This tool kit consists of resources designed to support the Niagara Aging Strategy and Action Plan (2015). It is not an exhaustive list of resources available. These resources have been selected because they are pragmatic and easy to use guides and checklists that can be used by residents, service providers, businesses, and decision makers in making every aspect of life in Niagara Region more Age Friendly.

TOOL

DESCRIPTION AND SOURCE

WHERE IT IS FOUND

AGE-FRIENDLY PLANNING

PL 1 AARP Livable Communities

Self-­service guide for how your community can become a member of this World Health Organization-­affiliated program. Provides a basis for guiding, supporting and evaluating age-friendly initiatives. AARP Foundation (U.S.)

PL 2 Finding the Right Fit Age-Friendly Community Planning

This guide explains the characteristics of an age-­friendly community, provides a ‘one-­stop shop’ for a broad range of AFC resources, and offers flexible community assessment tools that can be customized. Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat

PL 3 Checklist of Essential Features of Age-Friendly Cities

This checklist is a tool for a city’s self-assessment, and a map for charting progress. It is intended to be used by individuals and groups interested in making their city more age-friendly. WHO – World Health Organization

PL 4 Age-Friendly Communities Canada Hub

The Hub is here to help you learn about age-friendly communities in Canada, connect with others who work in the area, and share your own work. Age-Friendly Communities Canada Hub

PL 5 Community Data Program

Gateway to data for municipalities and community sector organizations. Members access customized tables from Statistics Canada and other sources to get the evidence that supports sound decisions and social development programs. Members also get training and join a network of community practitioners. Canadian Council on Social Development

PL 6 Niagara Age-Friendly Community Author’s Guide

Describes the criteria and process for submitting articles about work that positively promotes and advances the principles of age-friendly communities. Niagara Age-Friendly Community

PL 7 Age-Friendly Communities (AFC) Community Implementation Guide and Toolbox

Guide and Toolbox are intended to assist communities across Canada, start up, implement and evaluate their own age-friendly initiative, in which policies, services and structures related to the physical and social environment are designed to support and enable older persons to “age actively”.
Nova Scotia Centre on Aging and the Public Health Agency of Canada

PL 8 Thinking about Aging in Place

Short guide answers many FAQs about having the health, social supports, and services you need to live safely and independently in your home or your community for as long as you wish and are able. Ontario Seniors Secretariat

PL 9 Global Age-Friendly Cities: A Guide

The purpose of this guide is to engage cities to become more age-friendly. It describes the converging trends of rapid growth of the population over 60 years of age and of urbanization, outlines the challenging facing cities, and summarizes the research process that led to identifying the core features of an age-friendly city. World Health Organization

PL 10 Niagara Prosperity Initiative

The Niagara Prosperity Initiative uses a neighbourhood-based approach as specific poverty issues and community dynamics vary from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. This report and especially the mapping tool provide an overview of populations ie. immigrants, over 65 years, income levels etc. along with community services currently available such as seniors centres, places of worship etc. Region of Niagara

AGE-FRIENDLY TOOLS

AF 1 Age-Friendly Communities in Canada: Community Implementation Guide and Toolbox

Developed to assist communities to start up, implement and evaluate their age-friendly initiatives. The guide and toolbox were developed by the Nova Scotia Centre on Aging, Mount Saint Vincent University and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

AF 2 Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A Guide

This guide can be used to increase awareness of seniors’ needs by identifying indicators of age-friendly rural and remote communities. It can be used to identify common barriers and to foster dialogue and action that supports the development of age-friendly communities. Public Health Agency of Canada

AF 3 Tool Kit for Becoming an Age-Friendly Niagara

Whether you are a Niagara Business owner, an employee helping customers, an organization leader or service provider, this 10 page tool kit will help to strengthen your work by planning through an Age-Friendly lens.
Niagara Age-Friendly Community Network (NAFCN)

BUSINESS

B1 Is Your Small Business Age-Friendly?

