Halton prepares for older population - Aging friendly planning

NRU
April 22, 2015
By Leah Wong

Halton Region residents are getting older and the region is seeking to create an aging-friendly environment to allow residents to age-in-place.

Yesterday the region’s health and social services committee recommended that council approve the Halton Region Older Adult Plan, a cross-departmental plan to meet the changing needs of the region’s residents.

Halton is experiencing a number of population changes. Older adults are making up a larger portion of the population as baby boomers age and life expectancy continues to increase.

“[Increased] life expectancy is the result of the success of our public health interventions,” commissioner and medical officer of health Hamidah Meghani told committee. “We must respond to the challenges created by this achievement.”

The region is forecasting that the number of older adults will nearly double by 2031, when it is expected one in six Halton residents will be over the age of 65.

As Halton prepares to accommodate a larger older adult population it has to acknowledge how diverse this group is. While income and education levels, ethnicity and cultural variances have always contributed to diversity within this cohort, as life expectancy rises the cohort now spans a broader age group.

“We know those seniors are not a homogenous group,” Burlington Ward 2 councillor Marianne Meed Ward told NRU. “They have very different issues and different needs. When including all these seniors in our recreational programming and civic life we have to recognize the diversity of this group and not take a one-size fits all approach.”

The older adult plan responds to a number of issues facing this population cohort. Meed Ward, one of the regional council representatives on the older adult advisory committee, say the most common issues she hears about relate to housing, transportation and inclusion.

“We need to ensure each community has a range of housing types,” said Meed Ward. “The municipal role is to ensure there is a diversity of units being built across the community in locations that are walkable for seniors that don’t drive anymore.”

Housing location can greatly impact a senior’s quality-of life, as it affects access to transportation, shopping, health care and opportunities for social interaction. While most residents want to stay in their homes as long as possible, having a diverse housing stock allows for residents to downsize before they require assisted-living without having to leave their community.

Creating walkable, well-connected communities is one thing that will benefit seniors. Meed Ward said an example of this is a new five-tower development near Burlington’s GO Station, which has services and shopping nearby and is close to a major transportation hub. “It’s a great location for transportation,” she said. “There’s walkability there.”

The new development will add 1,000 multi-residential units to the area, which might interest seniors interested in downsizing. The region has purchased 15 units within the development which will become assisted housing units with rents geared to income.

Halton’s local municipalities also have programs in place to help seniors stay in their homes as long as possible, such as a tax rebate for low-income seniors and home-based care supports. As the portion of the population that is over 65 increases transportation and accessibility become bigger challenges for local municipalities, which fund their own transit systems.

One way Burlington, for example, is addressing the changing needs of seniors is through the launch of three community connection bus routes in May. The low-floor buses service seniors’ homes, wellness centres and malls.

Making it easy for seniors to use public transit is just one aspect of addressing mobility for older adults. The plan also emphasizes the importance of considering the needs of all users-including older adults-through active transportation initiatives.

Improving accessibility is another priority as it supports inclusion for the entire population, not just older adults. To achieve this, the region will need to meet Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act guidelines within regional buildings and public spaces and integrate aging-friendly design standards.

Following council’s approval of the plan staff will create detailed work plans that identify specific timing, outcomes and measures for actions over the next four years that seek to achieve the priorities. The plan is aligned with other regional plans and strategies and will have implications for all regional policies, programs and services.