Backgrounder: Saanich Seniors Have a Say in Age-Friendly Cities Guide

Research from the Age-Friendly Cities Guide has produced international results as well as built connections among researchers concerned with aging and the environment. Guide recommendations include linking transportation services with social participation for older populations, ensuring older people’s homes are located in safe areas and close to services, and making community information more accessible to older populations.

The District of Saanich World Health Organization Global Age-Friendly Cities Project report outlines current best practices and makes more than 60 recommendations to ensure the community’s future is age-friendly.

Saanich’s current best practices include:

• Outdoor spaces and buildings – Municipal facilities have been upgraded to include ramps, handrails and other amenities to improve access;
• Transportation – Ongoing program to improve safety/visibility and crossings through
• streetscape improvements as seen on West Saanich Road, Cordova Bay and Tillicum-Burnside Streetscape Action Plans;
• Housing – Saanich adaptable housing guidelines are being used as a model for the implementation of the provincial model bylaw for adaptable housing;
• Respect and Social Inclusion – Healthy Saanich Advisory Committee’s senior friendly business decal program is recognizing local business for efforts in supporting age-friendly environments;
• Social Participation – Saanich has introduced the annual Seniors’ Festival in partnership with Senior Living magazine providing opportunities for older persons to be fully involved in celebrating active aging in their community;
• Communication and Information – Education workshops and tours of municipal recreation facilities covering strategies for reducing or eliminating common barriers to participation for seniors offered in partnership with the Vancouver Island Health Authority and local seniors’ resident complexes;
• Civic Participation and Employment – Volunteer opportunities for seniors to contribute to their community in meaningful ways through the Saanich Emergency Program and Parks and Recreation;
• Community Support and Health Services – Saanich provides public education programs on fire safety at times and locations suited to the needs of older persons.

Key objectives for 2008 are:

• Adopt new design guidelines for major centres that consider accessibility and access;
• Report to Council and implement “Access to Transit” study recommendations through amendments to the Zoning Bylaw;
• Development permit guidelines and engineering servicing requirements (e.g. improved bus stop accessibility, improved sidewalks, driveway crossings and curb drops);
• Explore requirements for single family and town housing to include a multi-use room on the ground floor that could be converted into a bedroom and facilitate independent living and aging in a preferred place;
• Encourage mixed use and inter-generational social interactions in partnership with existing seniors’ associations and organizations and school districts as seen in the development of Cordova Bay Community Place;
• Develop new volunteer opportunities for older persons to participate in their community through municipal and community events (e.g. one-on-one support for other older persons needing assistance);
• Work with local organizations to develop a resource guide specific to Saanich or to contribute to existing city directories to ensure Saanich specific information is included and have this directory available at all municipal counters;
• Complete phase II of the Centennial Trails Project;
• Improve promotion of emergency preparedness training and volunteer opportunities with the emergency program including better communication through local seniors serving agencies or organizations;
• Open house seniors’ days at recreation centres, municipal hall, fire and police facilities to engage older persons and improve the awareness of services offered while creating a social connection between municipal staff and citizens;
• Distribute brochures and information regarding Saanich archives to seniors’ residences and facilities, including opportunities for orientation to the archives;
• Upgrade council chambers considering the needs of older persons to facilitate access to meetings and enhance opportunities for participation including improved sound system, setting, chairs, etc;
• Review the 2008 election process with a focus on the needs of older persons.

Copies of the Saanich report are available at www.saanich.ca and at www.health.gov.bc.ca/cpa/mediasite/headlines.html#oct1 and copies of the WHO Global Age-Friendly Cities project are available at www.who.org.