Seniors
Golden's seniors have many programs and services available to them through self-governed groups, non profit organizations and government. These groups, services and programs are all designed to improve the quality of life for a particular segment of seniors.
However, it is always healthy to ask what can be done to help seniors age in place and how can we coordinate these groups and services better.
However, it is always healthy to ask what can be done to help seniors age in place and how can we coordinate these groups and services better.
"Seniors in BC are living longer and staying in better health than ever before. Through volunteering and engaging in other activities they continue to make valuable contributions. Seniors in Golden can enjoy an excellent quality of life.
There is a spectrum of housing for seniors in Golden; all of which offer a variety of social and recreational programs to enhance the lives of their residents.
The Golden Seniors Branch #150, the College of the Rockies - Lifelong Learning Program, the Town of Golden - Leisure Services, The Golden Womens Centre, the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy, the Golden Food Bank and local faith based groups all contribute to an active social and recreational calendar for seniors. Programming includes arts and culture programs programs, physical fitness programs, bridge classes, computer classes, book clubs and volunteer opportunities."
- Tricia Bowness, Mountain View Assisted Living Site Manager, from the GCRS website.
Housing Successes
There are number of seniors housing options in Golden.
Abbeyfield House, Mountain View, Purcell View and Durand Manor offer seniors housing with a variety of levels of financial and physical assistance. In the late 2000s, the group Golden Seniors Housing Society worked to get more housing options built for local seniors and worked with the Town of Golden and the Golden Affordable Housing Committee.
However, since the recession the activity around affordable housing initiatives has been diminished.
But that hasn't stopped in other, competing areas of BC. It is becoming increasingly evident that the "Older population will reshape cities," as Third Age individuals are more active and affluent than any previous retired generation. Bob Ransford writes that as people retire in good health, they will spend an increasing amount of time traveling around the world (Vancouver Sun, November 9, 2013. Another thrust from the pay-your-own-way seniors contingent includes luxury seniors homes, like those popping up in Vancouver.
And somewhere between those individuals impoverished and the affluent, we have have spectrum of housing needs of the residents in Golden.
Abbeyfield House, Mountain View, Purcell View and Durand Manor offer seniors housing with a variety of levels of financial and physical assistance. In the late 2000s, the group Golden Seniors Housing Society worked to get more housing options built for local seniors and worked with the Town of Golden and the Golden Affordable Housing Committee.
However, since the recession the activity around affordable housing initiatives has been diminished.
But that hasn't stopped in other, competing areas of BC. It is becoming increasingly evident that the "Older population will reshape cities," as Third Age individuals are more active and affluent than any previous retired generation. Bob Ransford writes that as people retire in good health, they will spend an increasing amount of time traveling around the world (Vancouver Sun, November 9, 2013. Another thrust from the pay-your-own-way seniors contingent includes luxury seniors homes, like those popping up in Vancouver.
And somewhere between those individuals impoverished and the affluent, we have have spectrum of housing needs of the residents in Golden.
"Appropriate housing options are necessary to enable seniors to stay in the community of their choice. GCRS has a special concern for those seniors who wish to stay in Golden.
In 2007, GCRS entered into an exciting partnership with Interior Health and BC Housing Authority to manage and operate the newly constructed Mountain View Assisted Living facility that would become 'home' to eight local seniors. Assisted Living responds to individuals who require some assistance in order to continue to live independently. We provide accommodation, meals, housekeeping, laundry services, recreational opportunities, personal care services and 24 hour response.
In 2010, GCRS expanded their partnership with BC Housing Authority and the Mountain View facility saw the addition of eight independent living rental units. The proximity allows those tenants to be totally independent yet able to access healthy meals, participate in recreational activities and have that little bit of confidence and security that comes with being part of the Mountain View 'family'. Together, the amazing staff and the equally amazing tenants at Mountain View exemplify the principles outlined by the National Framework on aging - Dignity, Independence, Participation, Fairness, Security."
