N O R T H S Y D N E Y C O U N C I L

Community Services Reference Group

Report CS03 - 29 July 2013

Attachments: 1. Draft Strategy document

SUBJECT: North Sydney Council’s Older Persons Strategy 2013 AUTHOR: Chris Taylor, Community Worker (Aged and Disability) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This report presents the North Sydney Council Older Persons Strategy for adoption and comment. The Strategy was developed with the assistance of a focus group made up of local community service organizations and precinct members. It also reflects where relevant the strategies contained in the NSW Ageing Strategy. RECOMMENDATION: 1. THAT this Strategy be adopted by Council and placed on public exhibition Signed: Endorsed by:

Manager Community Development

Report of Chris Taylor, Community Worker (Aged and Disability) Re: North Sydney Council’s Older Persons Strategy 2013

(2)

LINK TO DELIVERY PROGRAM The relationship with the Delivery Program is as follows: Direction: 4 Our Social Vitality Goal: 4.3 Encourage Health and Wellbeing

BACKGROUND The North Sydney Council Older Persons Strategy 2013 was designed to guide an all of Council response to the changing of needs of older people in the local community. It was produced to complement the NSW Ageing Strategy published by the NSW Government in 2012 The North Sydney Strategy for older people was produced with the assistance of Focus Group made up of Precinct members and local community groups. Input from all areas of Council has been received. SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT The following table provides a summary of the key sustainability implications: QBL Pillar Implications Environment Intended to promote the use of public and community transport Social Aims to reduce social isolation, identify employment

opportunities and improved health and well being for older people The strategy will also address the needs of unfunded community

groups that provide services for older people. Economic Costs met from adopted budget including significant State

Government grants (approximately $50,000) towards salaries Governance Cross-Council projects are central to achieving the Strategy’s

goals

NORTH SYDNEY COUNCIL

Older Persons Strategy

2013

INDEX

Foreword 1

Background 2

Methodology 2

Terms and definitions 3

Older people in North Sydney 3

Strategies 5

Access and Mobility 6

Community Safety 7

Employment and Volunteers 8

Information and Inclusion 9

Health and wellbeing 10

Housing 11

Transport 12

Celebrating cultural diversity with older people 13

Appendix 14

1

FOREWORD

The North Sydney Older Persons Plan was

developed to provide a series of strategies that will

assist and support older people continue to live

successful and active lives in their local community.

It reflects the goals in the NSW Government

Ageing Strategy and the North Sydney Council

2020 vision. It is important to acknowledge the

work of the Focus group made up of community

members and organisations representatives that

provided valuable input the strategies contained

in this plan. This group will be reconvened on an

annual basis to the progress of the plan over the

next four years.

2

BackgroundThe North Sydney Council Strategic Plan

for Older People 2013 -2017 recognises is

all Council activities across impact on the

quality of life for older people. It will align

with the strategies in the wider Council

planning processes including the Delivery

Plan and the 2020 Vision. The overall

success of this plan will be judged by the

numbers of older people who are able

to maintain quality life styles and living

conditions in the community.

While the plan does focus on Council

activities it does recognise that both

local Community organisations State and

Federal Government agencies have a major

role to play. In the next five years there

will be significant changes to the way in

which Aged Care services are funded. In

2012/13 the Australian government is due

to take over the funding of aged services

from State Governments. While most

services will remain in some form there

is some push toward s providing more

self directed/direct payments to the older

population.

MethodologyMany of the issues and needs described

in this paper have been well documented

in previous Council reports and research

(See appendix). The issues and needs of

older people are reported on annually to

the North Sydney Community Services

Committee. Council is also committed to

ongoing consultation with its residents,

workers, service providers and State

Government Agencies such as NSW Health

and NSW Transport.

The Local Government Shires Association

(LGSA) checklist was utilised in the review

of existing Council strategies that impact

on services and facilities for older people.

It identifies areas where more resources

may be required to maintain and support

older people in North Sydney.

A discussion paper highlighting the major

issues was developed in late 2012. This

information was used to inform an older

person’s focus group held at Stanton

Library (March 2013).and May 2013 The

focus group identified several issues

including improving Council information

by presenting in alternative formats

including non IT solutions and translated

material in community languages , Safe

mobility around North Sydney by creating

The focus group working on the Older Persons Strategy

3

pedestrian safe routes ,promoting

public and Community transport use

More accessible infrastructure Work

with the NSW government to develop

more accessible and affordable housing

options. Memebership of the focus group

is cocntained in the appenidix.

Terms and definitions For the purposes of this paper older people

are defined as being over 55 with some

focus on numbers of older people aged

over 80.

