Toronto recently approved Version 2.0 of the Toronto Seniors Strategy and directed City Divisions and Agencies to execute on 27 recommendations.  When reading through these you will appreciate the thought and consideration that went in to the development of this list, you will also notice no commitments to timelines, budgets or other plans to implement.  It’s very high-level at at this point and needs to be monitored as it develops. There a wide range of important topics covered in this list below. Recommendation 1: The City of Toronto will initiate a process to develop a seniors housing and services entity at the City dedicated to taking a service system management approach to the needs of all seniors and integrating City services for seniors. Recommendation 2: The City of Toronto will explore how to expand access to free dental health services for low-income seniors through Toronto Public Health. Recommendation 3: The City of Toronto in partnership with Toronto Community Housing will seek provincial funding for additional Seniors Active Living Centres in Toronto. Recommendation 4: Toronto Public Library will support social connectedness by expanding digital literacy programs for seniors in libraries. Recommendation 5: The City of Toronto will expand Community Paramedicine programing in order to better support seniors who are high-volume 911 callers with non-emergency community care and supports. Recommendation 6: The City of Toronto will work with the Province of Ontario and community partners to develop a Toronto Caregivers Strategy with an emphasis on the needs of senior caregivers. Recommendation 7: The City of Toronto will consider senior-friendly outdoor fitness equipment in the design and refurbishment of parks. Recommendation 8: The City of Toronto will work with Toronto Community Housing and FoodShare to establish healthy food access initiatives that are accessible to seniors living in social housing through Toronto Public Health and the Toronto Food Policy Council. Recommendation 9: The City of Toronto will develop Housing Opportunities Toronto: Housing Action Plan (2020-2030) accounting for the evolving demographics and needs of older Torontonians over the next decade. Recommendation 10: The City of Toronto will address the specific and growing needs of older Torontonians by continuing to create new affordable housing and fund housing repairs and accessibility modifications for seniors by delivering federal-provincial-City funding and City incentives. Recommendation 11: The City of Toronto will seek funding from the Seniors Community Grant Program under the Ministry of Seniors Affairs to pilot a HomeShare program in Toronto to connect overhoused seniors with underhoused graduate students and others. Recommendation 12: The City of Toronto will develop a new homeless shelter that provides specialized services for seniors and older adults. Recommendation 13: The City of Toronto will implement the provincial Home for Good program funding to create and maintain housing with supports that meet the needs of formerly homeless persons including seniors. Recommendation 14: The City of Toronto will amend the Official Plan to recognize the City’s commitment to age-friendly principles. Recommendation 15: The City of Toronto will negotiate the use of Section 37 benefits to develop new neighbourhood facilities to meet the needs of seniors as appropriate. Recommendation 16: The City of Toronto will provide seniors with new and customized information and tools that will empower them to ensure that they and their neighbours are living in a fire safe environment. Recommendation 17: The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) will develop and launch a new public awareness campaign to advance a culture of respect and civility for the benefit of seniors and other riders. Recommendation 18: The City of Toronto will, as part of its commitment to Vision Zero, identify and install additional Seniors Safety Zones in conjunction with the Road Safety Plan. Recommendation 19: The City of Toronto will construct new sidewalks on roads where they are missing to improve walkability, mobility and accessibility of City streets. Recommendation 20: The Toronto Transit Commission will develop a travel training program to support increased senior access to public transit. Recommendation 21: The City of Toronto will work with community partners under Toronto For All to develop a workplace anti-ageism campaign. Recommendation 22: The City of Toronto will work with The 519, Senior Pride Network and other community partners to develop a public awareness and education campaign addressing homophobia and transphobia affecting seniors. Recommendation 23: The City of Toronto will expand employment support services to further address the needs of older workers, focusing on those in receipt of Ontario Works. Recommendation 24: The City of Toronto will enhance public awareness of property tax deferral and cancellation programs. Recommendation 25: The City of Toronto will work with the Seniors Strategy Accountability Table and other community partners to update and circulate the new Services for Seniors in Toronto directory. Recommendation 26: The City of Toronto will work with all Ward Councillors to hold Seniors Active Living Fairs in order to facilitate outreach and communication of the burgeoning range of diverse products and services available for seniors. Recommendation 27: Toronto Police Service, in collaboration with key partners, will create a seniors-inclusive training curriculum aimed at increasing officer awareness around ageing related issues and increasing officer capacity to connect seniors to appropriate community services. We need some direction on timelines and project outlines for all of these initiatives. The Seniors Strategy needs a project manager!  