We all know healthy food is best, but not everyone can easily access it. So, in partnership with Toronto Community Housing and FoodShare, the City of Toronto has a plan in place to offer healthy food for seniors access initiatives that are accessible to seniors living in social housing. Community Gardens Toronto Community gardens include fruit and vegetable gardens, established with partners from the local community. An additional component of the community gardens is their connection with gleaning programs which involve collecting leftover crops from farmers, processors or retailers. Additional recommendations of the project include establishing partnerships with local agencies to support community gardens and to increase the rate of garden development across the city. Healthy Food For Seniors – The Good Food Box Run byFoodShare, this program provides nutritious food to communities including seniors in social housing. Twice monthly, volunteers pack the boxes, and deliver them to neighbourhoods in Toronto with 10 or more participants. Volunteer coordinators collect funding beforehand, place the orders directly from farmers and ensure everyone receives their boxes. Healthy Food For Seniors – Good Food MarketsFoodShare works with community organizations to set up special, inexpensive farmers market alternatives by setting up one initial stall, attracting farmers to join the affair.  Targeting traditionally under-served Toronto communities, conventional food stores increase their opportunities to purchase fresh and affordable food. Food For Good Mood. These healthy food for seniors initiatives have several goals; including improving access to affordable healthy food for seniors in social housing, promoting healthy eating, encouraging sustainable agriculture, promoting community development and community building through social interaction, networking, volunteerism, education and celebration. Toronto Community Housing promises to continue their work with the City of Toronto to identify opportunities and develop community food initiatives.  To find out more, contact FoodShare at 416-363-6441 or email info@foodshare.net

Exercising is extremely beneficial to your health but having access to appropriate equipment can sometimes be a challenge. For this reason, The City of Toronto is promising it will consider senior-friendly outdoor fitness facilities and equipment when designing and refurbishing outdoor parks.  Appropriate seating is another very important aspect for seniors who tire more easily and need places to rest. Modern benches come in all shapes and sizes but sometimes a traditional bench, that’s not too low and provides both back support and armrests, is truly what’s needed. As a result, one of the actions of the 2013 strategy was installing 500 benches, with a focus on parks in areas frequented by seniors. Seniors are at a greater risk of dehydration, and sensitivity to light increases with age so the glare of sunlight on shiny surfaces is often uncomfortable when spending time outside. The shelter and shade of trees address both issues, which is why an increase of tree cover is also part of the development plan for urban parks. Toronto seniors’ access to healthy food Outdoor Fitness Facilities – What are the benefits? Parks aren’t simply a place with trees, grass and equipment; they offer us many other advantages. Social isolation is another well-known issue for seniors, but these parks represent us with an opportunity to connect with neighbours by supporting and facilitating social interaction. Toronto offers outdoor exercise stations in five locations and will continue to implement the new considerations in future, to make it easier for us to enjoy facilities like the outdoor elliptical machines and other exercise apparatus. The City Council adopted the strategy to facilitate development in 2013 and by 2016, 99 percent of the recommendations have already been implemented. If you’d like more information on the locations of outdoor exercise parks, you can find them by clicking here.

Sometimes we depend so heavily on our senior caregivers, we forget you have needs of their own. To combat the issue, Toronto plans to partner with the Province of Ontario to emphasise your fast-growing needs. Policies supporting reduced stays in hospitals and increased premature home care can have negative impacts on caregivers, as patients are moving home “sicker and quicker” than before.                              Home care is promoted as a cost-effective alternative to long hospital stays and facility placement. These programs are only cost-effective because it’s assumed family and friends are available and willing to assist in this provision of care, which isn’t always the case. Toronto’s senior-friendly outdoor fitness facilities Senior Caregiver support includes: Policies, usually in the form of education and counselling services for senior caregivers, are known to be limited and are often provided through voluntary agencies. There is an employment leave policy, entitled “Compassionate Care Benefit” which allows you up to 55 percent of your salary for six weeks to care for a terminally ill spouse, child, or parent. Suggested changes to this includes making caregiver assessment part of the policy and increasing available services for you by expanding the “caregiver” definition. Suggested changes include broadening eligibility criteria and extending the length of leave; adding family leave days; and providing incentives to private workplaces to expand their policies on family leave to include eldercare responsibilities. Suggested changes include financially supporting you through a non-taxable allowance; implementing a refundable tax credit for caregivers so that all caregivers will benefit from the tax credit. Respite care can offer you a brief period of relief or rest (usually more than twenty-four hours), if you are a regular caregiver and is a great way to get some much-earned support and rest. For additional information on caregiver support, you can also visit CaregiverExchange.ca.

