Age-Friendly Communities: Messages from the Research Pamela Fancey Nova Scotia Centre on Aging Mount Saint Vincent University Preventing Falls Together Conference October 29, 2009

What is an age-friendly community? Key premise - an age- friendly community promotes active ageing. Active ageing is “the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance the quality of life as people age” (Active Ageing: A Policy Framework, WHO, 2002).

Participatory Research re advantages and barriers Guiding Framework 33 cites 10 rural/remote communities Research Outcomes 1.Practical guides 2.Increased awareness of seniors’ needs Overview-Age-Friendly Communities Work Implemen- tation and Action Evaluate

Research Background 1) Outdoor spaces and buildings 2) Transportation 3) Housing 4) Respect and social inclusion 5) Social participation 6) Communication and information 7) Civic participation and employment 8) Community support and health services Age-Friendly features Age-Friendly barriers Suggestions for improvement

Four Communities in Guysborough County Canso Sherbrooke Sunnyville Town of Guysborough 4 focus groups, April-May seniors and caregivers

Outdoor Spaces & Buildings Strengths: Buildings increasingly accessible Plenty of parks, walking trails Barriers: Parks not wheelchair friendly Accessibility to public buildings hit-and-miss Lack of benches in public places (e.g., parks, grocery stores, banks, pharmacies) Safety issues – lighting Lack of paved shoulders on country roads hinder walking “Cross walks signals are made for Olympic runners.” Halifax city “When you go for a walk, anybody that can’t walk any distance, it’d be nice to have a bench.”

Transportation Strengths  One van service  Volunteer drivers (e.g.,friends - seniors)  Well ploughed streets in winter Barriers Where have all the gas stations gone? distance and cost to access services e.g., specialists, denturists, opticians inconvenient appointment times (health care) winter weather night-time driving anxiety about town/city driving (senior drivers ) “…if it looks like snowflakes today, I’m scared to death to drive.” “...it’s 50 kms to the next gas station”. …going to and from Halifax costs you hundreds of dollars, if you spend the night…”

Housing Lack of Housing Options  e.g. assisted living, seniors’ apartments  Larger units needed (changing lifestyles)  Placement in LTC far from home Expenses  maintenance Outmigration – shortage of labourers Houses in disrepair (seniors helping seniors)  heating old homes NB: Hazards related to wood stoves  house insurance (many don’t have) Isolation of many homes  Power outages (be prepared in winter!)  Going up and down stairs/fear of falling “We pay $3000 a year to stay warm…” “When we first [moved] here, all [my husband] did was go to fires. Constantly, for years…” “We need accessible 2-bedroom apartments-no steps! Or very few steps.”

Summary Idea of viewing our surroundings through an “age-friendly” lens is new but critical to support persons to age in place Falls prevention work very relevant Increased knowledge and awareness are key Some are very simple changes Others more complex and will require more investment of time and money Need to learn from other communities and understand to what extent actions make a difference

Acknowledgements Participants – seniors, caregivers, service providers Advisory Committee Community contacts/liaisons NSCA Research team – Brenda Hattie, Dr. Janice Keefe Halifax Regional Municipality Nova Scotia Department of Seniors