If you know who it is, comment below! Read more at your leisure,

Moses Znaimer knows how to keep up with the times. “40-year olds have 65-year old parents, 30-year olds have 80-year old grandparents. We stand for the solidarity between the generations.”  – Moses Znaimer From his earliest days, he has been a dreamer, a visionary, an innovator, and shows no signs of slowing down. A Champion for Canada’s 15.3 million people over the age of 45, he fights for the right for older adults. Well-known for his actions as the Canadian Association for Retired Persons (CARP), now rebranded as ZoomerMedia – for baby boomers with zip, Moses has stood up for his fellow man, no matter their age, throughout his lifetime. If the sweetness is in the struggle, then Moses Znaimer’s success is the sweeter still considering his humble roots. An immigrant from Tajikistan, Moses was just six years old when his family was forced to flee the German invasion of his Russian home, and they arrived in Canada. It wouldn’t be long before he would find his voice and set his pulse on the shape of things to come. From a displaced persons camp in Germany in the 1940s, Moses would become a media advocate – radio, television, social media, and more – for the people in his adopted country. Known for his outstanding accomplishments in the broadcasting and music industry, he is a media mogul with heart. Though a well-known host and co-host during his years at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), his creative vision could not be constrained. He soon left the CBC and went into private broadcasting. On the Cutting Edge His groundbreaking broadcasting techniques would help define a generation. As the co-founder of the first independent television station in Toronto, he would mark his first steps at being first. Citytv was launched in 1972 after having been awarded the city’s first Ultra High Frequency (UHF) broadcasting license. Inspired by Marshall McLuhan’s mantra, “the medium is in the message”, Moses’ emphasis on a local and hip format aimed at young audiences hit its mark. Just ten years later, he would become the vice-president and executive producer of CHUM, a limited partnership which purchased Citytv. His roles, ventures, and ideas didn’t stop at radio and television, he also envisioned a 24-hour music video station. His vision would be realized in 1984 with the launch of MuchMusic. Followed a few years later by a French language version of MuchMusic based in Montreal. Meet also: Jane Goodall & Bonnie and Frank For over three decades, Moses and CHUM built a television empire. Notable television stations and programs abound under his watch, and the firsts continue. In 1998, Canada’s first 24-hour local news station, CablePulse24 was launched, and taking his firsts streak to Vancouver, oversaw the launch of Citytv Vancouver. In 2003, thirty-one years after his first foray into private broadcasting, Moses Znaimer stepped down from his managerial role at Citytv and CHUM Limited, though he remained on for certain production roles. It would be only a matter of time before he would re-emerge to head up a series of media ventures. His first acquisition, a classical music station he would relaunch under the call sign CFMZ-FM to reflect his initials. Soon, he would add a pop standards AM station in Toronto, once the former transmitter of CBC radio outlet CBL. Moses Znaimer had come full circle back to his broadcasting roots. Fun Fact An avid collector, Moses Znaimer boasts the world’s largest private collection of rare television sets and pop culture memorabilia. His collection began the MZTV Museum of Television & Archive, some 10,000 objects in all, and have graced museums throughout Canada, the bulk of his collection donated to the Cinémathèque québécoise in Montreal. Media Mogul with Heart The founder of Zoomer Media, Moses Znaimer has long been a champion of diversity – long before it was required or politically correct. Inspired by his early beginnings in the post-Second World War Displaced Persons camps, his hiring practices reflect that of Canada’s multicultural, pluralistic society. Throughout his organization, he would place a wide array of ethnicities and physical disabilities in on-air positions. Ali Velshi, Ben Chin, Jojo Chintoh, Sonya Benezra and Monika Deol to name a few, as well as David Onley and Wendy