- Tricia Bowness, Mountain View Assisted Living Site Manager.
Support Services
Support Services including all services that allow seniors to age in place, including medical services, counseling, transportation services, home cleaning & maintenance, snow shoveling, and many others.
In some communities, it is up to each individual support service to raise their profile, find and support clients. In other communities, these support services and targeted seniors have come together to develop a coalition. The Lionsview Seniors' Planning Society and Whistler Mature Action Community are examples of very formal coalition arrangements.
While people often think of seniors requiring these services, retired seniors are often the service providers, too. When it comes to transporting other seniors to medical appointments, younger seniors are often the greatest contingent of volunteers. Seniors also spend a large proportion of their time helping service clubs or non profit organizations like the Food Bank.
However, an often untapped resources for seniors support are the youth of a community. For example, in Norfolk County, ON, younger Snow Buddies are paired up with seniors who need help clearing snow from their driveway or sidewalk and cannot afford to pay a business to do it. This arrangement results with youth providing a valuable safety service to the community and seniors able to stay in their homes longer. Building these types of inter-generational relationships results in stronger community bonds and learning opportunities for both participating groups.
In some communities, it is up to each individual support service to raise their profile, find and support clients. In other communities, these support services and targeted seniors have come together to develop a coalition. The Lionsview Seniors' Planning Society and Whistler Mature Action Community are examples of very formal coalition arrangements.
While people often think of seniors requiring these services, retired seniors are often the service providers, too. When it comes to transporting other seniors to medical appointments, younger seniors are often the greatest contingent of volunteers. Seniors also spend a large proportion of their time helping service clubs or non profit organizations like the Food Bank.
However, an often untapped resources for seniors support are the youth of a community. For example, in Norfolk County, ON, younger Snow Buddies are paired up with seniors who need help clearing snow from their driveway or sidewalk and cannot afford to pay a business to do it. This arrangement results with youth providing a valuable safety service to the community and seniors able to stay in their homes longer. Building these types of inter-generational relationships results in stronger community bonds and learning opportunities for both participating groups.
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Event: Seniors Groups Meeting
We're going to meet again at 10:00am on December 3rd at the Royal Canadian Legion, where we'll discuss business, government, non profits and citizens' perceptions of the "mature community."
Please RSVP to Ryan at [email protected] or 250-344-8610.
Please RSVP to Ryan at [email protected] or 250-344-8610.
Event: Seniors Groups & the Community Team
As we promised at our November 7th meeting, we hosted a follow up meeting for seniors groups and how they can be involved in a coalition and, eventually, a Community Team. It sounds like there is an appetite for this group to meet regularly and make meaningful progress on seniors issues in Golden!
When: Wednesday November 20th at 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Where: Again, graciously hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #122, Golden, BC
Who: Everyone interested in successfully addressing seniors and community issues in Golden. Thanks to all 27 participants in our 2nd meeting!
The group worked through Innoweave's 2nd Team Excercise, Taking Stock: Community Success Elements.
"We have identified four community success elements that we call the pre-conditions of Collective Impact.
History of collaboration: how has your community collaborated in the past?
Influential Champions: Are influential community champions drawn to the issue and willing to commit their collective resources and networks to move the issue forward?
Urgency of the Issue: Does the community perceive the issue to be both important and urgent? What data is required to gain greater clarity about the issue?
Adequate Resources: What resources are required to ensure that the partners have sufficient capacity to move the issue forward? These can include resources for convening meetings, research, and community engagement in this early phase."
For your review, the presentation slides and meeting notes from the November 20th meeting are available for download below.
When: Wednesday November 20th at 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Where: Again, graciously hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #122, Golden, BC
Who: Everyone interested in successfully addressing seniors and community issues in Golden. Thanks to all 27 participants in our 2nd meeting!
The group worked through Innoweave's 2nd Team Excercise, Taking Stock: Community Success Elements.
"We have identified four community success elements that we call the pre-conditions of Collective Impact.
History of collaboration: how has your community collaborated in the past?
