Age Friendly CommunitiesWorkshop

[Council Logo can be added here]

COTA New South Wales

Outline of the Day

• Setting the scene• Older people - Who are we really talking about?• Interacting with the built environment• Where do older people fit in the strategic plan?• Actions from the day

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Project Background

• Council on the Ageing (COTA NSW) funded by Office for Ageing, NSW Department of Family and Community Services

• Follow on from Local Government and Ageing Report (O’Brien and Phibbs)

• To develop a resource to help local government prepare for an ageing population

• This workshop is part of that resource package

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Introduction

• Population ageing is a pressing international policy and budgetary issue

• In Australia – 2010 Intergenerational Report gives a national perspective

• State level – NSW Ageing Strategy• Little work has been done at a local

government level

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Local Government and Ageing

• The University of Western Sydney O’Brien and Phibbs study in 2011 was specifically concerned with local government

• The study covered 13 rural and 10 metro councils and focused on senior staff

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Overall Findings

• Across NSW, only community service staff seemed to be across the issues, although other staff “got on board” after they were walked through the issues

• New strategic planning process in NSW is providing opportunities for the issue to be given greater prominence in Council

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Overall Findings

A common concern for Councils was the high level of social isolation

amongst older Australians

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Policy Implications

• Better transport is a key issue• Co-ordination between levels of government

and NGOs• Sharing of resources and ideas between

councils• Collect better data to measure the impact of

ageing – not just relying on anecdotal evidence

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[Council Name] Population Pyramid – 2011-2036 change

Insert Council pyramid on this slide. This is an example

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Increase in older population for [Council Name]

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Increase in proportion of population in [Council Name] aged 65 and over

• 2011 - ??%• 2021 - ??%• 2036 - ??%

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Ageing is everybody’s business

• Want older people to be active and involved• Good for health• Good for economy• Not just a social services issue• Cuts across all aspects of Council work • Sometimes it’s in the detail, not big picture

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Myths and Stereotypes

• All older people – don’t work– are frail – have nothing left to offer

• All older people need – special accommodation– special and separate products– need care

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But older people

• Provide family support• Are active consumers • Mostly look after themselves• Volunteer in community organisations

• Only 5% of older people are in supported accommodation – this does not characterise all older people

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There are lots of Guidelines

Healthy Spaces and PlacesALGA, PIA and Heart Foundation

Checklist of Essential Features of Age-friendly CitiesWorld Health Organisation

Built Form Guidelines and Open Space GuidelinesLandcom

Age-friendly built environmentsAustralian Local Government Association

Building Dementia Friendly NeighbourhoodsAlzheimer’s Australia

Development and Active LivingPremier’s Council on Active Living (PCAL)

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Guidelines and older people

• Assuming general liveability factors are a given – specific aspects for older population:– Footpaths– Seating– Lighting– Wayfinding– Toilets– Parking

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What are the issues for [Council Name]?

(room here to insert a graphic or logo if desired)

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Introduction to Activity 1

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Archetypal Older Person

• Create a person and their story using information about people you know.

• Some things to think about:– Where are they living, and who with? – Do they have family connections?– What activities are they involved in?– What are their aspirations?– What would they like to do but can’t?

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Review the Archetypes

• View the other archetypes• What thoughts and ideas are most important

or relevant?• Are there any thoughts and ideas new to you?• Give these a star

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Introduction to Activity 2

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Example for Activity 2

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Every Picture Tells a Story

• Look at the picture and view it through the eyes of an older person

• Make notes in the space beneath the picture• When ready, discuss the pictures together • Identify the common themes in the pictures

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What did other people find?

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Summary of Activities

• Population is ageing – more older people than younger people in 50 years

• Older people are not all the same• Still contribute – child care, paid work,

volunteer hours, study and learning• Mostly want to age in their own home• Reluctant to move house

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What we’ve realised …

• Built environment not very age friendly • Disability access standards not sufficient• Attitudes play out in everything from policy

development to putting down concrete• We have to think more inclusively about

everything• It’s not all about aged care – it’s aged LIVING

COTA New South Wales

What does it mean for local government?

• Approach to all things needs to be age-friendly

• Have to think now about 10-20 years time

• Has to be inherent in Community Strategic Plan

Age Friendly CommunitiesWorkshop

Council Logo can be added here

COTA New South Wales

Joining the Dots

Policy focus on:• The public built environment• Special accommodation• Separate housing • But where will most people grow old?

At home in their local community• This is where most say they want to age

BUT…

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Joining the Dots

• Focus is on aged care not aged living• Shortage of everyday housing to suit older

people• Homes as well as public domain needs to

support people – join the dots• Going to residential care before they need to• IS THIS SUSTAINABLE?

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Introduction to Activity 4

[Council Name] Community Strategic Plan

[Can insert graphic or logo]

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[Council] Vision

[Put vision in centre of slide]

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CSP Goals

• [List goals here]

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Example 1

People Goals: • What are the particular issues for older people

in accessing cultural, recreational and sporting events?

• Are older people encouraged to participate in arts and sporting events?

• What can Council do within current constraints?

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Example 2

• Economic Goals:• What role can older people play in economic

development and tourism?• What can Council do to make the area more

appealing to older tourists?• What can Council do to support older

residents to spend their money locally?

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What can Council do?

• Read the goals assigned to your group• Decide by consensus 2 or 3 goals to work on• How does the goal translate into a liveable

community for older people?– Write down specific actions Council could implement

that relate to an older population– Write down specific actions other agencies might need

to implement– Write down what you think Council could do, but is

unable

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What did other people find?

EnvironmentCommunity Places

LeadershipEconomy

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Activity 6: What can I do?

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What can I do?

• Reflect on the work so far. You’ve been• Looking through the eyes of older people• Seeing what Council can do• Sharing ideas with others …

IDENTIFY ONE THING YOU CAN DO IN YOUR JOB TOMORROW

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Thank You!