Finding the Right Fit: Age-Friendly Community Planning

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Finding the Right FitAge-Friendly Community

Planning

Finding the Right Fit:Age-Friendly Community Planning

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Who am I?

Dr. Mary McGeown

Lakehead University

Centre for Education and Research on Aging & Health

mmcgeown@lakeheadu.ca 807-766-7123

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Why are the age-friendly movement & Finding the Right Fit important to your community?

2012 1.9 Million (14.9%) seniors in

Ontario

2036

4.1 Million (25%) seniors in Ontario

DOUBLE

2036 75+ group is projected to increase by approximately 144%

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Age-Friendly Cities & Communities (AFC)

AFC is a local policy approach for responding to demographic aging.

Active Aging:

emerging perspective

Productive Aging

departing perspective

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1. Outdoor Spaces and Public Buildings

2. Transportation

3. Housing

4. Social Participation

World Health Organization (WHO)Domains of Age-Friendly Cities & Communities

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5. Respect and Social Inclusion

6. Civic Participation and Employment

7. Communication and Information

8. Community Support and Health Services

WHO Domains of Age-Friendly Cities & Communities

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The WHO Age Friendly Checklist is the basis for Finding the Right Fit

The checklist provides a tool for self assessment and a map to chart progress.

Going beyond the checklist is possible.

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12 communities are members of the WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities & Communities:

What is Happening in Ontario Today?

Central Welland

WestLondon, Waterloo, Windsor, Port Colborne

East Ottawa, Kingston

NorthThunder Bay, Sault Ste. MarieFrancophone communities:Hearst, Noëlville, Verner

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What is Happening in Ontario Today?

CentralBurlington, Mississauga, Collingwood, Halton, Hamilton, Richmond Hill, Toronto, Town of Caledon, York Region

West

Brantford, Cambridge, Port Colborne, Welland, Erie St Claire, Guelph, Kitchener, Niagara Region, Oxford County, Petrolia, Sarnia-Lambton, Waterloo

EastKawartha Lakes ; Halliburton Highlands, Peterborough. Sharbot Lake Region

North Dryden, Sudbury

Many Communities have not begunOthers are at various stages of the process

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What is the Ontario Government doing to promote Age-Friendly Cities & Communities?Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005)

Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors (2013)

Living Longer Living Well (Dr. Samir Sinha, January, 2013).

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Finding the Right FitAge-Friendly Community Planning

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ContentsSection 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

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The Four Steps of the AFC Process

Section 4

Section 5

Section 6

Section 7

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How will your community be able to use Finding the Right Fit?

Community 1

Starting a local AFC initiative

Read Sections 2 and 3 to learn about AFC planning, then focus on Section 4, which

presents tools for starting a local AFC

initiative

Community 2

Developing a custom needs assessment

Review the person environment fit

concept and AFC dimensions (Sections

2 and 3) and read Section 5 to see how

to create a custom needs assessment.

Community 3

Writing Older Adult Plan

ImplementingEvaluating

See Section 6 and 7 for resources about

writing, implementing and evaluating an AFC action plan.

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1. Need to understand more about the unique circumstances of rural, remote and Northern communities.

2. Older adults must be involved in all stages of the process.

3. To be successful, the AFC process must involve multiple and diverse stakeholders: Public, private, local government, regional

government, community led seniors group, academic institutions

Lessons Learned AFC

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4. Look for seniors to champion AFC and to build alliances both internal and external to your community.

5. Be aware of current initiatives that may contribute to AFC (e.g. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Municipal Plans, Complete Streets, Vibrant Communities etc.).

6. Use an AFC lens to assess current policies and practices, organizations and services.

Lessons Learned (cont’d)

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7. Need a community wide older adult plan: Clearly defining agreed upon underlying

principles Clearly defining roles and responsibilities of

the various stakeholders Providing the framework for ongoing

accountability and developing financial sustainability

Lessons Learned (cont’d)

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8. Financial Sustainability Start up and core funding is critical. Communities that have embraced the AFC process

are learning the importance of realigning existing resources to address the emerging needs of active aging.

9. Decision making context especially since 2008, makes setting priorities

challenging (e.g. the competing financial needs of municipalities that are experiencing a declining industrial tax base and increased population based needs)

Lessons Learned (cont’d)

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Contact InformationLakehead University

Centre for Education and Research on Aging & Health,

(Northeast/Northwest Ontario)

Mary McGeownmmcgeown@lakeheadu.ca 807-766-7123

Ruth Wilfordrwilford@lakeheadu.ca766-7298

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University Team

Northern Ontario – Lakehead UniversityRuth WilfordDr. Mary McGeown

Central and Eastern Ontario – McMaster UniversityDr. Margaret DentonAmanda Peters

Western and Eastern Ontario – University of Waterloo

Dr. John LewisMark Groulx

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Additional Materials

Appendix I: Key ResourcesGlossary of AcronymsIs Your Business Age-Friendly?Reference List

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Related Web PagesOntario Seniors’ Secretariatwww.seniors.gov.on.ca/en/index.php

MAREP AFC Community Stories Website:afc.uwaterloo.ca Age Friendly World Website: www.agefriendlyworld.org/afcc/canada

Age Friendly Thunder Bay:www.agefriendlythunderbay.ca

Public Health Agency of Canada:www.phac-aspc.gc.ca