Ottawa, Council of Aging/ Age-Friendly Ottawa Network

AFC Communities - East, Age-Friendly Communities, Age-Friendly Communities Outreach

Community Profile

Name of Committee: The Council on Aging of Ottawa, Age-Friendly Ottawa Network
Population: 1,017,499 (2021)
Contact:

Funding:

  • Provincial Core Funding, Active Living Centre
  • Municipal Core Funding (City funding to deliver programs, age-friendly initiative as part of this programming)
  • Other projects receive funding from a variety of sources including Trillium Foundations, Ontario Seniors Grants.

This profile was updated in July 2023.

 

Age-Friendly Program Description

The community is in a period of transition while seeking funding to further develop the infrastructure to support other community initiatives. In early 2018, the Age-Friendly committee recommended forming a network of community champions to advance the work of Age Friendly Ottawa with annual meetings of the partners.

As part of the COA commitment to the Age Friendly Ottawa program, we have embedded the age-friendly approach to its work and many of the activities are currently being driven by these committees, including Housing, Health (health literacy, long term care); Transportation (rural transportation, older drivers, pedestrian safety, hospital parking); Social Inclusion; and Income Security.

As the newly configured Age Friendly Ottawa Network, we are focused on age-friendly neighbourhoods and age-friendly businesses. The Council will seek funding to support these two initiatives: 

  • Age-Friendly Neighbourhoods – Working with the Federation of Community Associations we are exploring ways to build capacity to support planning at a community/neighbourhood level.
  • Capital Aging: An Age Friendly Ottawa Business Initiative – Working with the Ottawa Board of Trade, we produced a market research paper. With some additional seed funding, we have piloted a networking and workshop series to boost eh number and types of businesses that serve seniors well.

To download the market research paper on the size of the older consumer market in Ottawa that is based on the 2016 Census, go to:  https://coaottawa.ca/capital-aging-special-report-2018/

The Council on Aging of Ottawa / Age-Friendly Ottawa Network also works closely with the City of Ottawa that leads the Older Adult Plan

Current and Completed AFC Projects, Programs and Initiatives
As part of the COA commitment to the Age Friendly Ottawa program, we have embedded the age-friendly approach into its work, and many of the activities are currently being driven by these committees, including Housing (NORC-SSPs, advocacy), Health (home and community care); Transportation (rural transportation, older drivers, pedestrian safety); and Income Security.
 
The Council on Aging of Ottawa / Age-Friendly Ottawa also works closely with the City of Ottawa that leads the Older Adult Plan.
 
Outdoor Spaces and Public Buildings
  • Snow Moles Walkability Audits (Include neighbourhood audits, hospital parking lot audits and Snow Moles audit of winter walking). French site
  • Completed a walking audit at the Tulip Festival site in 2019 and made recommendations to improve walkability and connectivity for older adults and participants with disabilities
  • Participated in the City of Ottawa’s Winter Maintenance Quality Standards Review to improve winter walking safety

Transportation
  • Seniors Ride Free (Surveyed seniors about their access to ride public transportation free on Wednesdays and now Sundays)
  • Trained volunteers for CarFit clinics to review of how well older drivers and their vehicle work together (on hold due to the pandemic)

Housing

Social Participation

Respect & Social Inclusion
  • Capital Aging (Age-Friendly Ottawa Business Initiative 2016-2019)
  • Keeping Ottawa Seniors Connected Project (2016-2019, one of nine pan-Canadian projects working to reduce social isolation with funding from ESDC)
  • Seniors in Focus (Series of short videos on seniors who have experienced isolation)
  • A series of articles in the Fifty-Five Plus magazine (2022-23)
  • Hosted a Francophone Forum on inclusion and diversity (2022)

Communication & Information
  • Retiring on a low-Income Workshop (COA in partnership with the Ottawa Public Library delivers workshops each year in both English and French)

Community Support & Health Services
  • Healthy Literacy Project (Peer-to-peer learning program about taking charge of your health, 2014-2017)
  • Developed a bilingual campaign to address concerns in LTC during the pandemic
Community Documents
  • Age-Friendly Ottawa Website includes links to:
    • Age-Friendly Community Action Plan (2015-2016)
    • Taking Charge of Your Health Pilot program
    • Building an Age-Friendly Business Community
    • Measuring Age-Friendly Results