Short questionnaire to help small business owners to attract and keep an aging population. Part of the Finding the Right Fit-Age-Friendly Community Planning report. (pages 108-109) Ontario’s Seniors’ Secretariat

B2 Creating an Age-Friendly Business in Welland/Pelham

Easy to use guide considering a number of age-friendly factors appealing to consumers of all ages. Includes a business assessment and business self-rating guide. Chambers of Commerce for Welland and Pelham, City of Welland and Welland Seniors Citizen’s Advisory Committee

B3 Creating an Age-Friendly Business in BC

This guide includes ideas on how to better serve older customers, examples of those who have already taken steps to become age-friendly, and a checklist to help businesses determine which areas could be changed to become more age-friendly. Seniors’ Health Promotion Directorate, British Columbia Ministry of Health BC

B4 Tips for Creating an Accessible Environment for Employers, Employees and Municipalities

This guide includes ideas on how to better serve older customers, examples of those who have already taken steps to become age-friendly, and a checklist to help businesses determine which areas could be changed to become more age-friendly. Seniors’ Health Promotion Directorate, British Columbia Ministry of Health BC

B5 Age-Friendly Workplaces: A Self-Assessment Tool for Employers

A simple assessment for employers to find out if they offer a workplace that is attractive to older workers. Ontario Seniors Secretariat

B6 Accessibility Guide to Businesses and Service Providers

Provides information and clarifies misperceptions regarding people who are deaf and hard of hearing, technologies that can be helpful, communication tips, emergency situations, and how to book an interpreter. Canadian Hearing Society

B7 Canadian Hearing Aid Subsidies

Article outlines the various programs available to individuals who are hard of hearing, and includes links to further information, summarized as a resource listing. Last updated for Ontario Fall 2009. Canadian Hard of Hearing Association

DIVERSITY

D1 Diversity in Action: A Tool Kit for Residential Settings for Seniors

Designed to respond to comments and requests for support coming from staff, residents and families within residential settings for seniors, who want to learn about and put into action, strategies that welcome diversity within their settings and enable “cultural competence”. This is a a quick ‘checklist’ but a report examining culture, organizational change and policies to turn roadblocks into building blocks of inclusiveness. Ontario Seniors Secretariat

D2 Diversity Our Strength: LGBT Tool Kit

The goal of this tool is to guide Toronto Long-Term Care Homes and Services in establishing cultural competencies in providing care for LGBT residents, partners and their friends, while also creating a welcoming environment for volunteers, staff and the local community at large. Toronto Long Term Care Homes and Services (2008)

ELDER ABUSE

EA 1 ONPEA Core Curriculum and Resource Guide

Core Curriculum and Resource Guide, and Interactive PDF eBook educates homecare workers about the topic of elder abuse and how to effectively take action. The Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse

EA 2 ONPEA Retirement Home Training Brochure

Role and obligations of retirement home staff as they pertain to abuse recognition, education, prevention, reporting and response of resident elder abuse under the Retirement Home Act (RHA) and the Retirement Home’s internal policies and procedures for documentation. The Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse

EA 3 Free From Harm Interactive eBook

Hands-on tool to be used by service providers and front-line workers dealing with the abuse of older women. Introduces practices and tools, interviewing techniques and the creation of safety plans. Interactive information to help the abused individual. The Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse

EA 4 ELDER ABUSE RESOURCE: “It’s in Your Hands: Legal Information for Seniors and their Families”

User-friendly resource intended for seniors and families to help understand and plan legal and financial affairs. NSCA in collaboration with the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia

FINANCIAL LITERACY

FL 1 Seniors Financial Literacy Strategy

Interactive literacy resource database for seniors and organizations serving them. Provides “one-stop shop” to links with government, private sector and not-for-profit resources. Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)

FL 2 Financial Literacy 102: A Knowledge Based Approach to Preventing Financial Abuse of Older Adults

Workshops to provide older adults with information that will help them protect themselves from financial abuse. “Financial literacy” means having the knowledge to prevent, recognize and respond to financial abuse. BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support

FL 3 Your Money Seniors

New, free, unbiased financial literacy seminar program developed in partnership with FCAC and presented b y volunteer bankers in Canadian communities to be ready by 2015. The Canadian Bankers Association

FL 4 Investor Education Fund

Retirement planning tools including a financial calculator to help consumers develop realistic retirement income plans. Ontario Securities Commission

FL 5 Prevenir les pieges financiers de la retraite (Avoiding retirement pitfalls) and Pas de retraite pour voc finances (No retirement on your finances)

Two guides to assist people in living in retirement. Option Consommateurs

FL 6 What Every Other Adult Should Know about Powers of Attorney and Joint Bank Accounts

Outlines the options to be considered before entering into either of these options. Government of Canada

FL 7 Money Smart for Older Adults – Prevent Financial Exploitation

Curriculum including a participant guide and training module for instructors. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – U.S.