Most of us would like to age in place in our home, but our ability to do so safely and independently depends on several factors. According to recent CARP polls, older voters want to hear more before the election on how parties would address key health issues: specifically, long term home-care. CARP Members Call on Parties to Fix Long Term Home-Care The first poll, conducted by CARP and AdvantAge Ontario,  revealed a massive 99 percent of respondents said long-term home-care is important in the upcoming election. The top three most identified issues in long-term care were: A Home Care Poll  found that two-thirds of respondents just aren’t confident that there is adequate, publicly funded, home care and community support. Toronto seniors’ access to healthy food Ontario’s action plan To improve services, reflecting on the changing composition of residents, Ontario has provided a solution called the “Aging with Confidence” Action Plan, including: They will provide 2.6 million additional home care hours this year, including personal support, nursing, physical and speech therapy. Expanding the seniors’ house-call program to include additional healthcare providers such as social workers, therapists and nurses, to reduce your need to travel to healthcare providers and stay healthy in the comfort of your own home. Continued support for communities promoting social interaction and fighting isolation, such as apartment buildings or housing developments where many seniors already live close to one another. Read 27 Highlights from the Toronto Seniors Strategy. Their action plan will allow you to stay in your home longer, enjoying a higher quality of life and a greater level of independence. To access the services mentioned, contact your local LHIN or call 905-948-1872.

“I set goals and when I do, I’m determined to keep it. And that’s why I finish.” They say you’re never too old to learn something new, and BJ McHugh, is no exception. Known as the ‘Flying Granny’, Betty Jean (BJ) has been running marathons since 2009, with her first invitation from a coordinator in Rome. Less than a decade later, and having just turned 90 years old, she now owns several 10-kilometre, half-marathon, and marathon records for seniors. She has raced in London, Boston, New York, Chicago, and Big Sur, but it is the Honolulu Marathon, one of the largest in the United States, that is an annual family tradition. And in December 2017, one month after her 90th birthday, she broke the Honolulu marathon record for her age group. This win broke the previous record by two hours, with a time of 6:47:31. It’s A Family Affair Born in 1927 in a small town near Campbellford, Ontario, BJ McHugh was a born athlete. From helping her father on the farm hauling bales of hay to playing tennis, cycling, hiking, and skiing, Betty Jean was always moving. Running her first marathon in her fifties, has run in over 20 marathons over a 35-year span, and has broken world marathon records, all while working as a nurse in Toronto, and raising a family of four. Read Long term home-care key for Ontario. Though always active, she didn’t get her start running until later in life, in her late fifties, when looking for an activity while her daughter, Jennifer was at swim practice. Unable to watch the practice, she first took up hitting tennis balls, but was admonished for being on the court before 7 a.m. So, she took up walking along the Seawall, and it was here she discovered a love for running – as walking became running. Today, she is the matriarch of four children and four grandchildren, many of whom either have joined her on marathons or are athletic in their own right. Her daughter who’s swim practice she couldn’t watch? Jennifer went on to become an Olympic swimmer for Canada in 1972. BJ McHugh Slow Down? No Way In the early 80s, between the ages of 53 and 57, she ran almost one 10k per month, and in 1988, ran 14 races between March and November. She felt at peak fitness then, and in the best shape of her life, she recalled and wrote in her memoir. In her native Vancouver, she holds the age-group world record for the W80-84 in the half-marathon, in 2008. Running and quietly setting records for nearly 40 years, she’s still going strong. BJ has broken not only world marathon records but has shown that intense activities like running are not detrimental to aging as originally thought. In fact, today, plenty of evidence suggests regular exercise like running can reverse some of the effects of aging. One American study found that an athlete’s endurance dropped only five percent over the course of a decade of interval running, while sedentary adults lost twice as much. Bucking against the norm, BJ’s body, rather than begin to decline in middle age, only got stronger. Just a few years after she began running and entering marathons, she was running 44-minute 10ks and besting times she’d set when she was several years younger. She became faster, as she got older. So against the norm was her capabilities, fitness scientists from McGill University ran tests on this “super senior.” Though BJ spends the bulk of her time running, she also understands the importance of cross-training. So, in addition to her running, she also lifts weights, does yoga, and was doing spinning until a bad fall made her worry about further injuries). Her running regimen includes 60k a week of track intervals, hills, and a long run on at the weekend. Having traveled to a number of places for her marathons, she also took a two-week walking pilgrimage in May from Porto, Portugal to Santiago, Spain for the Portuguese stretch of the Camino de Santiago – about 200 kilometers. Though quite active in her regimen, her approach to running is casual. She has no coach and isn’t adamant about getting a certain number of kilometers per day. Preferring half marathons to full marathons, she makes sure its about enjoying life, and has been known to sip a glass of wine the night before a race. Though her diet consists mostly of salad, she doesn’t deprive herself of foods such as the odd vanilla ice cream from time to time. BJ McHugh – Role Model for Runners A firm believer that today, age is simply a number, Betty Jean McHugh is a role model for a number of women both on and off the track.  Not only has she been breaking records on the track, but she was also an outspoken advocate for fair prize winnings for runners who won their age categories – regardless of gender. A lover of life, BJ McHugh exudes energy, optimism, and happiness, and shows others what is possible – proof that time outdoors can help lengthen and enhance life. Meet also: Jane Goodall & Bonnie and Frank.