Influential Champions: Are influential community champions drawn to the issue and willing to commit their collective resources and networks to move the issue forward?
Urgency of the Issue: Does the community perceive the issue to be both important and urgent? What data is required to gain greater clarity about the issue?
Adequate Resources: What resources are required to ensure that the partners have sufficient capacity to move the issue forward? These can include resources for convening meetings, research, and community engagement in this early phase."
For your review, the presentation slides and meeting notes from the November 20th meeting are available for download below.
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Event: Seniors Meeting with Nancy Gale
Community Coordination's 'Bringing Seniors Groups Together' was a success with guidance from guest facilitator, Nancy Gale. Mrs. Gale brought out the issues and opportunities that Golden’s seniors and stakeholder groups are facing.
The Community Coordination project has been hosting a series of workshops and meetings, involving local groups and inviting guest speakers to share their experiences around collaboration.
As part of the Community Coordination project, led by Golden Community Resources Society (GCRS), over 100 individuals, who are involved with seniors groups, were invited the seniors-focused meeting on November 7 at the Royal Canadian Legion. About 35 people attended the 3 ½ hour morning session.
The presentation started with an overview of the project, which is focused on having a Community Team in place by the end of 2013. This Community Team will need to have representation from Golden’s seniors and their respective organizations.
To help set the stage for the discussion, many groups and organizations presented on the seniors programs that they currently offer as well as challenges they have experienced. With the stage set, Nancy Gale, a very experienced facilitator from Williams Lake asked, “How can we work together to improve aging-in-place opportunities and the social well-being for those 55+?”
After a series of smaller group discussions, each group reported back on what they had discovered. In her closing remarks, Mrs. Gale encouraged regular future meetings to bring seniors groups together and for each participant to schedule a more in-depth conversation on this topic with someone they haven’t met.
Feedback from the participants was positive with many eager to set a follow up meeting date.
For more information about the Community Coordination project, a summary of the presentation and discussion, please see the files below. And for those who missed the first meeting, but want to be invited to the next meeting, please contact Ryan Watmough at [email protected].
The Community Coordination project has been hosting a series of workshops and meetings, involving local groups and inviting guest speakers to share their experiences around collaboration.
As part of the Community Coordination project, led by Golden Community Resources Society (GCRS), over 100 individuals, who are involved with seniors groups, were invited the seniors-focused meeting on November 7 at the Royal Canadian Legion. About 35 people attended the 3 ½ hour morning session.
The presentation started with an overview of the project, which is focused on having a Community Team in place by the end of 2013. This Community Team will need to have representation from Golden’s seniors and their respective organizations.
To help set the stage for the discussion, many groups and organizations presented on the seniors programs that they currently offer as well as challenges they have experienced. With the stage set, Nancy Gale, a very experienced facilitator from Williams Lake asked, “How can we work together to improve aging-in-place opportunities and the social well-being for those 55+?”
After a series of smaller group discussions, each group reported back on what they had discovered. In her closing remarks, Mrs. Gale encouraged regular future meetings to bring seniors groups together and for each participant to schedule a more in-depth conversation on this topic with someone they haven’t met.
Feedback from the participants was positive with many eager to set a follow up meeting date.
For more information about the Community Coordination project, a summary of the presentation and discussion, please see the files below. And for those who missed the first meeting, but want to be invited to the next meeting, please contact Ryan Watmough at [email protected].
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Event: Community Coordination with Golden Seniors Centre
At the regular monthly meeting of the Golden Seniors Centre, Ryan Watmough was asked to present on the Community Coordination project and upcoming events.
The presentation and meeting notes can be found and downloaded below.
The presentation and meeting notes can be found and downloaded below.
| communitycoordinationpresentation-seniors-oct182013.pdf |
Resources
It is very reassuring to know that Golden seniors are not on there own. The BC Seniors Project works "for policy changes to ensure that BC seniors can age and die with dignity, and to improve conditions for family members and health care workers. We believe that seniors should be at the centre of decisions about their own care, as well as the public policy decisions that affect them."
The BC Seniors Project produced The Remaining Light in 2010, a documentary about seniors care in BC. This film is used in training sessions, forums and workshops to promote changes in seniors care, drawing on the recommendations in the BC Ombudsperson’s report (The Best of Care: Getting It Right for Seniors in BC — download PDF files from the Ombudsperson website: Part One, Part Two Volume One, Part Two Volume Two).
In 2012, the BC Seniors Project shifted to a more formal research agenda, focus on solutions that can improve seniors’ quality of life and health outcomes while reducing cost pressures in acute care, and hired a full time seniors care researcher, Janine Farrell.
Over in Kamloops, the Centre for Seniors Information, has a great online seniors information directory. In neighbouring Revelstoke, a Seniors Guide has been created and outlines all of the many resources for seniors. This guide can be found as an attachment below.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are many opportunities for seniors and soon-to-be seniors to give back and reach-out to the younger generations. XYBoom, based in Vancouver, specializes in bringing out these inter-generational issues and opportunities and their recent conference takeaway can be found attached below.
One of the best-known seniors funding streams is the New Horizons for Seniors Program, offered by the HRSDC. One can find many stories of the support this program provides.
The BC Seniors Project produced The Remaining Light in 2010, a documentary about seniors care in BC. This film is used in training sessions, forums and workshops to promote changes in seniors care, drawing on the recommendations in the BC Ombudsperson’s report (The Best of Care: Getting It Right for Seniors in BC — download PDF files from the Ombudsperson website: Part One, Part Two Volume One, Part Two Volume Two).
In 2012, the BC Seniors Project shifted to a more formal research agenda, focus on solutions that can improve seniors’ quality of life and health outcomes while reducing cost pressures in acute care, and hired a full time seniors care researcher, Janine Farrell.
Over in Kamloops, the Centre for Seniors Information, has a great online seniors information directory. In neighbouring Revelstoke, a Seniors Guide has been created and outlines all of the many resources for seniors. This guide can be found as an attachment below.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are many opportunities for seniors and soon-to-be seniors to give back and reach-out to the younger generations. XYBoom, based in Vancouver, specializes in bringing out these inter-generational issues and opportunities and their recent conference takeaway can be found attached below.
One of the best-known seniors funding streams is the New Horizons for Seniors Program, offered by the HRSDC. One can find many stories of the support this program provides.
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Possible Stakeholder Organizations
Abbeyfield House Society, St. Paul's Golden
British Columbia Visitors Centre @ Golden
Canadian Mental Health Association - Kootenays
College of the Rockies - Lifelong Learning Program
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
Durand Manor (Interior Health Authority)
Field Recreation Advisory Association
Golden and District Seniors Housing Society
Golden and Region Seniors Society - Branch #150
Golden Food Bank Society
Golden Museum
Golden Women's Resource Centre
Mountain View (Golden Community Resources Society)
Mount 7 Rec Plex Society
Purcell View Seniors Housing
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #122
The Golden Hospital Auxiliary
Town of Golden - Leisure Services
Interior Health Authority
Golden District Hospital
Local Faith-Based Organizations
Meals on Wheels
Rocky Mountain School District #6
British Columbia Visitors Centre @ Golden
Canadian Mental Health Association - Kootenays
College of the Rockies - Lifelong Learning Program
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
Durand Manor (Interior Health Authority)
Field Recreation Advisory Association
Golden and District Seniors Housing Society
Golden and Region Seniors Society - Branch #150
Golden Food Bank Society
Golden Museum
Golden Women's Resource Centre
Mountain View (Golden Community Resources Society)
Mount 7 Rec Plex Society
Purcell View Seniors Housing
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #122
The Golden Hospital Auxiliary
Town of Golden - Leisure Services
Interior Health Authority
Golden District Hospital
Local Faith-Based Organizations
Meals on Wheels
Rocky Mountain School District #6
