Transcript Document

Aging-Well in Haliburton County
Barrie Age Friendly Communities Forum
October 29, 2009
Angela Van Berlo
Health Promoter, HKPR District Health Unit
Introduction to Haliburton County
Working Together To Prevent Falls
Among Older Adults
Communities in Action
Committee
Haliburton Highlands
Family Health Team
HKPR District
Health Unit
Building Collaboration with
Community Partners
Community
Education and
Awareness
Exercise Programs
Falls Prevention
Referral
Program
“Building Healthy Active
Rural Communities”
Partnership with
U-Links Centre
for Community
Based Research
VON SMART
Program
Age-Friendly
Haliburton
County
What We Know…
•Haliburton
County – Approximately 4000 seniors 65+
•24% of our population is 65+
•There
are at least 2000 falls in Haliburton County each
year among seniors and 800 falls result in fracture.
•Falls
are a major reason for hospitalization, loss of
independence and potentially death
Aging Well in Haliburton County
Timeline
Winter 2008
• Breathe, Stretch and Have Fun Exercise Program at two
seniors apartment buildings in Haliburton Village
March 2008
• Research brought forward the World Health
Organization Age-Friendly Communities Framework
• Goal of creating an Age-Friendly Haliburton County
Aging Well in Haliburton County
Timeline
May 2008
• Created the Aging-Well Committee to give a voice to
seniors’ concerns (grown to approx. 16 people)
• Includes individuals committed to advocating for seniors in
the County
June 2008
• Funding application became available through New
Horizons for Seniors
• Submitted application to fund an Age-Friendly Haliburton
County project.
Aging Well in Haliburton County
Timeline
September 2008
“The bench, donated by Ray and Marilyn Selbie, acts as a rest spot for
seniors who walk into town from Echo Hills apartments. It’s located on
the steeper section of Highland Street and is just one of the projects that
the Aging Well Committee is helping to promote for seniors. Matt James –
Haliburton Echo”
Aging Well Haliburton County
Timeline
February 2009
•
•
•
Received funding from New Horizons for $25,000
Link with the Communities in Action Committee to create a “Healthy,
Active, Age-Friendly Community”
Partnered with U-Links Centre for Community Based Research to assist
in project research
May 2009
Survey Design
• U-Links Centre for Community Based Research – Trent University
Student to assist with survey design, methodology, data collection and
analysis
• Committee Input
• Quality of Life Survey – Chilliwack Social Research and Planning Council
http://www.chilliwack.com/main/attachments/files/1643/Chilliwack_Aging_SurveyWEB.pdf
•
Friendly to Seniors Program, City of Greater Sudbury
http://www.friendlytoseniors.ca
Aging Well Haliburton County
Timeline
June 2009
• Launch project - Seniors Seminar
– Promotion
– Survey distribution
What is a Healthy, Active
Age-Friendly Community?
A community where policies, services, settings
and structures support and enable people to age
actively by:
-Recognizing their wide range of capacities, talents and
gifts
-Responding to their needs and preferences
-Respecting their decisions and lifestyle choices
-Protecting those most vulnerable
-Promoting their inclusion in, and contribution to, all
areas of community life
Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors. (2007). Age-Friendly Rural and
Remote Communities: A Guide. p. 5.
What is a Healthy, Active
Age-Friendly Community?
A healthy, active community is…
…a place where people of all ages and abilities can interact,
participate and contribute
…a great place to live and visit
…a healthy place to live, work, learn and play
Which leads to…
…more visitors
…healthier people
…economic vitality
…cleaner environment
(Healthy, Active Communities Roundtable, 2008)
Objectives for the project
1.
To assess the social and physical environment of Haliburton County based
on the 8 key features from the World Health Organizations Age-Friendly
Cities Framework
2.
To identify current initiatives and opportunities that create an environment
for active, positive aging.
3.
To identify key priority areas in creating an age-friendly community –
through focus testing, survey and community walk ability assessments.
4.
To increase awareness of key priority areas for seniors to maintain active,
healthy and productive lives within their communities
5.
To produce a practical tool to be used among decision makers and
community stakeholders. It will form a framework with recommendations to
guide advocacy, community development and policy changes to create a
Healthy, Active Age-Friendly Haliburton County.
Implementation Plan
Increasing Awareness
• Keep it local! - Hired local graphic designer to create ads for
newspapers
• Ads in 3 local newspapers
• Press release issued
• Local Story for newspaper
• Radio interview with local radio stations
• Presentations to 4 Municipal Councils in May/June 2009
• Designated Municipal Liaisons
Implementation
Survey Distribution and Data Collection
• County-wide distribution
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Seniors groups
Apartment Buildings
Medical/Health Centre
Organizations and Agencies (Community Care)
Committee Meetings (Nutrition)
Email lists
Drop Off/Pick Up Locations
• Health Unit, Family Health Team Offices, Medical Centres,
County of Haliburton Office, Community Care, Libraries
• Online survey
• To date – 354 written + 94 online = 448 completed!
Implementation
Focus Groups
• Keep it Local! - Hired consultant – Fay & Associates
(http://www.fayandassociates.com)
• Inclusion Research Method
• 4 Municipalities – 1 Host/Hostess for each Community
-
Dysart (Monday, October 19) Sir Sanford Fleming College
Highlands East (Tuesday, October 20) Lloyd Watson Centre in Wilberforce
Algonquin Highlands (Thursday, October 22) Club 35 in Halls Lake
Minden Hills (Friday, October 30) OPP Detachment in Minden
• Analysis Day – to analyze research and create priority areas (Countywide and for each Municipality)
• Press Release
Implementation
Sustaining Awareness in the Community
• Newspaper articles – Haliburton Echo/Minden Times to highlight
the 8 key topic areas
• Open Houses to inform public
Aging Well – The Personal Experience
• U-Links Project to supplement the research
• Collection of Personal Interviews from older adults in the
community
Future Project…
• Walkability Assessment
Taking Action
Advocacy
Presentations to council
• Using the plans to advocate for change
• Linking with current initiatives and plans
• Input into County Official Plan Review/Municipal Official Plans
**Winter Snow Removal**
• Committee members want to take action before snowfall
• Moving forward with an action plan
• Contacted representative from the Haliburton Business
Improvement Association and Dysart et. al municipal council
• Attend BIA meeting to voice concerns
Final Thoughts…
• Find the common links in your area
–
–
–
–
Find partners (Make Friends)
Who’s working on similar projects?
Who has a similar mandate?
Is there a committee you can join?
• Talk to older adults/seniors!
– Find out who they are, what they like/dislike
– Do they have concerns about aging?
• Find out who the decision makers are
– Have a conversation with them – share your ideas
• Research
– Find out what has already been started and adapt
– Go to the Age Friendly Communities Website:
http://afc.uwaterloo.ca/
Thank You!
Aging Well Committee Members
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ed Muenzel
Ginger Muenzel
Art Wall
Bob Stinson
Aileen Bruce
June Stewart
Miles Roberts
Robert Young
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bob Penfold
Mary Pearsell
Diana McCullough
Marjorie Cartwright
Jean Hutchinson
Angela Van Berlo
Carol Browne
U-Links Centre for
Community Based
Research
For More Information Please Contact:
Angela Van Berlo
[email protected]
(705) 457-1391 ext. 239