Shockingly, thirty-odd percent of seniors have not yet nominated a trusted Power of Attorney for themselves. Ontario has created a new campaign aimed at raising our awareness of how important it is to set up POA, and to help us in choosing someone appropriate. Choosing your power of attorney A POA is simply a legal document given to someone you trust, allowing them to make decisions for you if something happens and you can no longer look after matters yourself. This person can make decisions about your health care, housing and other aspects of your personal life. It must be clear that you are mentally capable of choosing someone with genuine concern for your welfare to give this type of power of attorney. Long term home-care key for Ontario. Here they can make decisions about your financial affairs; including paying your bills, collecting receivables and managing your house and investments. You must be mentally capable of choosing a power of attorney for property and have knowledge of your assets, be aware of any obligations to dependants, and understand the power and authority you are giving to the person. There are restrictions on who your attorney can be. People such as those paid to provide services to you aren’t acceptable; unless they are a family member. An alternative option is to use a trust company to act as your attorney. The trust company charges a fee but will be professional and impartial. Toronto’s strategy for senior caregivers needs You can find resource materials available on ontario.ca/AgingWell, including a revised POA document and information about how people can prevent POA misuse.

As a senior living in Ontario, you are likely to seldom grow bored. Ontario is now supporting programs at more than 300 Seniors Active Living Centres across the province. The Ministry of Seniors Affairs has promised us they are committed to promoting age-friendly community-hub development, with programs acknowledging the contribution seniors make, helping keep you healthy and engaged by providing you with a range of social, recreational and wellness programs, as well as educational and support services. Read more about Seniors Active Living services in Toronto. What does this mean for you? Centres offer you a range of activities customized to the unique interests and needs of the community you are from, such as fitness classes, healthy lifestyle and wellness classes, social engagement, as well as learning opportunities like financial-management. Fun Facts These programs aim at ultimately providing you with opportunities for active and healthy living, social engagement and the chance to learn new things which may interest you. Impressive housing benefits for Toronto seniors

We all deserve to feel safe and secure from physical, psychological and financial abuse. Programs and supports across Ontario’s systems of health, social, community, financial and justice are responsible for protecting us from these threats. Let’s find out how Ontario is protecting vulnerable seniors. Efforts protecting vulnerable seniors Ontario’s Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee acts as a public guardian for more than 13,500 mentally incapable adults and assists over 50,000 of Ontario’s most vulnerable citizens. To better safeguard our interests, the government promises to strengthen Ontario’s Office of the Public Guardian by improving its customer service provided through the creation of a contact centre, improved information management, and modernized service delivery. This will help them to support the anticipated increases to case volumes and complexities. It will also ensure that as demands increase with the aging population, they are able to continuously meet their service standards and legislative requirements. Improving prevention of elder abuse Elder abuse should never be tolerated. We all deserve to live safely and without fear in our homes and communities, which is why the government is planning on strengthening their work to prevent and respond to elder abuse. Actions include public education, service provider training, research, and improved community response, to better support abused older adults. This also includes dedicated efforts to address violence against older women as well as support to older people in Indigenous communities. Expansion of senior’s consumer protection services Unfortunately, seniors are a key target of scams. The Ontario government plans to launch a consumer protection program aimed at protecting our hard-earned money through education and awareness, as well as through enhanced assistance and intervention programs for those who have fallen victim to consumer threats or scams. If you’d like to report a safety or privacy-related incident, contact the Seniors Safety Line on 1-866-299-1011.

Looking for new opportunities to learn, have fun or meet new people? These days, seniors are living longer and more actively than they ever have before, with many remaining independent at home and in their communities, thanks to community engagement initiatives. Opportunities for seniors Ontario’s Seniors Community Grant Program has said it will be extending and enhancing its support to larger projects that will benefit more seniors in the long run. The program has, since being formed, funded over 1,300 projects in hundreds of communities that have helped more than 435,000 seniors to learn, volunteer and be socially involved in their communities. Read Impressive housing benefits for Toronto seniors. Engaging through the arts Did you know, engagement with the arts is known to reduce isolation, promote self-confidence and build a sense of community? Participating in arts activities and art therapy has proven to benefit both physical and mental illnesses associated with aging. The government has said it will create a fund to support art enrichment for seniors in community settings such Active Living Centres, retirement homes, hospitals, and long-term care homes, as well as the capacity for seniors to engage in arts organizations in their communities. Help with technology The Change the World program of Ontario is launching a special project that will link youth volunteers with seniors to help build their understanding and enable their use of technology, which in turn will help reduce social isolation. Social connectedness is vital to seniors’ health and well-being. Those with close connections and relationships tend to cope better with health conditions and experience fewer mental health issues than those without. Click here  to can find details on social activities and community engagement initiatives.

