Building a Stronger and More Inclusive Ontario Part 1: Understanding the Link Between Age-Friendly and

Dementia-Friendly Communities

May 14, 2018

Presenters:

• Felicia White, Manager of Program & Volunteer Development Alzheimer Society of Ontario

• Susan Oster, Public Education Coordinator, Alzheimer Society of London & Middlesex

Funded by the

Government of

Ontario

Understanding the Link between Age Friendly and Dementia Friendly Communities in Ontario

Felicia White, Manager of Program & Volunteer Development Alzheimer Society of Ontario

Susan Oster, Public Education Coordinator Alzheimer Society London & Middlesex

May 17 2018

632537263253726325372

CONFUSION

Let’s work together to understand:

• The Dementia Friendly movement and why we need to ACT NOW

• The link between Age Friendly and Dementia Friendly: complementary initiatives

• The role each of us can play in reaching collective goals and building INCLUSIVE communities

Dementia in Ontario

• Over 230,000 people are living with dementia in Ontario today.

• That number is expected to reach 255,000 by 2020.

• People living with dementia have the right to live in

their community and remain contributing members of society.

(Hopkins, R. (2010). Dementia projections for the counties, regional municipalities and census divisions of Ontario. PCCC Mental Health Services. Kingston, ON.)

Dementia Friendly Communities

Alzheimer Society of Cornwall,2016

What is a Dementia Friendly Community?

A Dementia

Friendly

Community

Understands

Includes

Encourages Assists

Values

Alzheimer Society of Waterloo,2016

Meaningful Inclusion

Lakehead University, Alzheimer Society of Ontario, Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program and brainXchange, 2015

Working Toward An Ideal Dementia

Friendly Community

People living with

dementia are leaders &

remain active in the

community

Informed & Supportive

Public

The community is accessible for

people regardless of

ability

ONE Unified vision and access to

centralized resources

and support

Dementia Friendly Communities Ontario Collaborative Group

• Ontario Dementia Advisory Group • Local Societies across Ontario • Alzheimer Society of Ontario • Centre for Education and Research on Aging and

Health • Murray Alzheimer Research and Education

Program • Schlegel-University of Waterloo Research Institute

for Aging

Building a Collective • DFCO Provincial Community of Interest • Working groups Comprised of people living with dementia, care partners and various sectors across Ontario:

GOAL: Build a framework for Action & Sustainability

Health and Medical

Research

Arts and Recreation

Transportation

Education

Faith communities

Government

Civic Participation

Housing

Social services

What DFC looks like today

• Provincial development and implementation collective (multi-sector)

• Community based lived experience advisory groups

• Local Alzheimer Society training opportunities

• Volunteer and partnership opportunities

• Online hub: www.dementiafriendlyontario.ca

• Thousands of active supporters

Age Friendly Communities

A community where policies, services and physical spaces are designed to enable people of all ages to live in a secure and accessible physical and social environment.

AFCs contribute to good health and allow people to continue to participate fully in society throughout their lifetime.

Common Goals and Principles

Overlapping Core

Characteristics, Goals & Vision

Value Of Persons' Lived

Experience, Wisdom, and Contributions

Broad Coalition of Stakeholders

Engaged

Global Reach & International

Support

Emphasizing Inclusion and Accessibility

Mechanisms of Promotion & Mentorship

Opportunities

Importance of Physical

Environment

Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan,2017

Strengths and Evidence- based

Age-friendly Domains

Dementia Friendly Sectors

Outdoor Spaces and Buildings

Environmental design and urban planning

Municipalities

Transportation

Transportation: public and private

Housing

Housing: public, retirement homes. long term care,

independent living, assisted living

Social Participation

Recreation

Libraries

Legal and Advance Planning Services

Banks and Financial Services

Businesses

Neighbors and Community Members

Communities of Faith

Respect and Social Inclusion

People living with dementia play an active role in DFC development and

implementation. People living with dementia are provided with the support to

determine their role in the community and contribute to community life in a way that

they choose.