FL 8 Safe and Sound Financial Security Literacy Tool

PDF eBook educates homecare workers about the topic of financial abuse and how to effectively take action. The Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse

FL 9 Planning for Retirement on a Low Income

This tool kit contains resources for Canadians on planning for retirement on a low income. Some sections are specific to Ontario and updates to the information are current. Translated into Gujarati and Chinese. Open Policy-John Stapleton

FITNESS – ACTIVITY

FA 1 Walk this Way User Guide and Magnetic Calendar

Kit supports healthy communities by promoting walking as the single most sustainable physical activity. Provides individuals with all of the components that they need to support them in creating healthy walking habits. OPHEA

FA 2 International Charter for Walking. Creating Healthy, Efficient and Sustainable Communities

Built on extensive discussions with experts throughout the world this Charter shows how to create a culture where people choose to walk. Walk Friendly Ontario

HEALTH

H1 Keeping Yourself Healthy and Active: Nutrition, and Physical Activities Checklists

Healthy eating promotes a healthy heart, strong bones and good resistance to infection and injury. Remaining physically active also reduces risk of falling and other injuries. These easy checklists help you to assess your current practices and learn about new practices to incorporate into your daily routine. Public Health Agency of Canada

H2 Your Health Care: Be Invloved

This brochure gives you tips to use before, during, and after medical appointments to make sure you get the best possible care. Available in nine languages. Community Care Access Centres (CCAC)

H3 Getting Care

The CCAC website offers many quick tips, fact sheets and FAQs for patients and caregivers related to finding a family doctor, care in the home, care in the community, long term care as well as resources for patients and caregivers. CCAC

HOUSING

Hg 1 A Legal Framework for Supportive Housing for Seniors: Options for Canadian Policy Makers

Range of supportive housing to accommodate seniors’ needs through design features, housing management and access to support services. Reviews current approaches to regulation in different jurisdictions, assesses supportive housing issues and evaluates different forms of regulation. Analysis is useful to policy makers involved in developing and regulating supportive housing for seniors. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp (CMHC)

Hg 2 Searchable Database of Supportive Housing for Seniors in Canada

Study surveyed a number of supportive housing projects for seniors across Canada and created a searchable test database with information on individual projects. It describes a range of projects, discusses the supply and quality of supportive housing for seniors, providing an overview of current public policies and guidelines. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp (CMHC)

Hg 3 Housing for Older Canadians – The Definitive Guide to the Over 55-Market

This CMHC series addresses the housing needs of older Canadians. Intended for those developing seniors’ housing, including for-profit developers and organizations interested in sponsoring housing projects for seniors. Find out more about this active and mobile demographic, looking to live independently and interested in ‘aging in place’. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp (CMHC)

Hg 4 Keeping Safe Through Adapting Your Home

If you’re thinking of renovating, why not consider adding a few additional safety features to your home to help make it a comfortable and safer place for years to come? Checklists and suggestions will provide ideas for renovation planning. Public Health Agency of Canada

Hg 5 The Halton HomeShare Tool Kit

This tool kit was developed for the purpose of providing a resource to individuals who are interested in learning more about HomeShare or considering this model as a housing alternative. This is a self-resource tool that anyone can use if and when considering HomeShare. Burlington Age Friendly Seniors Council Project

SAFETY

S1 Keeping Your Home Safe

Checklists for all areas of your home to help you inspect your home for evidence of trouble that may be waiting to happen. Your safety depends on it! Public Health Agency of Canada

S2 Seniors’ Guide to Safety and Security

This information is directed towards the community and, more specifically, seniors and their care givers in recognizing elder abuse, safety concerns, frauds and scams. RCMP

S3 BE AWARE…TAKE CARE: A Safety Guide for Older or Vulnerable Persons

One of the biggest issues for many older or vulnerable persons is safety – both physical and financial. This guide is designed to help you recognize the risks and take some simple steps to protect yourself. Niagara Elder Abuse Prevention Network

GENERAL

G1 Seniors’ Guide: A Guide to Programs and Services in Ontario

Information about programs and services including; Active Living, Caregiving, Finances, Health and Wellness, Housing, Long-Term Care Homes, Safety and Security, Transportation, Key Contacts, and Ontario Government I.D, available to Ontario’s seniors. Information is accurate as of January 2013. Download the Guide or Browse by Chapter. Queen’s Printer, Province of Ontario

G2 Sustainable Niagara Action Database – A Snapshot in Time: December 2013

Action Bank developed to profile an inventory of actions that community members are carrying out that contribute to Sustainable Niagara’s goals. Used to showcase actions and best practices supporting sustainability across the region, resource for organizations to identify opportunities for collaboration.
Region of Niagara

G3 211

When you don’t know where to turn for information or resources in the community. An extensive database available through the internet or by simply calling 211. Calls answered by trained information and referral specialists 365 days of the year in over 100 languages.