About Older people in North Sydney According to the 2006 census figures

In North Sydney LGA the number of

people aged 55 and over numbered

13,667 accounting for 23.4%of the total

population In 2011 the number of people

aged over 55 years was 14,694 accounting

for 23.6% of the total population. While

there has been some increase in numbers

of older people the percentage of total

population has remained approximately

the same.

The number of older people aged 80+

decreased slightly from the 2006 census.

In 2006 there were 2,284 accounting for

(3.6%) of the population. In 2011 there

were 2,042 accounting for 3.2% of the

population.

The number of single person households in

North Sydney has always been higher than

the NSW State average the percentage of

single person house hold in 2006 was just

under 33% compared to a state average

of 23 %. In 2011 the percentage of single

person house holds was 37% and the NSW

State average was 24%. For a population

growing older this has some serious

implications for the numbers of people

who might be at risk of social isolation.

North Sydney Council, Community

organisations, State and Federal

governments run and fund community

services that support older people in the

area. These are summarised below

4

Table: 1 North Sydney Council services specifically for older people

Table: 2 Community and Health services for older people in the North Sydney Local Government Area.

Service Service provided Funded

Community Worker (Aged and Disability)

Service access and advocacy Program Development Community Management.Housing Assistance

Council/ state Government.

Home Library Service Visit to frail aged unable to access library.

Council

Community Development Arts and Wellbeing programs for Older people. Seniors Week Programs

Council State Government

Council Subsidies and grants to council business units and community organisations to provide services to people on the aged pension

Council

Council Christmas bonus Council

Environment and Open Space Support for Community Gardens

Council

Organisation Service provided Funded by Service Area

Crows Nest Community Centre

Linen serviceMeals on wheels Volunteers Social Activities

Federal governmentState Government Council

North Sydney

Kirribilli neighbourhood Centre

Social ActivitiesCommunity libraryVolunteering

Some Council funded North Sydney

North Sydney Community Centre

Educational courses Some Council funding North Sydney

LNC Community Transport

Transport Federal Council Lower North Shore

Link Community Housing

Housing support Federal State Council

Northern Sydney

Northern Sydney Health Lower North Shore ACAT

Assessment Allied health Case Management Social Workers Clinical Psychologists Nurses OT’s Dieticians

Federal State

Lower North Shore

Northern Sydney Health

Cares Support CALD Access

State Lower North Shore

5

StRatEgIES

6

Access and MobilityWith an increasing older population

Council needs to modify and manage

existing infrastructure to ensure it can

used safely by older people who may

be less mobile. Many issues concerning

infrastructure have all ready been

identified via the Access and Community

Safety Reference group and Active

Transport Reference group. In North

Sydney improvement work on Bus

Stops, Street Lighting and Kerb Ramp

modification are part of on going

programs. The management of shared

footpaths between pedestrians, cyclists

and electric scooters remains a contentious

issue. Council has a legal duty to ensure

that all of its events services and facilities

are accessible.

Objective area of interest Strategies KPIIdentify and establish accessible and safe pathways between major facilities and venues.

All council facilities are made accessible

Our Built Environment Provide clear signage on major pathways

Provide benches on major pathways at agreed intervals

Provide hand rails on steps

On going audits of infrastructure and facilities

Update accessible information.

Access Training is provided on a regular basis to Council and Community centre staff

A minimum of two pathways are made safer and accessible per annum.

Audit two pathways per annum

Two audits per annum of infrastructure and facilities are carried out.

Managing for Access accessible events management booklet is promoted and updated.

Training provided on annual basis

7

Community SafetyWhile most residents of North Sydney

report that they feel safe within their

community there are some ongoing

concerns that need to be resolved.

Ongoing maintenance of footpaths and

adequate street lighting are often brought

up during consultations and reference

group discussions. The frequent need

to sweep leaves and cut small branches

from North Sydney footpaths will remain

essential to prevent trips and falls in the

older population

Objective area of interest Strategies KPIImplement Road Safety education programs aimed at older people

Social Vitality Our Living Environment

Improve management of shared footpaths

Regular audits of footpaths for obstacles

Innovative programs concerning road safety are provided by Council for older people.

Research use of traffic islands to assit with road crossing at busy crossings

Investigate techonology swipe cards which can change light changing times at busy intersections

On road accidents statistics

Annual audits of lighting are carried out .

Investigate use of solar power to maintain street lighting

Seniors Road Safety calendar provided free on an annual basis.

Trips and falls reduced

Report to Access and Safety Refrence on an annual basis

Complaints re lighting are reduced

8

Employment and VolunteersWith a larger population in retirement

and semi retirement there is both an

opportunity and a challenge to provide

positions for older volunteers. Council will

need to review all areas of services and

programs to identify new opportunities for

older people to undertake paid work and

volunteer in their local community.

