Caption: Photo of Nariza Jaffer from Generations Toronto, one of the participating teams featured in the blog. Photo was taken at the Enabling Aging in Place workshop in February in Toronto, Ontario.
Most adults want to live safely and well at home as they age, and it benefits the healthcare system by reducing the strain on long-term care, emergency rooms, and care partners. These goals are at the heart of Enabling Aging in Place, Healthcare Excellence Canada’s newest collaborative.
Enabling Aging in Place helps health and social service organizations develop, adopt, and expand programs for older adults, allowing them to age at home with the support they need. The collaborative uses an asset-based community development (ABCD) approach, meaning teams plan solutions based on community strengths and the perspectives of older adults and their care partners.
Since the launch of the collaborative, HEC has supported 27 teams in readiness initiatives and preparing implementation and evaluation plans. With phase one now complete, many teams have entered phase two of the collaborative. This blog shares how three teams from different geographies and settings are approaching their programs. They are moving from planning to implementation to support older adults and care partners in aging well at home.
Strengthening Navigation Support
In northern British Columbia, individuals with declining health will benefit from expanded navigation support through the Terrace Regional Hospice Network’s (TRHN) Nav-CARE program (Navigation: Connecting, Advocating, Resourcing, Engaging). The geographic isolation of this area and limited resources can make it difficult at times for individuals to access health and social care services, however, TRHN and its dedicated team of volunteer navigators are effectively enhancing access to health and social care services by leveraging their strong community connections and resourcefulness.
Volunteer navigators play a crucial role in supporting individuals with declining health by helping them locate local services, assist in transportation, re-engage in hobbies, provide guidance for important decisions, and alleviate feelings of loneliness and anxiety. Their efforts are vital in ensuring these individuals receive comprehensive support that enhances their quality of life.
TRHN is set to expand its programs in the region, which includes offering Nav-CARE and volunteer training to local high school cooperative education students, fostering intergenerational connections. Additionally, the organization will onboard and train new volunteers and extend Nav-CARE and volunteer training to Indigenous communities, encouraging local volunteers to support aging in place. These initiatives aim to improve the quality of life for older adults with declining health through expanded support and innovative approaches.
Why It Matters
These supports offer relational care and accompaniment to older adults with declining health, who often require complex care from various sectors of the health and social care systems. The Nav-CARE program’s expansion underscores the importance of community-based support and the positive impact it can have on the lives of those in need.
Islanders Helping Islanders
British Columbia’s rural, ferry-dependent communities of Hornby Island and Denman Island have unique demographic characteristics. These communities, compared to provincial data, have a higher proportion of residents over the age of 65, who have lower incomes and live independently. Aging in place is supported by the strong community bonds, even though hospitals, assisted living facilities and long-term care are located 3.5 hours away by ferry on Vancouver Island.
Hornby Denman Health will be expanding its Senior Services Program to include rapid services for short-term illnesses, reliable daily task assistance for complex issues and additional support for palliative care – offerings that are expected to benefit 150 community members. Their expanded services will help people with a new illness or returning from the hospital by providing them with care packages that include educational materials and information about local supports as well as handmade gifts from community members. For younger older adults, a quarterly event series will encourage early planning related to issues of aging, death and dying and providing quality information on rights, choices, local care options and tools for maintaining independence.
Why It Matters
Together, these enhancements and new offerings will help older adults recover from short-term illnesses and provide ongoing support from the onset of life-limiting conditions through to end of life so community members can live at home, in their community, longer.
Fostering Community Connection
A new day program tailored to the needs of the Toronto’s Ismaili Muslim community aims to reduce isolation in homebound older adults with mild to moderate cognitive decline while lessening care partner burnout.
The implementation team is focusing on participants who live within a 15-minute drive of Toronto’s Don Mills and Eglinton Road intersection. More than three-quarters of the population in this central northeast part of the city belong to racialized communities, and there is a diverse Muslim population with three Jamatkhanas—spaces for gathering and worship—serving as community hubs.
Led by Generations Toronto, the program will foster social connections and a sense of belonging in a way that is sensitive to culture and language. Implementation will include creating a selection and intake process as well as a referral program in partnership with other community organizations. Community partnerships and paid private support will allow the team to pilot transportation options as well as days and times for the program with the goal of reducing barriers for participants to get to and from the program location. Staff and volunteers will be recruited along with a community advisory group of diverse stakeholders to ensure the program meets the evolving needs of all involved and maintains a client-centred approach.
Why It Matters
In addition to the intention to promote physical wellness, cognitive stimulation, social engagement and navigational support, the program also provides caregivers with respite, so they have the energy and ability to offer quality care and delaying the need for long-term care.
In conclusion, community-built and community-integrated solutions are essential for supporting older adults to age well at home. By leveraging community strengths and incorporating the insights of older adults and their care partners, initiatives in Northern British Columbia, Hornby Island, Denman Island and Toronto have effectively transitioned from planning to implementation. These tailored approaches address unique needs by leveraging community assets to foster stronger relationships, reduce isolation and provide crucial support. As these programs evolve, they will improve the quality of life for older adults and ease the burden on the healthcare system, making aging in place a viable option for many across Canada.
Enabling Aging in Place is part of HEC’s work to reimagine care of older adults with health and social needs. This initiative is also aligned with shared federal, provincial/territorial and municipal efforts to help people living in Canada age with dignity, closer to home.
If you have questions about the Enabling Aging in Place collaborative, please contact EAIP-FVCS@hec-esc.ca.
