HomeMy WebLinkAboutSHCAC - 2017-06-01 - Item 1 - Age friendly Kitchener
Age
Friendly
Kitchener
Acommunityinwhichwecan
livewellandagewell
2017ActionPlan
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What is an Age-Friendly Community?
All across the world, governments have recognized the need to make communities
more age-friendly to respond to the increasing aging population. The World Health
Organization (WHO) has been a leader in supporting communities to be more age-
friendly through the development of a number of tools and resources. The WHO
defines an age-friendly community as one that “provides an inclusive and accessible
urban environment that promotes active aging through supportive policies, services and
infrastructure”.
In 2012 the Ontario Government released a report entitled Living Longer, Living Well
that committed to making the Province the best place to grow up and grow old. In order
to achieve this commitment, the Province and Municipalities are working together to
ensure that communities are accessible and have the physical and social infrastructure
in place to enable older adults to age in their neighborhoods. To support municipalities
in becoming age-friendly, the Province of Ontario developed a grant program to assist
with the development of local age-friendly action plans.
The City of Kitchener was one of several communities to receive a grant from the
Ontario government to develop an age-friendly community action plan. Since late
2015, staff has been working with an age-friendly advisory committee to engage with
older adults to determine priorities for ensuring that this community is prepared for,
and responsive to an aging cohort.
How did we create the Age-Friendly Kitchener Action
Plan?
We Engaged.
Through the spring and summer of 2016, we engaged with close to 1200older adults in
our community to hear their ideas and better understand their needs.
We Built a Vision.
Residents told us that it was important for people to be able to age in their
neighborhoods but policies, services and supports are required to enable them to do so.
To ensure we are working towards this goal, the following community vision was
developed:
ͻ AcommunityinwhichwecanlivewellandageǞĻƌƌͼ
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We Identified our Priorities using Community Feedback.
Through focus groups and surveys, we identified existing community assets and gaps
as they relate to age-friendly principles. Using this feedback, the age-friendly advisory
committee developed 4 priority areas for action as a first step towards achieving our
vision.
1.Accessible and Affordable Neigbourhoods
Residents want to age in place and live in their neighborhoods for as long as
possible. This requires coordinated, accessible and affordable programs and
services including transportation and housing, at the neighbourhood level.
2.Access to Information
This community offers numerous programs, services and activities that people value
and want to continue to use as they age. Older adults experience difficulties finding
and accessing information and supports which limit their participation. In an age-
friendly community, information is centralized and available in a variety of formats.
3.Belonging
There is tremendous pride that exists in this community and a willingness to give
back. Older adults want to be engaged in decisions that impact them and to have
their views heard and respected by government. This was reinforced in our
consultation. Our community must value its diversity and be inclusive and welcoming
to all residents.
4.Connectedness and Well-being
Older adults want to be active and vital members of the community through
increased opportunities for connectedness and well-being. To achieve this they
need a network of supports to help them feel safe, connected and valued, which can
include neighbours helping neighbours. This means reducing isolation, feeling safe
physically and emotionally, having positive mental and physical wellness, and
ensuring we have trails and barrier free outdoorspaces
We Developed an Action Plan.
TheAge-Friendly Kitchener Action Plan was created in collaboration with older adult
community members and is the foundation for creating an age-friendly community. This
plan contains 19 actions focused around the four themes. A number of these actions
align with planned or existing City of Kitchener and community strategies, initiatives and
projects. This plan is achievable and will require collaboration between the City of
Kitchener and different organizations, associations, community groups and levels of
government.
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We are Planning for Implementation.
After the Action Plan is endorsed by City Council, staff, with the guidance of the Mayor’s
Advisory Council for Kitchener Seniors, will begin implementation planning. It is
expected that these actions will be implemented over the next five years. We believe
that the implementation of these actions will help move Kitchener closer to our vision of
being a community where we can live well and age well.
We are committed.
Council and staff of the City of Kitchener are committed to working together to
accomplish this vision through:
Respecting and valuing the contribution that older adults bring to this
community
Supporting older adults to be engaged in decisions that impact them
Applying an age-friendly lens to decision making
Advocating on behalf of Kitchener’s older adults to the other levels of
government on issues of concern.
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Action Plan
Accessible and Affordable Neigbourhoods
1.Age-Friendly Neighbourhood Programming
As recommended in the Neighbourhood Strategy, improve access to programs and
services for older adults at the neighbourhood level. Resident led and City supported
systematic planning processes will be developed to:
Increase the number of older adult programs in community centres and aquatic
facilities
Create neighbourhood demographic profiles
Create an inventory of neighbourhood age-friendly assets and resources
Support the development of neighbourhood action plans (as recommended in the
Neighbourhood Strategy), by engaging with older adults to identify their needs for
programs, services and supports
Develop a new tool within the neighbourhood action plan guide and toolkit to help
ensure the inclusion of older adults
2.Promote the Leisure Access Service
Educate and develop awareness within the older adult community about the City of
Kitchener’s Leisure Access Service.
