CELEBRATE NATIONAL SENIORS DAY ON OCTOBER 1

The United Nations has designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons, and Canada recognizes October 1 as National Seniors Day.

A CHF Canada member resolution adopted in 2015 encourages housing co‑ops to recognize National Seniors Day annually.

What can you do?

• Watch and share CHF Canada’s Aging in Place video Your co‑op can screen it at a board or members’ meeting – or at your own National Seniors Day event.
• Hold an event The Co‑operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT) holds its Century of Co‑operation Award every year. People qualify by adding the length of time living in a housing co‑op and their age. To win the award, the two numbers must add up to 100. Housing co‑ops also hold events. Each year Hugh Garner Housing Co‑operative in Toronto holds a lunch on National Seniors Day recognizing the contributions and importance of older co‑op members and inspiring discussions about aging in place.
• Call on your municipality to deliver a proclamation Contact your mayor’s office or your municipal councillor’s office to find out if they are making a proclamation for National Seniors Day. If they haven’t yet done so, you can make a request on behalf of your co‑op. Use CHF Canada’s form letter to contact your mayor or councillor.
• Share on Social Media Please post your ideas, initiatives and photos with us for a chance to win a $50 Visa card! Contact Emily Doyle at edoyle@chfcanada.coop or keep in touch with us on social media via Facebook and Twitter. Use hashtags #NationalSeniorsDay and #CHFCanada to help promote National Seniors Day on October 1.

Other resources

The Government of Canada has developed National Seniors Day webpage, which provides a celebration tool kit as well as resources to plan an event.

AGING IN PLACE PROFILE: MARIA HAWKINS, ANDY ANDRAS CO-OP HOUSING FOR SENIORS

CHF Canada’s Aging in Place: member stories series profiles older co‑op members from across Canada to discover how housing co‑ops are accommodating their aging members.

Maria Hawkins has lived at Andy Andras Co‑op in Ottawa for 10 months now. Four days after she moved into the co‑op, she underwent corneal transplant surgery and was overwhelmed by the support of fellow members.

“Being part of the co‑op movement means belonging to something bigger and broader and more valuable than just yourself”, she says, mentioning how much she appreciates how members at her co‑op check in on one another, including visiting former members who have moved on to care facilities or to hospice.

Read more about how Maria, Ottawa’s ‘Blues Lady’, is passionate about music and uses it to contribute to her community through initiatives with local schools and an all-ages choir for people with disabilities.

If you or your co‑op has a story to share for CHF Canada’s Aging in Place profiles, please contact Emily Doyle at edoyle@chfcanada.coop

CMHC RESOURCES FOR AGING IN PLACE

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation offers many resources that can help housing co‑ops with Aging in Place.

Aging in Place is achievable by following principles of Universal Design, which is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used by all people regardless of age, size and ability.

Making buildings, neighbourhoods, and cities more accessible is becoming a priority. When done right, these features look no different than a standard unit making it attractive and marketable to everyone.

• Accessible Housing by Design is a series of fact sheets has been updated to include more information, photos and diagrams on making every aspect of homes accessible; from ramps to entire kitchens. Check out Visitability, CMHC’s addition to the series Applying Universal Design Principles to Multi-Unit Developments.
• Most falls can be prevented through good planning and recognition of the health, environmental and behavioural contributors to falls. Preventing Falls on Stairs includes design suggestions for safe stairs.
• The Cost of Including Accessibility Features in New Homes and Apartments A research study was conducted on the incremental cost of adding 60 universal accessibility features to the design and construction of new homes and apartments. Most of these features cost less than $100 and some even have no extra costs.

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