Team profiles :

Multi-Generational Housing and Community Centres Toronto

At a Glance

Region: Ontario

Setting: Urban

EAIP program principle(s): 

• Access to social and community supports 
• Access to specialized healthcare services 
• Access to system navigation and support 

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

• New 

Team Profile  

This initiative is led by the Multi-Generation Housing and Community Centres Toronto, a faith-based community organization dedicated to providing information, awareness, education, services, and support to Ismaili Muslims in the Greater Toronto Area. The team includes representatives from the Multi-Generation Housing and Community Centres Toronto (specializing in seniors services, nursing, project implementation, and policy support), evaluation and research. Additionally, a community advisory group supports project development and implementation.  

Community

• The program focuses on residents within a 10–15-minute drive from the Don Mills/Eglinton Road intersection, covering neighborhoods such as Thorncliffe Park, Leaside, Flemingdon, Banbury-Don Mills, and Golden Mile in Toronto. 
• Thorncliffe Park, the primary target area, has a dense senior population, with approximately 10% of residents aged 65 or older and 38% of seniors living alone. Around 80% of the population belongs to visible minority groups, 46% are considered low-income, 74% have a mother tongue other than English, and 19% are recent immigrants. 
• The neighborhood also features a diverse Muslim population, including the Ismaili community, with three Jamatkhanas serving as key community hubs.  

Program Focus 

Program Description  

• The Generations Toronto Integrated Seniors Health & Wellness Program (GenTO-ISHWP) targets homebound older adults with mild to moderate cognitive decline, aiming to reduce isolation and alleviate caregiver burnout. Set within a culturally and linguistically appropriate faith-based framework, the day program fosters social connections and a sense of belonging for culturally diverse, isolated, frail, and vulnerable Ismaili Muslim seniors. It promotes physical wellness, cognitive stimulation, social engagement, and emotional well-being. Additionally, the program provides information, education, navigational support, and respite care to caregivers, enhancing their capacity to offer quality care and delaying long-term care admission. Targeting individuals aged 65 and older with varying levels of mobility and assistance needs, the program encourages multi-faith family participation and primarily serves members of specific Jamatkhana locations in the Don Mills and Eglinton Crosstown corridor, with case-by-case considerations for participants from other areas in the Greater Toronto Area who can arrange transportation.  

Implementation Approach:

• Selection and Referral Process: Develop selection criteria and intake/assessment tools for older adults with mild to moderate impairments to manage program capacity, design, expectations, and evaluation, and establish a "warm" referral process to enhanced adult day programs at partner organizations for those with moderate to complex needs. 
• Transportation and Scheduling: Confirm community partnerships and secure paid, affordable private transportation support to ensure clients have access to transportation to and from the program. Pilot flexible day/time offerings with supported transportation to reduce barriers. 
• Staff and Volunteer Recruitment: Recruit and orient a diverse staff and volunteer team in advance of program design, outlining anticipated roles and support options to facilitate implementation in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner. 
• Community Advisory Group: Establish a Community Advisory Group of diverse stakeholders to ensure the program meets the evolving needs of all involved and maintains a client-centered approach.