Senior Friendly Program

Transcription

1 Senior Friendly Program Alberta Council on Aging An Independent Non-Profit Charitable Organization Since 1967

2 Welcome About me About you

3 What is the Senior Friendly Program? A useful tool for businesses, organizations, and community groups to become more age friendly

4 To provide optimum service, we recognize the needs of seniors

5 Four Components to Designation 1. Workshop - develop skills 2. Checkup - assess environment 3. Action plan - make change based on the Checkup 4. Senior Friendly Designation

6 Workshop Objectives 1. Promote appreciation of seniors importance to our communities 2. Increase understanding of the power of seniors as customers and clients 3. Increase awareness of seniors changing needs 4. Encourage empathy and responsiveness 5. Identify ways to better serve seniors

7 Agenda Introductions Getting to Know Seniors Why Seniors Matter Seniors Changing Needs Experiential Activities Serving Seniors Wrap Up

8 Getting to Know Seniors

9 Who is a Senior? Young seniors years Seniors years Elderly 85+ years

10 Myths About Seniors Take the Quiz

11 The Truth About Seniors Seniors aren t all alike May not think of themselves as old

12 Why Seniors Matter

13 Do You Know? Seniors are the fastest-growing age group throughout the world Baby boomers are redefining old age Seniors are powerful consumers Seniors contribute significantly to our society

14 Statistics 2011 there were 5 million Canadians 65+ By 2036 this will double to 10 million Alberta had 10.8 % of seniors By 2036 this will rise to 21%

15 Aging Canadians

16 Redefining Aging Burbank Senior Artist Colony Toyota Sienna Auto Access Seat Seniors Fitness

17 Seniors as Consumers Baby boomers have more: Expendable income Expectations Education

18 Seniors are a Valuable Resource Are top volunteers Have workplace knowledge, technical skills, and leadership Offer stewardship

19 Seniors Changing Needs

20 Aging Dependent upon genetics, diet, environment, and lifestyle Changes in sensory, mobility, agility, and cognition

21 Disability Rates Increase with Age Source: HRSDC, 2006 participation and Activity Limitation Survey

22 Hearing Ability to hear diminishes Hearing loss is the most common sensory impairment Common Types of Hearing Loss: Presbycusis Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)

23 Hearing Disability Young seniors years 12% Seniors years 21% Elderly 85+ years 44%

24 Vision Fine print is hard to read #1 cause of vision loss for people 50+ is age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

25 Vision Disability Young seniors years 6% Seniors years 11% Elderly 85+ years 25%

26 Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Healthy eye Age-Related Macular Degeneration

27 Glaucoma Healthy eye Vision with glaucoma

28 Cataracts Healthy eye Vision with cataracts

29 Diabetic Retinopathy Healthy eye Vision with Diabetic Retinopathy

30 Mobility and Agility Reduced mobility and agility Centre of balance shifts, endurance and strength decreases, flexibility is reduced Spine compresses and shoulders round, arthritis may develop Slower reaction times

31 Cognition Ability to process and integrate slows Slower reaction times Temporary or permanent cognitive disorder or disease Alzheimer s disease most common form of irreversible dementia

32 Senses Sense of taste, touch, and smell diminishes Vulnerability to temperature change Reduced touch affects fine motor skills

33 Summary Hearing not as acute Reading fine print challenging Mobilizing with less ease Thought processes change Sensation is different

34 Experiential Activities

35 Experiential Activities Think about: How you feel What is most challenging Ideas to address the barriers

36 Unfair Hearing Test

37 Answers to Unfair Hearing Test 1. fill 2. catch 3. thumb 4. heap 5. wise 6. wedge 7. fish 8. shows 9. bed 10.juice

38 Unfair Cognition Test

39 Answer to Unfair Cognition Test

40 Debrief Activities How did you feel? What did you find most challenging? What ideas do you have to address barriers?

41 Serving Seniors

42 Helping Those With Reduced Hearing Hearing aids work best one-on-one Reduce background noise Don t cover your mouth Make eye contact Speak clearly and slowly Keep pitch as low as possible Don t repeat, re-phrase

43 Helping Those With Vision Loss Identify yourself and use person s name Provide ample lighting Reduce glare - floors and windows Use contrasting colours on stairs, walls and floors Keep all areas free of clutter Provide magnifying glasses

44 CNIB Clear Print Guidelines Avoid decorative or complicated fonts Printed material is most legible in black and white Use bold rather than italics Bigger font is better (12 18 points)

45 Helping Those With Reduced Mobility and Agility Easy to open doors with level access Provide rest stops with sturdy arms both inside and outside Ensure pavements and sidewalks are smooth Wide passages, even flooring, accessible washrooms Remove or tape down area rugs Offer assistance with tasks

46 Helping Those With Reduced Cognition Use reminders and visual cues Offer simple explanations Give direct instructions Be patient Avoid asking questions Don t argue with the person their reality is their truth

47 Helping Those With Affected Senses Reduce packaging Turn down hot water heater settings Safe-date food; offer smaller, healthy food choices Ensure smoke and gas detectors are functional Adjust room temperatures

48 Being Senior Friendly Means Making things easy: to see, hear, and understand Ensuring your facility is accessible to all Being aware of and meeting seniors needs Treating everyone respectfully

49 Wrap up! What seniors want... What I learned today What I will do differently Evaluation

50 Contact Information Alberta Council on Aging Box 9, St. Albert Trail Suite 232, Circle Square Plaza Edmonton, Alberta, T5L 4G4 Phone: Trainer s contact information

51 References Alzheimer Society Canada (2012) Canadian Academy of Audiology Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Canadian Institute for Health Information Health Care in Canada, A focus on Seniors and Aging Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) CNIB Clear Print Guidelines. Government of Canada, National Seniors Council. (2011) Report of the National Seniors Council on Volunteering Among Seniors and Positive and Active Aging. And Report on the Labour Force Participation of Seniors and Near Seniors, and Intergenerational Relations. Human Resources and Skill Development Canada (2012) Federal Disability Report, Seniors with Disabilities in Canada Human Resources and Skill Development Canada (2012) Financial Security-Overview. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Canadians in Context Aging Population Menec, Verena. Why Seniors matter and how they contribute to our everyday lives University of Manitoba: Evidence Network. From:

52 References Public Health Agency of Canada (2012) Age-Friendly Communities Statistics Canada (2012) Census in Brief, Living arrangements of seniors Statistics Canada (2012) Generations in Canada Statistics Canada, Hearing Problems among seniors, Health Report (vol 15, no 4) The Hearing Foundation of Canada Thomas, William H. (2004) What are old people for?: How Elders will Save the World USA: VanderWyk & Burnham World Health Organization (2007) Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide Public Health Agency of Canada Government of Canada, National Seniors Council (2011) Report of the National Seniors Council on Volunteering Among Seniors and Positive and Active Aging. And Report on the Labour Force Participation of Seniors and Near Seniors, and Intergenerational Relations.