Flagstaff's Informed Response Sharing Team Society (FIRST)

At a Glance   

Region: Alberta

Setting: Rural

EAIP program principle(s): 

• Access to social and community supports 
• Access to system navigation and support 

Implementation (new, spread, and/or expand):   

• Expand 

Team Profile  

The organization leading this initiative is the Flagstaff Informed Response Sharing Team (FIRST). Collaborative team members include employees and representatives of FIRST, including a director, board chair, and direct care provider, as well as a community volunteer. Evaluation support is provided by researchers from the University of Alberta and the Network of Excellence in Seniors Health & Wellness, and a community assessor. 

Community

• Flagstaff Region, with an approximate population of 8,463 residents, is a rural area in East Central Alberta, consisting of two hamlets, four village, four towns and the rural county residents. Major urban centers, Red Deer and Edmonton, are located approximately a 2-to-3-hour drive away. 
• With 23.2% of its population aged 65 and older, totaling 1,960 individuals as of March 2021, Flagstaff Region’s older adult population is higher than the provincial average (14.1%), and is projected to increase to 2,220 by 2026. 

Program Focus 

Program Description  

• FIRST is expanding a smaller Nav-CARE program that primarily focuses on health needs to address both health and social needs of older adults. They are building connections between older and younger adults who can volunteer and those who are needing support. Volunteers will provide friendly visiting, support participation in existing recreational activities and help with navigation to more formal supports (e.g., transportation, Service Options for Older People program). The supports also include assistance with travel in and outside the region for medical appointments. The expanded supports reflect comprehensive community engagement where reducing social isolation, system navigation and transportation were voiced as primary concerns for older adults in the community.   

Implementation Approach: 

• Gain insights from the community: Volunteers within the Older People Choices/Nav-Care program will actively engage with older adults at community centers, events, and through home visitation services to understand their current strategies for aging in place. Additionally, perspectives from staff and volunteers will be explored to identify potential enhancements for supporting aging in place in Flagstaff Region. The gathered information will be utilized to raise awareness of community assets and preferences, informing the development of future programs.  
• Enhance participation in the Older People Choices/Nav-Care Program: FIRST will collaborate with the existing Older People Choices/Nav-Care Program to facilitate its expansion, and to research ongoing funding models, linking older adults with necessary supports to address community-identified needs while also fostering increased engagement of older and younger adults in volunteer activities.