Murphy. He would not hide them behind a desk or behind the scenes. Moses would place them front and center. In the case of David Onley, a polio survivor, who would go on to become Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor, Moses would direct the camera to shoot David’s entire body, rather than a talking head. According to Onley, Moses never asked about his disability, until after he’d hired him. In David Onley’s words, “Obviously, what he did was important for my career but, more importantly, it sent a message to TV viewers everywhere that my physical shortcomings were irrelevant. What counted was my ability to do the job.” Founded with You in Mind ZoomerMedia is Canada’s only diversified media company dedicated to creating content, services, and experiences for those 45 and over on all platforms including National and Regional Television, Digital Properties, Trade Shows, Conferences, and the Zoomer magazine. Founded in late 2007, ZoomerMedia acquired the publishers of CARP Magazine as well as the website Fifty-Plus-Net International, two platforms dedicated to those fifty years and over. In his treatise, The Zoomer Philosophy, which appeared in the pages of Zoomer Magazine, Moses addresses and advocates for such topics as the right to a physician assisted death and the legalization of marijuana. Other topics in Zoomer magazine include myth-busting the stereotypes of mature men and women challenging people to look beyond and beneath the surface. CARP (formerly the Canadian Association of Retired Persons) coupled with Zoomer Magazine (the renamed CARP Magazine) provides marketing, membership, and other services as well as a portal and social networking site targeted to older adult audiences. The ideation behind the social networking site would be similar to social media sites such as MySpace or Facebook. Just ten years ago, at 66 years old, Moses…
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If you have no idea how to use a computer, you’re not alone. In the present age of rapid digital growth, many seniors may feel lost when it comes to how the use of computers can enhance their lives. Toronto Public Library is expanding their digital literacy programs to help seniors overcome what seems to be a “mission impossible” for many. How can you benefit? Attending their digital literacy programs can provide increased social interaction and engagement with library staff and other seniors, and the opportunity to stay connected with those who may have similar interests. The opportunity to use computers with free internet access is a valuable resource. They’re increasingly becoming the most reliable method of finding current information, so learning how to use them can assist you in increasing your overall access to senior services. Types of classes for digital literacy Beginner classes For these you don’t need any computer knowledge and can learn: Digital Literacy Intermediate Classes If you have basic computer knowledge, these classes can teach you how to: Registration is required for all classes, with a maximum of six registrants allowed per session. All classes take place in a comfortable boardroom setting, and they provide you with a laptop that has Windows 10. If you’d like to take part, you can register in your TPL branch or contact 416-785-8570 for more information.

If you’ve ever wondered about housing benefits for Toronto seniors, you’re in the right place. There’s more than likely a service appealing to your needs from the striking array of options available. Concerned about needing health and safety repairs, or even modifications to improve accessibility in your home? The Toronto Renovates program can help. Don’t fret about the rising need for senior housing; the city is providing funds and incentives, including housing benefits for Toronto seniors, to help inspire the creation of new options so it won’t become an issue. Supportive Housing Services program Independent living is popular for many seniors wanting to stay in control of their own space. There’s a tremendous community-based service available which helps make this possible. It states that you’ll either need to be living at or relocate to one of the designated sites to qualify. The list of sites consists of several different buildings and apartments, allowing you to have a private home with the comfort of knowing there’s 24-hour support available for when you may need it. Services offered: There’s always a Registered Practical Nurse onsite and lots of other handy services available like assistance with personal care, medications reminders, light meal preparation as well as housekeeping and laundry, security checks and even some attractive benefits like activities and education programs. Who can apply? To qualify you must be a tenant in one of the designated buildings and meet a few additional requirements. The ideal part is there’s no service fee, the Local Health Integration Networks fund all of it to make it accessible for you. Check here: Outside Home Management Plan. If interested, simply contact Housing Connections on 416-397-7400.