3.Age-Friendly Parks, Trails and Outdoor Spaces
Create intergenerational opportunities and experiences for our parks, trails and public
spaces by:
Engaging with older adults and service providers during the design stage of new
or redeveloped parks, trails and public spaces
As recommended in the Neighbourhood Strategy’s Public Seating Program,
increase the number of rest areas and public seating when
developing/redeveloping public spaces such as in the downtown, parks and
trails
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4.Sidewalk Maintenance and Snow Clearance
Safe, accessible and clear sidewalks were frequently identified as important factors in
keeping older adults active and engaged in community life. Provincially, legislation
related to winter sidewalk maintenance standards is currently under review. It is
anticipated that any changes could have an impact on municipal processes, budgets,
by-laws etc. Once the outcome is known, staff will inform and engage with the
community to determine age-friendly, opportunities, creative programs, services etc.
This item was repeatedly identified by the community as a barrier to aging in place and
is key to ensuring that older adults, those with disabilities,and many other members of
our community are able to accomplish day to day activities within their neighbourhoods.
5.Transportation Training Program
In partnership with the Region of Waterloo, offer transit and LRT training workshops that
are applicable to both transit users and drivers to educate and support older adults in
navigating our local transportation system. Additionally, ensure that the City’s website
has information related to transportation supports available to older adults.
Access to Information
1.Age-Friendly Communication Strategies
Provide information in a variety of formats and in contexts that are inclusive of older
adultsinterests to ensure that the information is readily available and easily accessible.
2.Improve Availability and Access of Information on the City’s
Website
Develop a dedicated older adults page on the City of Kitchener website that provides a
central source of information on directly delivered City programs, services and supports
for older adults, and ensure that this information is frequently reviewed for accuracy.
3.Improving Technology Literacy of Older Adults
As recommended in Digital Kitchener, promote opportunities for digital access and
literacy through collaboration with local organizations and partners.
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Belonging
1.Inclusive Volunteering Opportunities
Develop and provide supportive and inclusive volunteering opportunities to ensure
older adults of all abilities can fully participate in civic life.
2.Community Ambassador Program within City Facilities
Create meaningful volunteering opportunities and welcoming City facilities, by
developing an ambassadors program in locations which older adults frequently visit.
The role of the ambassador is to enhance the experience of the older adult by
orienting them about programs and services and assisting them in locating
recreational opportunities to meet their needs and interests.
3.Development of Supportive and Inclusive Programs and
Activities
Engage and partner with community organizations to develop and implement
programming opportunities that support the diverse needs of older adults in the
community. This includes the LGBTQ+ community, persons with dementia, and
aging adults with physical and intellectual disabilities as well new Canadians and
individuals from diverse backgrounds.
4.Age-Friendly Community Engagement
Engage and consult with the Mayor’s Advisory Council for Kitchener Seniors
(MACKS) in the development of the Special Outreach Strategy, as recommended in
the City’s Community Engagement Review, to support the inclusion of age-friendly
practices.
5.Recognizing the Contributions of Older Adults
Expand communications, events and activities to recognize and celebrate the
contributions of older adults in this community during Senior’s Month.
6.Age-Friendly Business Recognition Program
Explore opportunities to partner with the Kitchener Chamber of Commerce and the
Downtown Business Improvement Association to provide training regarding
accessibility and age-friendly business practices. Develop a recognition program for
businesses that provides exceptional age-friendly customer service.
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Connectedness and Well-being
1.Block Connector Approach
Provide support to the development and implementation of the Block Connector
Approach, as recommended in the Neighborhood Strategy. This approach is an
excellent opportunity to connect socially isolated older adults to their neighbourhoods
and needed community supports.
2.Neighbourhood Links
Explore the feasibility of developing Neighbourhood Links to support the concept of
aging in place and social connectedness. Neigbourhood Links are a collaboration of
organizations and groups that work together to provide services and supports to older
adults within a designated neighbourhood. The goal is to enable residents to access
multiple services and supports in one location while providing social spaces for
connectedness, as described in the Older Adult Strategy
3.Prevention and Education Workshops
Expand prevention and educational workshops in partnership with community health
and social service agencies. Workshop topics will be guided by input from older adults
to ensure these are responsive to their interests.
Age-friendly Kitchener
1.MACKS
The Mayors Advisory Council for Kitchener Seniors (MACKS) in collaboration with
staff to provide ongoing oversight of this action plan and provide an age-friendly
lens to City programming.To support transparency, develop an annual community
report card related to the AFC action plan progress.
2.Coordination of External Grant Opportunities
Coordinate the City’s approach to applying for external grants related to older adults.
This will ensure that grant opportunities are maximized and are meeting the
identified priorities as it relates to age-friendly community planning and the vision of
living well and aging well in Kitchener.
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