Toronto, City of

Version 2.0 of the Toronto Seniors Strategy was adopted by Council in May 2018 with 27 new high-impact recommendations. The recommendations are grouped into 5 topic areas: health, housing, transportation, employment and income and access to information. Toronto is currently focused on implementing the 27 new recommendations. Version 1.0 was adopted by Council in 2013 with 91 recommended actions grouped under the eight WHO age-friendly domains. Of the original 91 recommendations, 90 were acted upon and one was carried forward into Version 2.0. 

The development, implementation and evaluation of Version 2.0 is driven by the Seniors Strategy Accountability Table comprised of:

• Seniors and caregivers
• Advocacy, equity and planning organizations and associations
• Community support service agencies
• Seniors Active Living Centres (SALCs) and other service providers
• Universities and Research institutes
• School Boards
• Local Businesses
• Provincial, federal and international partners
• 20+ City of Toronto Divisions and Agencies most closely involved in the provision of services for seniors

The Seniors Strategy Accountability Table is dedicated to co-creation and the principles of participatory design. Seniors, City Officials, community partners and other stakeholders work together to develop the recommendations and mobilize action on the activities agreed upon at the Table.

Outdoor Spaces and Public Buildings

• New Benches (500+ new benches in City parks; 1,200 new benches on City streets placed mostly around seniors residences and community centres.)
• Crosswalk Signals (Provided longer walk times at intersection crossings)
• Accessible Bus Stops
• Tree Planting (Tree planting includes strategically targeting places with high seniors such as parks, trails and sidewalks.)
• Expanded Snow Shovelling Services for Older Adults
• Incorporating senior-friendly outdoor fitness equipment in the design and refurbishment of City parks

Transportation

• Blue Priority Seating (Blue priority seating on all Toronto Transit Commission vehicles)
• Seniors Safety Zones (Identify & install additional seniors safety zones in conjunction with Road Safety Plan)
• Travel Training Program (To support senior access to public transit)
• Accessible Streetcars
• Larger Print Street Signs

Housing

• Home Share Program
• Seniors-only Homeless Shelters with Specialized Services for Older Adults
• Affordable Housing (430 new affordable homes for low-income seniors; secured or replaced over 3,500 affordable rental units.)
• Service Planning for At-Risk and Homeless Older Adults (includes identification of promising practices, approaches and program models for service delivery. A shelter program model for vulnerable seniors who are homeless has been developed.)
• Shelter Client Access to LTC Beds (developing a project charter that identifies opportunities to work together to increase service pathways for shelter client access to long-term care beds.)

Social Participation

• Digital Life Skills Training (At Toronto Libraries)
• Making Connections (Meetings held in neighbourhoods with a high density of seniors to discuss local resources available in the community)

Respect & Social Inclusion

• Toronto Challenge Run/Walk (helping 40+ non-profit organizations raise funds to improve the quality of life for Toronto seniors.)
• Improved police services for seniors, including seniors inclusive training curriculum for Toronto Police Services
• Intergenerational Programs (working with Cyber-Seniors and other groups to improve intergenerational connections and co-publicize existing programming)
• Workplace anti-ageism campaign under Toronto for All
• Public awareness and education campaign to address homophobia and transphobia affecting seniors
• PRIDE Toolkit

Civic Participation & Employment

• Employment Workshop (Targeted to older workers)
• Speaker Series (Speaker series that will focus on political issues)

Communication & Information

• A Guide to Seniors Services in Toronto
• Accessible Library Reading Material (Increased access to library reading materials in accessible formats like large print and audiobooks.)
• TTC Public Address System Upgrades (upgrading the public address system speakers at all subway stations to make public address announcements much easier to hear and understand)
• Elevator/Escalator Outage Notices (Posting elevator/escalator outage notices at TTC station entrances)
• Peer Leadership Training (Explore opportunities for more peer-leadership training programs for seniors to navigate civic services and programs)
• Expand digital literacy programs at local libraries
• Training curriculum (Creating lectures, didactic components, and case studies with the Toronto Police Services)

Community Support & Health Services

• Expanded Community Paramedicine (Expanded programming in order to better support seniors who are high-volume 911 callers with non- emergency community care and supports.)
• Fall Prevention Workshops (Increased education on fall prevention strategies to caregivers and allied health professionals working with seniors.)
• Redevelopment of Kipling Acres (A bed long-term care home with a convalescent care program, short-stay respite beds and community hub including an Adult Day Program, Early Learning & Child Care Centre and Seniors Centre)
• Suicide Prevention Initiative (collaborate on a suicide prevention initiative, including older adults as well as other priority populations.)
• Expand free dental care for seniors (in partnership with Toronto Public Health)
• Host seniors active living fairs across the City, providing information on health and wellness, finances, housing, transportation, and social participation

• Toronto Seniors Strategy Version 1
• Toronto Seniors Strategy 2.0
• 2020 Progress Report on Toronto Seniors Strategy Version 2.0