Much to the relief of most, the expansion of free dental health care services to low-income seniors has become a focus area of Toronto City’s Public Health. They now have a wide range of programs, all aiming to help you live serenely while maintaining optimal health. We know that good oral care is important for our health, but for many, regular dental care might not be affordable. Read 27 Highlights from the Toronto Seniors Strategy. If you can’t afford to pay for a dentist and you reside in Toronto, get in touch with one of its Public Health clinics. You might be eligible for free dental care in one of their clinics, which offer various dental services to seniors 65 years and older. Basic dental services available: Check-ups, X-rays, cleaning, fillings, select root canal treatments, extractions, emergency dental care (to treat issues like dental pain or cavities) and full or partial dentures (they ask individuals to pay the laboratory cost for dentures). Who qualifies? Visit a Toronto Public Health clinic to see if you qualify for their free services, they have a diverse staff that helps determine if you’re eligible. To do this, they require that you bring certain documentation. The type of documentation needed varies depending on your situation, so always ensure you call the clinic first. If you aren’t eligible for their free services and you can’t afford private insurance, you might qualify for dental care at a low-cost dental facility instead. If you have difficulty accessing the dental service facilities, there’s also a fully-equipped Mobile Dental Clinic available. It travels to various community agencies across the city to provide you with free dental care services. For information on accessing their service, you can call 416-338-7600.

In today’s Senior Spotlight Sunday, we chose an extra special person to highlight. You. Our fathers. Our world. “To the world you may be one person but to one person you may be the world.“ Taylor Hanson, musician Fathers and grandfathers born between 1938 and 1953 have witnessed the history we now study in books and online. You’ve taught us how to ride bikes, drive cars, fix what’s broken, think for ourselves, and save for the future. We’ve learned about you from stories, photos, your wisdom, and more. Today, this holiday is a thank you for all you do, and a nod to that part of us that will always hold you head and shoulders above the rest. Below is a small taste of things that were happening in the years you were born and as you grew up. What we have today, the advances we’ve made, would not have been possible without these events below. Grandparents: Young Perspectives Watch the wonder in their eyes as you tell your grandchildren, the computer in their hand used to fill an entire room. Or that the first car phone call was made in 1947 when a man in St. Louis pulled a phone from his dashboard. Or that Superman was created in 1938, and that George Reeves, followed by Christopher Reeve, would play the iconic hero in television and movies. Or that a DJ coined the phrase Rock and Roll. 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 We hope you’ve enjoyed this trip down memory lane. Happy Father’s Day!

The expansion and development of Toronto Paramedic Services will assist in reducing the number of emergency calls made by the age-group known as “frequent callers”, resulting in ambulances making fewer trips and fewer beds being occupied in the emergency department. This will allow services to be more efficient when you or others are in a time of crisis. Not everyone has emergency supports they can count on. Toronto aims to solve that by expanding its Community Paramedicine programs to better support seniors, allowing them peace of mind. What do the programs involve? Specially trained paramedics work through Toronto Paramedic Services to make scheduled house calls to those seniors who’ve had three or more 911 calls in the previous 12 months for less-important issues. They perform non-emergency care, such as bedside bloodwork and help with medications. To help improve on the often-unmet needs of seniors, community paramedics also refer and connect you to other primary, home, and community care support services to better meet your needs. 7 Rules To Keep You Healthy In Your Home How to Benefit: Eligible patients must be Toronto residents 65 and older. They must consent to participate in the program and be identified by Toronto Paramedic Services 911 dispatch data as a high-risk caller due to making either: Ultimately, these programs aim to keep you safe, secure, and independent in your own home. If you’d like more information, contact Michael Roffey from Toronto Paramedic Services by email at michael.roffey@toronto.ca or phone 416-433-6860.

