Age-Friendly Niagara Update – June, 2024

Welcome to the Age-Friendly Niagara Update! You are receiving this e-newsletter because you opted into the Age-Friendly Niagara database. The intent is to keep you informed about the work of the Age-Friendly Niagara Council (AFNC) and the Niagara Older Adult Alliance (NOAA) in leading age-friendly community action across the region.

Report: Impact of the Niagara Aging Strategy and Action Plan, – and the Way Forward to ‘A Community for All Ages’ 
More than 1200 older adults 50+, from all parts of Niagara, responded to the 2022 Empowering Older Adults in Niagara survey. This report compares the 2022 survey results with priorities in the 2015 Niagara Aging Strategy and Action Plan.The report provides many insights into the views of local older adults on issues impacting their lives (e.g., preferred means of receiving information, contribution to their community as volunteers and many more). These various insights can help inform decision making by community organizations to meet their objectives, while better serving the older adult community.Priorities for older adults in Niagara in 2022, compared to 2015
What has stayed the same? – A focus on:
  • Transportation (access)
  • Housing (increased options)
  • Social, recreational, cultural and educational opportunities (information, intergenerational connections)
  • Healthcare (mental health services for all ages; transportation for specialized services)
What has changed? – Increased focus on:
  • Supports for aging at home
  • Social isolation and loneliness
  • Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Greater emphasis on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
  • Technology and digital literacy
  • Older Adult Infolink – to support access to information about services and recreation opportunities
  • Lifelong learning
  • Francophone community in Niagara
Click here to access the Impact of the Niagara Aging Strategy and Action Plan report
Click here to access results of the 2022 Empowering Older Adults in Niagara Survey
Results of the Empowering Older Adults in Niagara survey, specific to the 12 local area municipalities, is available on the Age-Friendly Niagara website.

Older Adult Infolink provides easier access to information about community services in Niagara
Older Adult Infolink is designed for older adults, their caregivers and family, as well as service providers supporting older adults, to have easier, enhanced and more centralized access to information about community services in Niagara. Programs and services listed on the Older Adult Infolink website are shared from the 211 data collection. Links to municipal Community Leisure Guides in all 12 local areas of Niagara are also provided. Click here to see the Older Adult Infolink site. 

Age-Friendly Niagara Council (AFNC): Volunteers serving on the Board of Niagara’s Council on Aging, to foster “an Age-Friendly Niagara – a community for all ages”. 
For over a decade, the AFNC has raised awareness across Niagara of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) age-friendly community principles and to foster local action among municipalities and community organizations. The AFNC lead the 2022 Empowering Older Adults in Niagara Survey, the creation of the Older Adult Infolink, the design of the Age-Friendly Niagara flag and many other initiatives. The Council will soon become incorporated, and will be seeking members from the community to serve on its Founding Board.

Niagara Older Adult Alliance (NOAA): Leaders from Local Municipal Older Adult Advisory Committees Working Together 
In February 2024, the Thorold Age-Friendly Committee hosted a Niagara Older Adult Alliance (NOAA) meeting. More than 40 leaders from local municipal older adult advisory committees across Niagara participated. They shared information, to align planning and action, to advocate for the interests of older people and age-friendly actions in their communities. The St. Catharines Older Adult Advisory Committee will host the fall, 2024 NOAA meeting.

Click here to see St. Catharines Standard article, “Growing old at home a priority for Niagara residents: report”June is Seniors Month in Ontario: the 2024 theme is “Working for Seniors”
To mark Seniors Month, municipalities and groups across Niagara are holding special events – for example: