FILIPINO ELDERLY WELLBEING PROJECTRevival and Renewal MeetingJanuary 19, 2016 | Filipino Centre Toronto

Welcome & Introductions

Why are we all here?

Agenda

Seniors in Canada: National and Provincial ThemesFEW Research Project SummaryToronto Seniors Strategy

Discussion (small and whole group)Filipino Community- What do we have? What do we lack?- What do we want for our seniors?- What do we want to achieve?

The Aging Population in Canada: National Themes INCOME

HOUSING

TRANSPORTATION

HEALTH

AWARENESS AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES AND BENEFITS

Provincial Programs (Ontario Action Plan for Seniors)

Improved Access to Community Care

Ontario Drug Benefit Program

Aging at Home Strategy

Long-term Care Transformation

Elder Abuse Strategy

Ending Mandatory Retirement

What is the FEW Project? Research collaboration between University of Toronto & Filipino

Centre Toronto (2011-2013)

250 participants of Filipino ancestry, at least 65 years of age, Canadian citizens or permanent residents and living in the Greater Toronto Area

250 completed survey questionnaire & 20 randomly selected individual interviews

Video

FEW Project Report KEY FINDINGS

Approximately 7 out of 10 Filipino elderlies in the GTA live in poverty

Economic vulnerability more pronounced for those who migrated to Canada post 1990s & for female elderlies

Primary reliance on government support for economic security

Majority live with family members and/or relatives

FEW Project Report KEY FINDINGS

Largest expenses: Housing, Food

Many seniors rely on free or low-cost health and medical services, provided by Filipino, religious and other community based organizations

Large segment have additional quality of life concerns, including food, sufficiency, personal outside assistance, and emotional wellbeing

FEW Project Report RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Establish a Task Force on Filipino Elderlies that is community-led and multi-sectoral to take charge of overall policy direction, advocacy and program development for culturally appropriate services.

2. Build and enhance organizational capacity for political advocacy, grant writing and service delivery of Filipino community and seniors groups

3. Tap shared interests and resources of other ethno-racial organizations for potential collaborations and joint partner-ships in relation to elderly populations.

FEW Project Report RECOMMENDATIONS

4. Politicians with sizeable Filipino constituents need to take consistent leadership and coalition-building roles to advocate for the best interest of Filipino elderlies.

5. Full support of government policies that will promote the positive quality of life for all elderlies. (CPP, OAS)

6. Maintain and reinforce government policies committed to eradicating labour exploitation (women, immigrant andracialized minority workers). Redress ongoing deskilling and deprofessionalization of Filipinos and immigrants ofcolour.

FEW Project Report RECOMMENDATIONS

7. Provide more subsidized housing and create Office ofHousing Ombudsperson that will address complaints andgrievances of long-term and low-income elderly residents.

8. Better communication and dissemination of various elderlyservices and programs. Develop a partnership with Community Care Access Centres and other multi-service and healthcare providers. Create a directory of relevant agencies and services

9. Hiring and retention of more Filipino medical, social service, and mental health providers in government and community based organizations need to be a priority.

FEW Project Report RECOMMENDATIONS

10. Filipino and other businesses to develop a discount program for elderlies. Win-win situation will enable elderlies to purchase familiar and necessary items from ethnic business, and will help entrepreneurs entice new buyers.

FEW Project Report

Report Dissemination

Meetings with City Councillors (2013-2015)

Moving the FEW Project Forward

Toronto Seniors Strategy: 2012 to NOW

Key Priorities HOUSING & ACCOMMODATION and

LONG TERM CARE

FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND SERVICE ACCESS

HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT & CULTURALLY SENSITIVE SERVICES

SAFETY, SECURITY AND LEGAL PROTECTION

SENIOR PARTICIPATION & LEADERSHIP/ADVOCACY

Toronto Seniors’ Forum

The Toronto Seniors' Forum was established to "give a voice to seniors not often heard.” Their dedicated members work to ensure the City of Toronto meets its commitment to provide services equitably to all senior residents.

The Forum, supported by City staff, is comprised of up to 30 volunteers, who are at least 60 years of age and are residents of Toronto. They function as a conduit for communication between the City and its senior residents and reflect the diverse geographic and social/economic aspects of seniors in Toronto.

KEY PRIORITIES: Toronto Seniors’ Forum

HOUSING & ACCOMMODATION and LONG TERM CARE

Increase affordable housing & reduce waiting times; available stock of barrier-free housing; long-term care homes; culturally-sensitive care service

FINANCIAL RESOURCES & SERVICE ACCESS

Provide fund translation services; lower cost of TTC seniors pass; availability of transportation for non-medical appointments; no fee recreation programs; reduced fees for seniors’ groups providing programming in recreation centres

KEY PRIORITIES: Toronto Seniors’ Forum

HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT & CULTURALLY SENSITIVE SERVICES

Provide full-range dental care for low-income seniors; review & raise current financial cut-offs for access to subsidized dental care

SAFETY, SECURITY & LEGAL PROTECTION

Increase Toronto Police Service for anti-fraud education programs; community programs for seniors watch; oversized street signs

KEY PRIORITIES: Toronto Seniors Forum

SENIORS PARTICIPATION & LEADERSHIP/ADVOCACY

Increase opportunities to take part & advocate (Seniors Forum); leadership/advocacy training

WHERE IS THE GAP?

City of Toronto Community Services

ELDERLY PERSONS/HEALTHIER LIVING/ACTIVE LIVING CENTRE

CLIENT INTERVENTION & ASSISTANCE

SOCIAL RECREATION & WELLNESS EDUCATION

COMMUNITY/CONGREGATE/COMMUNAL/GROUP DINING

City of Toronto Community Services

MEALS ON WHEELS/COMMUNITY KITCHENS/FOOD BANKS

HOME MAINTENANCE, SNOW SHOVELLING & LAWN CARE

TRANSPORTATION/ACCESSIBLE PARKING/WHEEL-TRANS/ TTC

COMMUNITY CENTRES/EMPLOYMENT CENTRES/VOLUNTEERING

LIBRARIES/MUSEUMS

FEW Project 2016 - 2021

WHAT DO WE WANT FOR OUR SENIORS?

WHAT DO WE WANT TO ACHIEVE IN 2016?

Seniors Community Grant Program

Applications due March 4, 2016

Grants from $500 - $8,000

Seniors Community Grant Program

Projects must fulfill at least one of the following priorities:

Lead to opportunities for seniors to network and become better integrated into the social fabric of their communities.

Encourage and support activities, events and programs that promote learning and the sharing of information as it relates to seniors issues.

Support activities, events and programs that embrace seniors as volunteers.

Develop plans and programs that can be shared across communities.

Develop plans and programs that allow organizations to sustain seniors’ programs over a longer period of time.

Sample Projects

Connect, Meditate, Laugh, Learn: Seniors Path to Holistic Health and Wellness

A means to offer low-income, isolated and hard-to-serve seniors access to fitness and wellness activities, information seminars about their health, technology and social media training, volunteer opportunities, music lessons and group singing.

Filipino Canadian Community HouseToronto

$8, 000

Sample Projects

"Let's Get Active!" Senior's Health Club

To provide four seminars (Hiking, Diets, Exercise and Health Minds) and four events (Hiking, Karaoke, Dance Class and Table Tennis) to recent immigrants and senior women.

Korean Canadian Cultural Association of Metropolitan TorontoNorth York

$7,400

Inter-generational Conversational Ojibwe

Opportunities for Aboriginal seniors, children and their parents to attend community-based conversational Ojibwe language programming.

Mishko Bimaadziwin Family Support ServicesThunder Bay

$8,000

Sample Projects

Fit and Fun! Active 55+ Swing Dance Lessons and Social Dance

Professional swing dance teachers will instruct seniors, including those with ambulatory disabilities. A celebratory gala dance showcase will be performed at the end of the project.

Miles Nadal Jewish Community CentreToronto

$7,890

Expanding Biodiversity Knowledge of Fish, Birds and Medicinal Plants

Seniors will participate in educational outings to increase their existing knowledge of nature.

New Credit Cultural CommitteeHagersville

$3,000

Sample Projects

Seniors Engagement & Empowerment Project

Computer classes to enable seniors to learn how to access the internet and the development of a resource booklet.

Parkdale Community Information CentreToronto

$8,000

Card Playing To bring together Chinese, Pakistan, Indian & Ethiopian communities through playing cards - to socialize, become volunteers and become involved in community activities.

Ontario Family Life Services CentreToronto

$3,000

FEW Project 2016 - 2021

WHAT DO WE WANT FOR OUR SENIORS?

WHAT DO WE WANT TO ACHIEVE IN 2016?

HOW DO WE WANT TO BE INVOLVED?

WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO?

Next Steps

Toronto Seniors Forum – Filipino representation

March 19 Age Friendly Toronto Forum - Filipino representation

Seniors Community Grants Grant writing support Facilities/Locations Volunteers

Working with city staff and city councillors