place

  6. Topics Discussed • Defined health • Seniors’ values pertaining to their health • The challenges seniors face that influence their health and inhibit healthy aging • How seniors find and access health and wellness services • Recommendations for improving services for seniors • Recommendations for enhancing community awareness

  7. Health

  8. Values • Independence • Family • Building relationships • Belonging • Community • Self-worth

  9. Challenges • Social isolation • Social stigma associated with aging • Marginal role in society • Poor knowledge of available support services • Fear of losing independence

  10. Finding out about Services • Family • Physicians – inconsistent referrals; some doctors are better informed • Telephone book – dialing difficulties • Chilliwack Seniors’ Resource Society

  11. Improving Services for Seniors • Care for the caregivers – more opportunities for respite • Educate physicians and healthcare professionals to maximize referrals • One-stop-shop – centralize health and wellness services for easy access

  12. Improving Community Awareness of Seniors’ Services • Information must target everyone – seniors’ family members need to know what is available • Coordinate information through the Chilliwack Seniors’ Resource Society • A seniors’ newspaper or magazine – written for seniors, by seniors

  13. Next Steps • Researching feasibility of one-stop-shop • Exploring ways to improve community awareness of services (211 Initiative) • Looking for ways to get information to seniors’ families • Researching ways to access isolated seniors

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