Age-Friendly Community Plan
Consultation has concluded
Thank you for your participation!
View the approved Age-Friendly Community Plan (PDF)
The County of Brant is developing an Age-Friendly Community Plan for those who are 55 and older.
Funding support from the Ontario Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, through the Seniors Community Grant Program, has allowed the County’s Community & Protective Services Department to gain insights from the community regarding how the County might best support the priority needs of our community. The recommendations generated through the consultation process will be presented to County of Brant Council and considered in the future by decision-makers for potential support.
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Thank you for your participation!
View the approved Age-Friendly Community Plan (PDF)
The County of Brant is developing an Age-Friendly Community Plan for those who are 55 and older.
Funding support from the Ontario Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, through the Seniors Community Grant Program, has allowed the County’s Community & Protective Services Department to gain insights from the community regarding how the County might best support the priority needs of our community. The recommendations generated through the consultation process will be presented to County of Brant Council and considered in the future by decision-makers for potential support.
Like many communities across Ontario, the proportion of older adults in the County of Brant has been increasing significantly over the last decade and is expected to continue at a rapid pace over the next decade. Through this engagement process we want to ensure that older adults in the County of Brant are appropriately supported in their community.
We are looking for your input to establish key priorities for the County of Brant to improve its age-friendliness. On March 28, 2018 the County of Brant was formally recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a member of the global Age-Friendly Community Network. This means Brant is committed to sharing and promoting the values and principles central to the WHO Age-friendly approach which includes:
- Listening to the needs of the aging population
- Assessing and monitoring the community’s age-friendliness
- Working collaboratively with older residents and across sectors to create age-friendly physical and social environments.
This consultation opportunity addresses the first of these commitments.
Background:
Age-Friendly Communities (AFC) is an international movement initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to global aging and urbanization. An age-friendly community provides a physical, social and service environment that enables seniors and all ages, to live in security, enjoy good health and participate in society. It promotes inclusion and values the contribution of seniors in all areas of community life, respects seniors decisions and lifestyle choices, and anticipates and responds flexibly to aging and its related needs and preferences.
An age-friendly community is one that is safe and secure, has affordable and appropriate housing, transportation options and offers supportive community features and services. Once in place, those resources enhance personal independence; allow residents to age in place; and foster residents' engagement in the community's civic, economic and social life. In a livable community, people of all ages can go for a walk, safely cross the street, ride a bike, get around without a car as much as possible, live comfortably, work or volunteer, enjoy public places, socialize, spend time outdoors, be entertained, go shopping, buy healthy food, find the services they need and make their city, town, or neighbourhood a lifelong home.
The WHO has identified eight key dimensions of community life, which includes the following:
- Transportation: examines community transit options including availability, affordability, accessibility, reliability and assesses transit infrastructure such as sidewalks, roadways and intersections.
- Housing: examines access, affordability and information about various housing options, housing design, as well as assesses in-home maintenance and support services available.
- Outdoor Spaces & Buildings: examines neighbourhood design, age-friendliness of parks, pathways and trails, and accessibility of buildings.
- Social Participation, Respect & Inclusion: examines recreation and social participation opportunities within the community, as well as opportunities to foster positive images of older adults and seniors, promoting multi-generational interactions.
- Communication and Information: examines how and in what format information is circulated to the community and assesses the availability and accessibility of communication technology.
- Civic Participation and Employment: examines opportunities for older adults and seniors to be involved in aspects of community life beyond day-to-day activities, such as employment, volunteering, becoming politically active, voting, working on committees, etc.
- Community Support and Health Services: examines access to services that support physical and mental well-being and the availability of health promotion or awareness services that support healthy behaviours and life choices.
To learn more check out the World Health Organization's Age-Friendly Cities Framework
Engage with us!
Questions? Please reach out to staff who are listed in the "Who's Listening" section, on the right hand side of this page.
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How can the County of Brant become more "Age-Friendly"? Communication and Information
almost 3 years agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.How do you prefer to receive communications from the County of Brant?
What information is important to you?
Nancy Duboisabout 3 years agoAccess to dialysis at the Willet Hospital in downtown Paris to serve the people of Paris. BGH is busy & driving there in winter is dangerous
Gerry & Carol MacMillan, Paris, ON
0 comment0ed bernackiabout 3 years agoDo not ignore older men... Men's Sheds
Generally our plans for seniors by designed by and focused on women and the type of activities that relate to women. This is fine. We need to recognize that older men have high rates of suicide and depression. A new national organization has started to prompt men to meet and do something. This is a useful model for Brant County to adopt .... it is called Men's Shed and started in Australia. www.Menssheds.ca for details
0 comment0ed bernackiabout 3 years agoU3A link to the Third Age Network
This is an international network for seniors focused on learning "The Third Age Network (TAN) is a network of THIRD AGE LEARNING groups in Ontario. Third Age learning usually occurs in the retirement years for those who want to keep their brains and bodies active and meet stimulating new friends." Many communities in Ontario are linked. Thre are a lot of resources on offer to help people to keep learning. https://thirdagenetwork.ca/
0 comment0Lesley Durham-McPheeabout 3 years agoResidents who are already active in the community will likely remain active. Ask groups how they might better accomodate older residents.
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How could the County of Brant be more "Age-Friendly"? - Community Support & Health Services
almost 3 years agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.Do you have access to services that support physical and mental well-being? If not, what type of access to these services do you need?
Is there a need for more support?
Are you aware of what's available to you in the County of Brant?
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How could the County of Brant be more "Age-Friendly"? - Civic Participation & Employment
almost 3 years agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.Are there opportunities for older adults and seniors to be involved in Community Life?
What type of opportunities are you interested in?
Are you aware of any opportunities in the County of Brant for seniors to participate in Community life such as volunteering, politically active, voting, committee work etc?
Are there employment opportunities? Is there a need for more?
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How could the County of Brant be more "Age-Friendly"? - Housing
almost 3 years agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.Examines access, affordability and information about various housing options, housing design, as well as assesses in-home maintenance and support services available.
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How could the County of Brant be more "Age-Friendly"? - Outdoor Spaces & Buildings
almost 3 years agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.What type of outdoor spaces and buildings do you want to see for older adults and seniors?
Are there spaces that currently exist in the County of Brant that work well?
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How could the County of Brant be more "Age-Friendly"? - Social Participation, Respect & Inclusion
almost 3 years agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.What type of recreational and social programs would you like to see?
Are there senior programs now that work well?
Who's Listening
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Email stacey.ellins@brant.ca -
Email sarah.dredge@brant.ca -
Age-Friendly Community Plan Consultant
Email dubfit@rogers.com
Key Public Engagement Dates
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March 05 → April 09 2021
Timeline
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December 2021 • Funding Confirmed
Age-Friendly Community Plan has finished this stage -
January - February 2021 • Preliminary Research
Age-Friendly Community Plan has finished this stage- Review of Background documents and data
- Initial contact with stakeholder groups
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March 2021 - April 2021 • Engage with us!
Age-Friendly Community Plan has finished this stage- Resident Survey
- Survey Analysis
- Establish preliminary priorities for the Plan
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April - May 2021 • Stakeholder Consultation and Draft Plan development
Age-Friendly Community Plan has finished this stage -
July 2021 • Final Age-Friendly Community Plan
Age-Friendly Community Plan is currently at this stage- Finalize and present to County of Brant Council
- Submit Plan to provincial funder
- Share plan with community stakeholders