Summer’s here! Time to get active and Toronto has programs to get you moving. Taking part in social and recreational activities can dramatically improve your overall well-being. The City of Toronto recently announced its partnership with Toronto Community Housing to attain funding towards the development of seniors active living centres in the city. Seniors Active Living Centres, previously known as Elderly Persons Centres to most, provides age-friendly social environments. They offer outstanding recreational, educational and social programs, including activities like card games, crafts, day trips, fitness programs and guest speakers for you to enjoy. 5 indoor activities for seniors What’s in Seniors Active Living Centres for you? Each day you’ll enjoy a variety of social, recreational and physical activities on offer, as well as special events and wellness education. You will also receive nutritious meals and snacks and assistance with daily living activities. The services they provide are promised to be respectful of your culture, ethnicity, family traditions, community, language, sexual orientation, and spiritual beliefs. Benefits of the expansion The new funding will be used to contribute to improving the program and service facilities offered by the living centres. This means the programs they offer will be more flexible to better meet everyone’s diverse needs such as culture, age, interests, abilities and geographic locations. Key outcomes it aims to achieve include: – Reduce social isolation by promoting social inclusion – Address challenges related to technology – Access to programs Available options There are a variety of options to choose from in Toronto and the GTA, and the list is growing. Click here to find a comprehensive list of all the relevant contact details.

We all have the right to fully engage in the social, economic, and cultural life of our city. To ensure this happens, the City of Toronto promises to amend the Official Plan to recognize the City’s commitment to age-friendly principles.Age-Friendly City:For those of us who are older and have varying needs and capacities, an age friendly city adapts its structures and services, so we can access them. They address our needs, enhance our quality of life, and ensure we remain engaged in every aspect of civic life. Ensuring affordable and accessible social and community supports throughout our lives assists in easing the stress on ourselves or family members caring for older relatives. Check also, The Future Of Aging Age-mindful city: Toronto aims to govern with age-mindfulness, which means it views all aspects of city life from the perspective of us citizens, spanning the age spectrum. Toronto, like the rest of Canada, is ageing. The number of people over 45 years of age is growing rapidly, as well as in proportion to the total population. Increased urbanization of older Canadians throughout Canada means that Toronto has a greater share of people over 65 years of age living within the municipal boundaries compared to the surrounding regions. An Age-Friendly Toronto represents a shift in the relationship and responsibilities the City has with us. It will transform Toronto into a city in which all citizens have confidence in movement and residence and stay fully engaged in every aspect of civic life just as we have throughout our lives. For more on an Age-friendly Toronto, have a look at Canadian Association for Retired Persons’ (CARP) article.

Believe it or not, there is such a thing as having too much space. Many of us only realise as we get older that having too much house is not only impractical but lonesome, too. The City of Toronto connects over-housed seniors with under-housed graduate students through a Home-share program, with the help of the Seniors Community Grant Program under the Ministry of Seniors Affairs. Home-Share Program – How does it work?Homeowners are seniors over the age of 55 who live independently in their home, are interested in sharing household responsibilities, have spare living space, and are interested in companionship. Seniors Active Living services in Toronto Home sharers are at least 18 years old, looking for safe and affordable accommodation, willing to share household responsibilities and are interested in companionship. They match you on your geographical districts, preferences, interests, hobbies, backgrounds, and personalities, but a trial period of one or two weeks is advised before finalising arrangements. Once a match is established, regular follow-ups, as well as counselling for difficulties is offered. Home-Share program – Benefits for participantsThe longer seniors can stay in their house and have the company of another person, the more they benefit from significantly prolonged health. On a community level, there is a decreased use of shelter services, emergency services and a reduction in ambulance calls.Evidence suggests that both the homeowner and home sharer experience decreased feelings of isolation, increased feelings of safety, better sleep and overall better health when taking part in a HomeShare arrangement. Tips to prevent falls around your home. Contact the HomeShare coordinator at1-844-547-4273 or emailsupport@seniorhomeshares.com to learn more.