Oshawa is developing an Age-Friendly Community Strategy.
City staff have scheduled pop-up focus sessions in various facilities around the City and will be gathering information in a 35 question survey. The survey is part of Oshawa's on-going effort to better understand and evaluate the needs and priorities of older adults in the community.
I attended the first focus session held in Ward 4 on November 6th at the John St. Oshawa Senior Citizens Centre, (OSCC) and heard some of the concerns and ideas Oshawa seniors were interested in sharing.
The next session will be held in Ward 1 on November 16th at the Columbus Community Centre, 3265 Simcoe St. N. between 1:30 and 3 p.m.
Pictured above is Colleen Zavrel, OSCC Program & Service Director outlining the Age-Friendly Community Strategy at the first focus session at the John St. OSCC.
Three issues named by some of the OSCC members participating in the first meeting were:
1/ the need for safe and affordable housing;
2/ access to convenient transportation and
3/ respect that not all seniors are at ease with using computers, email or texting to communicate
The City is asking Oshawa senior citizens to assist with recommendations and the development of an action plan that addresses the World Health Organization's (W.H.O.) Age-Friendly Community checklist, as a way to help the City better adapt its services and responsibilities to Oshawa seniors. The City also plans to apply to have Oshawa recognized as a W.H.O. Age-Friendly City.
The survey gives consideration of the W.H.O's checklist for a successful Age-Friendly community designation in the following 8 areas:
City staff have scheduled pop-up focus sessions in various facilities around the City and will be gathering information in a 35 question survey. The survey is part of Oshawa's on-going effort to better understand and evaluate the needs and priorities of older adults in the community.
I attended the first focus session held in Ward 4 on November 6th at the John St. Oshawa Senior Citizens Centre, (OSCC) and heard some of the concerns and ideas Oshawa seniors were interested in sharing.
The next session will be held in Ward 1 on November 16th at the Columbus Community Centre, 3265 Simcoe St. N. between 1:30 and 3 p.m.
Pictured above is Colleen Zavrel, OSCC Program & Service Director outlining the Age-Friendly Community Strategy at the first focus session at the John St. OSCC.
Three issues named by some of the OSCC members participating in the first meeting were:
1/ the need for safe and affordable housing;
2/ access to convenient transportation and
3/ respect that not all seniors are at ease with using computers, email or texting to communicate
The City is asking Oshawa senior citizens to assist with recommendations and the development of an action plan that addresses the World Health Organization's (W.H.O.) Age-Friendly Community checklist, as a way to help the City better adapt its services and responsibilities to Oshawa seniors. The City also plans to apply to have Oshawa recognized as a W.H.O. Age-Friendly City.
The survey gives consideration of the W.H.O's checklist for a successful Age-Friendly community designation in the following 8 areas:
- Outdoor spaces and buildings
- Housing
- Transportation
- Social participation
- Respect and social inclusion
- Civic participation and employment
- Communication and information
- Community and health services