Civic Participation and Employment

Workplace

Businesses

Communication and Information

This is woven into each sector as dementia friendly communication strategies.

Community and Health Services

Support and inclusion throughout the Continuum

Memory changes Supports and Services

Emergency Planning and First Response

Shifting Perspectives

STIGMA SHIFT Understanding

Susan Oster

Public Education Coordinator

Alzheimer Society London and Middlesex

ASLM involvement in AFC

• Engaged in development of City’s first 3-year action plan (2013-2016)

• Originally one staff member on one working group (Respect and Social Inclusion)

ASLM involvement in AFC

• By 2016, three staff members on three working groups (Respect and Social Inclusion*, Social Participation and Community Support and Health Services; from 2018 - Communication and Information) *until 2017

• Public Education Coordinator sat on sub-working group for Age Friendly Business (checklist and resource guide)

ASLM involvement in AFC

• ASLM staff involvement in review of 2013-2016 Action Plan and development of 2017-2020 Action Plan

• Opportunities to offer “dementia-friendly” lens to the working groups

ASLM involvement in AFC

• Society’s post-graduate gerontology student capstone research linked to Transportation working group’s action plan strategies (driving retirement – driving and dementia)

Our Philosophy

• “Communities new to both initiatives should

attempt to integrate the two from the outset.”

– Better Together: A Comparative Analysis of Age-

Friendly and Dementia Friendly Communities – AARP

report, 2016

Our Philosophy

• In London, we have collaborative and supportive

relationships with many community partners and

older adults who are already engaged in AFC –

the very same people we can work with to

support DFC

The Benefits of Having the Alzheimer

Society Involved in Age Friendly

Communities

• More diverse perspectives on respect & social inclusion – Enriches discussion on ageism and how to address it

– Alzheimer Society has great examples of intergenerational programming

• Better recommendations for improving the built environment – Age Friendly Businesses

• Physical accessibility, audio & visual environment, & customer service

– Transportation • Driving cessation, training for transit operators

The Benefits of Having the Alzheimer

Society Involved in Age Friendly

Communities

• More inclusive social & recreation opportunities

– Dementia-Friendliness training for staff at Seniors’ Centres

– Identifying assistive devices that enhance inclusion

– Alzheimer Society has best practices for providing

inclusive recreation that other senior-serving organizations

can learn from

The Benefits of Having the Alzheimer

Society Involved in Age Friendly

Communities

• Improved Community Safety

– Dementia-Awareness training for first responders such as

Police, EMS, Fire

• Better supports for caregivers

– Alzheimer Society brings rich knowledge and experience

supporting caregivers at all stages of their journey

Making Your Community Dementia Friendly

What can you do today?

• Connect with your local Alzheimer Society for

education and partnership opportunities

• Get involved in the provincial community of interest

• Assess your current AFC and Accessibility standards/plans/charters: are dementia friendly principles considered? Are people living with dementia included?

We can Build upon our existing work to build communities that are inclusive of everyone of all abilities

Clarity

Complementary NOT Competitive

DFC contributes to AFC

Strength’s based Inclusion focused

Discussion

Join us on May 31st

Building a Stronger and More Inclusive Ontario Part 2: Understanding the link between Age-

Friendly and Compassionate Communities

Registration Link:

https://cc.callinfo.com/r/1tly4pqwjzzji&eom

Additional Resources

• Dementia Friendly Communities: www.dementiafriendlyontario.ca

• AFC Ontario Website – For how-to summaries, additional resources and information on past and future webinar opportunities

– www.agefriendlyontario.ca

– www.collectivitesamiesdesainesontario.ca

• Provincial AFC distribution list

– http://bit.ly/1N7v8rw

Contact Information

Presenters

• Felicia White – fwhite@alzheimeront.org

• Susan Oster – soster@alzheimerlondon.ca

• Sarah Webster, Ontario AFC Knowledge Broker

– swebster@seniorshealthknowledgenetwork.com