Province launches age-friendly community recognition program
The province chose to launch a new age-friendly community recognition program in the city Wednesday because of local efforts to support seniors, Seniors Affairs Minister Dipika Damerla told a crowd gathered at Activity Haven.
“You guys are doing such innovative work when it comes to agefriendly communities,” she said after announcing the Ontario Age-Friendly Community Recognition Award, which will honour municipalities and localities working to meet the needs of seniors.
Initiatives could include safe and accessible public parks and community centres, recreational programming to help seniors stay active, easy access to transportation and services and walkable communities that make it easier to get around.
Submissions can be made online by local governments or community organizations that have the support of their local government. The nomination deadline is Feb. 2 and profiles of the best projects will be showcased next spring.
Provincial recognition of an agefriendly community will also trigger eligibility for pan-Canadian recognition and international endorsement through the World Health Organization.
Ann MacLeod, acting chairwoman of the Age-Friendly Peterborough Advisory Committee, said the program means the city can leverage the action plan for seniors launched earlier this year to further enhance programs, services and infrastructure for local seniors.
The plan has been in the works since 2009 and included the input of an array of community organizations, she told those gathered.
It’s goals include ensuring seniors’ basic needs are being met, that they are staying mobile, building relationships and contributing to the community.
The program is part of Aging With Confidence: Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors that includes more than 20 new initiatives to help ensure seniors can access the supports they need at every stage of their lives, officials stated.
The plan includes 30,000 new long-term-care beds, 15 million more hours of nursing, personal support and therapeutic care for long-term care home residents, a free annual high-does flu vaccine for seniors and a new one-stop website where seniors can find information about tax credits, drug coverage, pwoers of attorney, recreation programs and more.
The 20-point plan was created based on community consultation in which seniors told the minister that they want to make sure the government is investing in them to ensure that they can live the best possible life, no matter their age.
“That’s a really important message and that’s why we have called (the progam) Aging With Confidence,” Damerla told those gathered.
Provincial spending will include $18 million in arts programs, $7 million in elder abuse and consumer protection and $7 million to make communities more agefriendly.
In order to support independence and battle social isolation, the government intends to create 40 more senior active living facilities such as Activity Haven, Damerla said.
In his comments, Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett pointed out that council pays close attention to senior-related issues – particularly since the area has one of the oldest populations. The city’s seniors are a valuable resource that provides stability, he said.
Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal pointed out how there are now more seniors than youth under 15 and how the province is taking action to address that shift. “It’s a wonderful asset, having all of that experience to draw from.”
Activity Haven was pleased to host the announcement, executive director Heather Leveck told a crowd that included about three dozen members.
The former school on Barnardo Avenue offers activities and facilities such as shuffleboard, computer classes, a full workshop and “cards, cards and more cards” to make sure seniors have something to do and relationships to enjoy, she said.
“We give active, young seniors the push out of the rut they truly deserve.”
NOTE: For more information on the program and how to nominate someone, visit www.ontario. ca/page/honours-and-awardscommunity#section-0 ... For more information on Aging with Confidence: Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors, visit www.ontario.ca/ page/aging-confidence-ontarioaction-plan-seniors .