There is a role for council to assist and

support with the provision of some paid

part time employment for older people.

Council could assist with developing a

social enterprise or cooperative for older

people to be involved with. This could

be used to provide additional transport,

healthy and well being activities or very

basic household maintenance services.

Objective area of interest Strategies KPISupport and resource employment and volunteering opportunities for older people.

Social Vitality

Economic Vitality

Develop a register of

volunteering opportunities

Ensure older people are aware of volunteering opportunities via the internet and notice boards.

Research and identify opportunities for a social enterprise activity in the North Sydney/Lower North Shore.

All community centres and bush programs have ongoing opportunities for volunteers.

Volunteers are employed and supported with training as required.

Council is involved in developing two social enterprise activities for older people

9

Inclusion and information provisionOver 50% of people aged 85 live on

there own in North Sydney (ABS 2011)

and services will need to be flexible and

responsive to reduce the risk of older

people becoming isolated.

An increased number of older people living

in North Sydney will put greater pressure

on customer and community services.

Service requests in the last 10 years

indicate that Customer services will also

need to become more flexible with how it

provides and receieves customer requests

Objective area of

interest

Strategies KPI

Council works with service providers to identify the causes of social isolation and lessen its effects.

Social Vitality Council delivers Home Library services

Councils provides accommodation and management support for the Men’s Shed

Council provides management support and accommodation for the Neutral Bay Seniors

Council provides and supports alternative options for older people unable to access technology or use website payment systems

Council works with Community transport to provide a flexible and responsive service.

Council promotes the Social Inclusion training package to organistaions

Council monitors all reported cases of Social Isolation

Volunteer and social enterprise community services that reduce isolation for older people are maintained with support and resources by Council

Council promotes community services and activities in various formats Update and promote translated information

Social Vitality Informationon activities and events for older people are always provided in alternative formats/community languages as required

Numbers of people from CALD communities attending events increases.

10

Health and wellbeingIncrease numbers of well aged older

people will require more recreational

activities. At present there is adequate

network of bushwalks and cycle pathways.

Council will need to maintain and expand

these to enable people to remain active

and move about the community. There

will be also further demands for open

space and exercise areas with appropriate

equipment. The demand for access

to the North Sydney Men’s shed and

Community Gardening is also increasing.

The Wollstonecraft Men’s Shed is operating

at full capacity on the three days it is open.

There are also currently four Community

gardens operating in North Sydney

Objective area of

interest

Strategies KPI

Develop and resource programs to promote a healthily life style for older people

Social Vitality Our living environment

Provide and promote active ageing programs for older people to prevent health issues arising

Community gardening is available for older people living in the North Sydney area.

Support for Wellbeing Arts programs are maintained..

All community centres provide physical activities for older people.

Numbers of people taking up programs is increased

4 Community Gardens remain operational. New sites are identified for community gardening.

2 Wellbeing Arts program is provided by Council per annum

11

HousingBetween five and ten older people are

classified as being long term homeless

and are living in open space within the

community. There are also significant

numbers of older people living in boarding

houses and low cost accommodation.

with limited security. Additionally in

North Sydney LGA 7-8 older people each

year are identified as living in poor living

conditions.

Objective area of

interest

Strategies KPI

Provide a range of affordable housing and accommodation options for older people

Ensure some new build housing in the North Sydney LGA is adaptable to meet the needs of older people

Social Vitality Our Built environment

Provide timely housing assistance for older people who are in housing need and homeless.

Lost cost housing is included in large scale residential developments.

Set a register and promorte home share opportunites for older people

Local people continue to be given priority for Council owned Community housing in the North Sydney area.

In any development over 10 dwellings 10% of the dwellings should be adaptable to changing life circumstances

Information and advice provided to twenty older people per annum.

DCP on affordable housing is reviewed in 2013/2014

Increase in the numbers of people living in affordable accommodation in the North Sydney area.

Requests for adaptable accommodation are monitored and reported on annually

Promote and market Home Modification Service

Social Vitality Provide information to community centres and community services located in North Sydney

Provide information in Community Languages

Take up of Home Modification service increases

12

TransportWhile North Sydney being well serviced

by Public Transport,in some instances

older people have difficulty accessing and

using it. Lower North Shore Community

Transport is funded by HACC and North

Sydney Council to assist people with

limited mobility and also communty

groups with social activities. There are

areas of North Sydney where take up of

Community Transport is lower than the

rest. The level of information and the

typoe of services avilable in these areas are

the subject of ongoing review.

Objective area of

interest

Strategies KPI

Promote use of community/. Public transport to older people.

Social Vitality Develop and implement education programmes to promote opportunities and advantages of reduced private motor vehicle usage

Market and promote community and public transport

Review Council Cab to assess demand

Public transport Travel training held on an annual basis. Attended by older people from North Sydney Area.