Aging is a universal process. It happens to all of us, but it does not have to be a bad experience as most people would assume. According to most seniors, the past year of their lives have been normal or better than average. More and more seniors are choosing to age in place in their home, rather than live in a retirement home. Aging in place means having the health and social services necessary to live independently and safely in one’s home for as long as possible, as well as to the maximum of one’s capability, including access to top 5 services. “I’ve lived here for so long. No other place truly feels like home.” – Maheswaran Vaithilingim. If you have older parents, it would be wise to start planning for their care sooner than later. You will be more prepared to respond to their changing needs the older they grow. Start questioning your parents and ask them what their goals are and what kind of lifestyle they want to attain. The following chart shows the most requested top 5 services by seniors. It is important to keep in mind that this is an approximation and that these exact percentages may not reflect the reality at hand. At the end of the day, every individual is unique and has differing needs. A “one-size-fits-all” solution does not exist. Older adults are just as diverse as any other age group regarding ethnicity, sex, education, income, and health. Individual seniors have particular needs that can be addressed through multidisciplinary collaboration, in the form of tailored programs and interventions. Market Drivers Canada’s population is aging. According to results from a 2015 Canadian census, over 15% of our population consisted of people over the age of 65. Canada’s aging population will continue to take up a larger share of the total population. By 2024, it is estimated that seniors will make up 20.1% of our population. By 2036, it is projected that seniors will make up 25% of Canada’s population. People of 85 years of age and older are making up the fastest growing age group in Canada, which grew by 127% between 1993 and 2013. Statistics Canada predicts that there will be over 62,000 Canadians aged 100 and older by 2063. In 2012, 2.2 million Canadians aged fifteen years and older received support at home due to long term aging related issues. Seniors are most likely to receive care at home, that is why nine out of ten Canadians agree that a national seniors strategy should be put in place to address their needs along a full continuum of care.   Challenges The rise in life expectancy in Canada’s aging population is partly due to advances in medicine, nutrition, sanitation, and education, which is a significant accomplishment. This is a cause for celebration, however it comes with a price. Population aging presents social, cultural, and financial difficulties to individuals, families, and their communities which negatively impact the quality of their life. With the proportion of seniors growing faster than any other age group, there are concerns about the capacity to deal with this demographic shift. The future of care is dependent on how effectively we address the challenges of population aging with feasible solutions. As your parents age, they will find it more difficult to conduct household chores and perform property maintenance. Small routine tasks like cutting the grass and shoveling  snow can eventually get beyond an elders capacity. According to one elderly woman, it is important to have someone help with household chores, It becomes even more troublesome when these individuals cannot get informal support from their friends and family. It can be hard to trust strangers and allow them into their homes especially when you do not have the time and the resources to conduct background checks on every worker. Accessibility services are in great demand by seniors because safety is essential. This also allows seniors and their families to have peace of mind, knowing that there is less of a chance that a senior may fall in the home and break their hip. Getting in and out of the bath is a common problem. This not only requires seniors to take greater care, but restricts the number of times they would actually take a bath. Not surprisingly, personal support is among the most requested services by seniors. There comes a point in time when a senior’s health deteriorates to the point where they themselves cannot manage it effectively. As seniors get older, they start to require assistance in areas they where they did not before. This includes the six activities of daily living, which are bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding. A common hardship faced by many older adults is loneliness. Seniors who are formerly married, the majority of whom are widowed, and those who also live alone are the most likely to need social support. Since they are more unlikely to have easy access to informal sources of support, they are also more unlikely to have their needs met. Conversely, older adults whose needs are met tend to be married and have informal sources of care in close proximity and typically within the same household. Widowhood can have serious consequences for older adults, typically it results in habitating in a one-person household. A common theme present throughout the literature was that lonely older adults just want someone to talk to. Transportation is another major issue for seniors. It hinders them from participating in favourable activities because of costs, accessibility complications, and reliability with planned routes. Regarding public transportation, there are physical difficulties in terms of moving, standing, climbing the stairs, reading route numbers and even walking to the bus stop if it is far from their home. Transit difficulties makes it hard to complete general errands like shopping. Shopping provides purpose and structure to their lives, enabling them to remain independent, however, shopping becomes more and more difficult with age. The return journey can be challenging when heavy bags stretch their physical capabilities. Those who use walking…
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