AGE FRIENDLY RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN ONTARIO JOHN PUXTY MARCH 2018
Impact of the 2015-17 AFC Strategy • In 2013 there were 36 active AFC communities in Ontario (10 small urban-rural) • In 2015 there were only 15 active AFC communities in Ontario (only 1/15 small urban-rural) • In July 2017 there were a total of 88 active AFC communities including: • 56 funded by MSA in 2015 of whom 40 have reached Step 3 (Action Plan) and 16 Step 4 (Implementation) • 32 who were not funded by MSA in 2015 • 10 were re-established AFC from 2013 cohort • 7/11 who did not re-establish were small urban-rural communities
AFC Planning Grant Community Priorities Housing (68%) Transportation (66%) Communication & Community Support & Information (45%) Health Services (38%)
Benefits Reported • More Accessible Communities (58%) • Culture Shift within Municipalities (44%) • More Exchange and Collaboration Between Community Partners (42%) • Increased Awareness About Age-Friendly Communities (32%) • Engaged and Empowered Local Older Adults (30%) • Communication Channels within the Community are Strengthened (21%)
Subsequent Research Questions 1. What are factors and characteristics of communities that contribute to a successful and sustainable AFC activity? 2. Are there specific issues or challenges for small urban- rural communities linked to AFC? 3. How can age-friendly community strategies and frameworks be tailored to address the cultural needs of new Canadians? 4. How can age-friendly community strategies be tailored to address the unique needs of Ontario's Indigenous people?
Methods for Q1 and Q2 • Exploratory multiple-case study design • Qualitative thematic analysis of interviews with 14/15 established AFCs in 2016, and 53/56 OSS-funded AFCs in 2017 • The themes identified in the interim analyses of the 2016 and 2017 interviews were consolidated, and classified as context, mechanism, or outcome factors • The 2016 and 2017 interview transcripts were then reanalyzed to examine each type of factor, and to compare and contrast patterns between established and new AFC’s, geography and effects of community size. • Compiled community stories into database once validated by communities (147)
Validate Findings at Regional Workshops • 5 Regional workshops held in May 2017 • Validate and contribute to results and interpretation of the information gathered from interviews with 53 funded AFC communities • Opportunity for networking and sharing of successes • Participate in ongoing conversations related to emerging topics of interest • Successes and sustainability factors • Issues and needs of small urban/rural communities • Special needs of francophone, socially isolated, indigenous and immigrant groups
Regional Age-Friendly Communities Engagement Workshops • Participants 214 Participants invited; 120 (56%) Attended • Community 86 Communities were invited; 65 (76%) Attended o 56 Funded AFC Communities invited; 43 (76%) Funded AFC Communities attended o 30 Non-Funded Communities invited; 22 (73%) Non-Funded Communities Attended
Factors that Contribute to and Enable Sustainable AFCs • Demonstrable Provincial leadership through funding, recognition, policy and access to other information and support resources • Regional and local leadership, governance and infrastructure • Representative engagement • Funding • Communication • Strategic Alignment • Evaluation – Academic Involvement. • Long-term planning • Inclusiveness
Factors that Impact Small Urban-Rural Age-Friendly Communities • Geography • Limited Resources/Opportunities • Limited Services and supports • Communication • Infrastructure may not be supportive to “aging in place” • Strong Sense of Community • Culture Building and maintaining momentum in AFC planning and implementation is often more challenging in small urban-rural communities! They often have more early successes but without additional supports they have higher rates of attrition and difficulty in re- establishing
Survey of Existing Non-MSA Funded AFCs in Fall 2017 • Identified presence of additional 27 communities with AFC activities that had not been supported within 2015-17 AFC grant program • Distributed an online survey that built on findings from 2016-2017 interview process • Gathered survey responses from 25/27 non-funded AFCs – 7 established + 18 new • In addition to survey questions that aligned with topics covered during the 2016-2017 interviews, we specifically asked about their use of AFC Outreach resources and usefulness of components
Usefulness of Information Resources by New and Established Non-Funded AFCs New Communities 14 13 12 Not useful 10 9 Somewhat useful 8 7 7 6 6 6 Useful 6 4 Very Useful 4 3 3 Haven't Used 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 No answer 0 The Ontario AFC website Finding the Right Fit AFC resources (e.g. How-to Profiles of other age-friendly planning guides, PHAC communities indicators etc.) Established Communities 3.5 3 3 Not useful 2.5 2 2 2 2 2 2 Somewhat useful 2 Useful 1.5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Very Useful 1 Haven't Used 0.5 No answer 0 The Ontario AFC website Finding the Right Fit AFC resources (e.g. How-to Profiles of other age-friendly planning guides, PHAC communities indicators etc.)
Usefulness of KE Opportunities by New and Established Non-Funded AFCs New Communities 12 10 10 7 8 Not useful 6 6 6 6 5 6 Somewhat useful 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 2 2 2 2 Useful 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 Very Useful 0 Haven't Used The AFC knowledge AFC webinar (live or The monthly AFC e- Regional AFC network Local, regional or broker (Sarah Webster) recording) newsletter meetings (i.e. Southern, provincial conferences No answer Northern, Central or or other in-person AFC Eastern Age-Friendly events Networks) Established Communities 6 5 5 5 4 4 3 Not useful 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 Somewhat useful 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 Useful 1 Very Useful 0 Haven't Used The AFC knowledge AFC webinar (live or The monthly AFC e- Regional AFC network Local, regional or broker (Sarah Webster) recording) newsletter meetings (i.e. provincial conferences No answer Southern, Northern, or other in-person AFC Central or Eastern Age- events Friendly Networks)
Next Steps • To validate and explore further the issues and mechanisms to build capacity and sustainability of AFC activities in Ontario • Identify and respond to unique needs of small urban/rural communities and special populations in Ontario.
Thank you Dr. John Puxty puxtyj@providencecare.ca Sarah Webster (Knowledge Broker) swebster@seniorshealthknowledgenetwork.com
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