The following Workshop - "Working with Older Adults" was presented at the Parks and Recreation Ontario Education Forum in March 2004 by Lawrie Bloom, Executive Director of the Older Adult Centres' Association of Ontario.

Workshop - Working with Older Adults

As the population ages, what we program for and how we operate community facilities will have a different face from what exists today. To begin to plan for this change, it is first important to understand the older adult/senior citizen population, what kinds of programs are presently in existence and how they operate to meet the needs of this group, the trends and expected future impacts of this aging group and the unique challenges in both programming and facility design when serving those ages from 50 - 100. Best practices, drawn from successful models from within the Older Adult Centres' Association of Ontario family - and their connection with the municipal recreation community - will be used to anchor this session in the reality of the day to day work of decision makers, programmers and volunteers.

Material Covered

  • Definitions & Issues
    • Older Adult vs Senior Citizen - "seniors" who do not consider themselves seniors
    • Older Adult - Senior Centre - Senior Centre vs. Rec Centre - a centre becomes a "second home" - multi-purpose/multi-service centre
    • Programming
  • how to program for the wide age range from 50 to 100
    • Wide range of program demands
  • Programming trends
    • Fee structures that meet varying financial capabilities
    • Facilities
  • Where are they today and what do they look like?
  • Who is building new facilities and what will they look like?
  • moving from youth oriented to older adults - what does this mean?
    • Volunteerism
    • General Trends that have an effect on programming for older adults
    • Solutions
    • Role of the OACAO

General Trends

  • Baby Boomers - leading edge will hit the population in 2011
  • People are retiring earlier
  • People are working longer
  • People are living longer
  • Higher quality of life
  • Higher level of health
  • Higher level of education
  • Healthy, active lifestyle
  • More people are living in their homes for a longer period of time - more need for home support programs to keep people in their homes and reduce cost of health care
  • More people are driving for a longer time
  • More disposable income - people are better off financially
  • Addictions - more gambling casinos - what will this mean
  • Volunteerism
    • based on the National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating -
      the total number of volunteers is declining, but those that are volunteering
      are giving more hours and for a variety of organizations
    • 1 million less Canadians volunteering

Programming Trends

  • More social clubs will be developed that will need space during the day
  • More demand on trips and travel
  • More demand for creative outlets
  • More demand for fitness opportunities
  • More sports will be participated in to an older age
  • Computerization - how this will change
  • Wellness and nutrition programs
  • Mall walking programs
  • Construction of Walking and bike trails
  • More intellectual activities - ie - book clubs and lecture series
  • Continued demand for facilities to become Information Centres
    • Housing
    • Home support
    • Social services
    • Income taxes
    • Health maintenance
  • Increasing expectations - more demanding consumer
  • Instructors for programs - getting volunteer instructors will be more difficult - must find ways to entice people in
    • Use of ex staff as volunteer instructors

Solutions

  • Programming
    • Following trends and needs as identified
    • Wide Age Range - recognize ages
  • Young old 65-74; Middle Old 75-84; Old Old 85+
  • Fee structures
    • Establishing a policy that fits your municipality
    • phased in fees based on need?
    • discounts based on age?
  • Facilities
    • moving existing facilities from youth oriented to older adults - what does this mean?
  • Colours - walls, floors, ceilings; lighting levels; safety features; accessibility
  • Prime time hours - how this will be effected
  • Space availability - for socialization
  • More demand for sports fields
  • Construction of new facilities for all ages
    • Construction of new facilities
  • Who will build them and what should they look like
    • New fitness centres - include walking track
  • Volunteerism
  • Family oriented opportunities - ie - senior and immediate children
    • senior and Grandchildren
    • merging of groups using same volunteers
  • Best Practices
    • Facility design - Evergreen Centre (Guelph)
    • Programming for all ages - Evergreen Centre & Taylor Place (Toronto)
    • Operating agreements with municipalities - Oakville, Ancaster, Hamilton YWCA
  • OACAO as a resource
    • Facility design
    • Centre Management
    • Standards
    • Training of volunteers and Board Management
    • Networking
    • Advocacy with government
    • EPC Act with Ministry of Health and Long Term Care


Questions and/or comments can be directed to:

Lawrie Bloom,Executive Director

43 North Riverdale Drive
Inglewood, Ontario
L7C 3K3

Phone Local: (905) 905-838-0240
Toll Free: 1-866-835-7693
Fax: (905) 838-1053


e-mail: lbloom@rogers.com

Copyright © 2003-2006 Older Adult Centres' Association of Ontario