Aging-Well in Haliburton County

Barrie Age Friendly Communities ForumOctober 29, 2009

Angela Van BerloHealth Promoter, HKPR District Health Unit

Introduction to Haliburton County

Community Education and

Awareness

Exercise Programs

Falls Prevention

Referral Program

VON SMART Program

Age-Friendly Haliburton

County

Communities in Action Committee

“Building Healthy Active Rural

Communities”Haliburton

Highlands Family Health Team

HKPR District Health Unit

Building Collaboration with Community Partners

Partnership with U-Links Centre for Community

Based Research

Working Together To Prevent Falls Among Older Adults

•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

What We Know…

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

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 2009Survey 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 Sudburyhttp://www.friendlytoseniors.ca

June 2009• Launch project - Seniors Seminar

– Promotion– Survey distribution

Aging Well Haliburton County Timeline

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 lifeFederal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors. (2007). Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A Guide. p. 5.

What is a Healthy, ActiveAge-Friendly Community?

What is a Healthy, ActiveAge-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)

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.

Objectives for the project

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

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 (County-wide 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

Implementation

Taking Action

AdvocacyPresentations 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!

• 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

Aging Well Committee Members

For More Information Please Contact:

Angela Van Berlo avanberlo@haliburton.hkpr.on.ca

(705) 457-1391 ext. 239