Increased use of Community and Public transport.

Usage of Council cab reviewed on a annual basis

13

Celebrating cultural diversity with older peopleNorth Sydney is becoming more diverse

and had people from many different

cultures. The 2011 ABS census results

indicates that, North Sydney has become

increasingly diverse since 2001 with a

drop in the percentage of people born in

Australia from 68.2% to 54.7%. 16.2% of

the population were born in a non-English

speaking country, up from 11.4% in 2001.

The emerging birthplace groups in North

Sydney since 2001 were China (up 671),

India (up 449) and Japan (up 1,040). People

speaking a language other than English

at home increased from 15.8% in 2001 to

21.4% in 2011. The major increases were

in Chinese, Indian, Korean and Spansih

languages.

Objective area of

interest

Strategies KPI

Council events and activites take into account the needs of people from diverese cultural backgrounds

Social Vitality Organisations that provide services and activities to older people are resourced and encouraged to provide culturally diverse activities.

Two activities per year are reflective of cultural diversity

Information on activities for older people are always provided in /community languages as required

Numbers of people from CALD communities attending events increases.

14

Appendix 1age structure – Five year age groups

North Sydney Council area

2011 2006 Change

Five year age groups (years)

Number % greater Sydney

Number % greater Sydney

2006 to 2011

0 to 4 3,354 5.4 6.8 2,645 4.5 6.6 +709

5 to 9 2,021 3.2 6.3 1,544 2.7 6.5 +477

10 to 14 1,559 2.5 6.1 1,397 2.4 6.5 +162

15 to 19 1,697 2.7 6.3 1,795 3.1 6.6 -98

20 to 24 3,644 5.9 7.0 4,376 7.5 7.2 -732

25 to 29 8,135 13.1 7.8 7,895 13.6 7.4 +240

30 to 34 8,434 13.5 7.7 8,193 14.1 7.9 +241

35 to 39 6,607 10.6 7.6 5,746 9.9 7.7 +861

40 to 44 4,753 7.6 7.3 4,022 6.9 7.6 +731

45 to 49 3,777 6.1 7.0 3,538 6.1 7.2 +239

50 to 54 3,620 5.8 6.5 3,440 5.9 6.3 +180

55 to 59 3,374 5.4 5.7 3,714 6.4 5.8 -340

60 to 64 3,505 5.6 5.1 3,005 5.2 4.4 +500

65 to 69 2,699 4.3 3.8 2,072 3.6 3.4 +627

70 to 74 1,815 2.9 2.9 1,432 2.5 2.8 +383

75 to 79 1,267 2.0 2.3 1,281 2.2 2.5 -14

80 to 84 958 1.5 1.9 1,092 1.9 2.0 -134

85 and over 1,070 1.7 1.8 1,072 1.8 1.6 -2

total 62,289 100.0 100.0 58,259 100.0 100.0 +4,030

15

Appendix 2Community Services requests to Community Worker (aged and Disability) May 2011- May 2012

Summary of findings

In between May 2011 and 2012 206

Community services requests were

received 2 more than last year. In 134 cases

it was possible to identify the population

group or known circumstances of the

person. The largest population group

recorded were the Frail Aged. A small

reduction from numbers recorded last

year (70) to 62 Numbers of People with

Disabilities recorded also declined from (79)

to 57. In contrast numbers of people with

Mental Illness increased from (10) to 15.

Chart 1: Known circumstances of people requesting services between

May 2011 and May 2012

Frail Aged People with Mental Disabilities Health

Frail Aged

People with Disabilities

Mental Health

16

Housing assistance requests made over

a third of all requests received 70.This

represents a significant increase on

last year (42). There were 19 reported

situations involving Poor Living conditions

a significant increase on last year when

(9) cases were recorded There were 17

requests concerning access to services and

faculties 7 less than year (24).

Chart 2: Most frequent community service requests between

May 2011 and May 2012

Housing Access to services Poor and facilities living

num

ber

of s

ervi

ce re

ques

ts

Housing

Access

Poor living

17

Membership of the focus group

Name Organisation

Ted Day Mens shed

Helen L’Orange Waverton Hub

Bryce Gunn Greenway Tenants

Terry Kemp Greenway Tenants

Geoff Barrett Community Transport

John Medows Precinct Member

Trish Medows Precinct Member

Fay Sinclair Community Housing Tenants Rep

Denise Ward Executive Officer Crows Nest Community Centre

Camelia Tobia Aged Services manager Crows Nest Centre

Pauline Constance Neutral Bay Seniors

Mel Young Community Transport

Shirley Bevan Access and Community Safety Reference Group

Jill Kearney Precinct Member

Abby Bloom Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing