The District Municipality of Muskoka is developing a Master Aging Plan and has launched extensive public consultation activities to engage citizens in the planning process. The project is being led by a Steering Committee with representatives from the District, service providers and seniors, and three separate Working Groups have also been set up to focus on specific categories of seniors needs. The project is funded in part through an Age-Friendly Community grant received from the Ontario Government.
“Our collective challenge is to ensure our communities grow to meet the evolving needs of every person regardless of their age or ability. This is why age-friendly planning is so important and it’s why we are continuing to work with municipalities, seniors’ organizations and other community partners, to help ensure that seniors can participate fully in community life.” — Mario Sergio, Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs
An Age-Friendly Community is one where policies, services and structures related to the physical and social environments are designed to support and enable older adults (55+) to live in a secure environment, enjoy good health and continue to participate fully in their communities. Topics of particular interest are outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social and recreational opportunities, health care and community life.
“Community input into the plan is essential,” explains Rick Williams, Commissioner of Community Services at the District Municipality of Muskoka. “Muskoka’s new Master Aging Plan will create a foundation for ongoing community relationship-building and collaborative planning to address the needs of our growing population of seniors in Muskoka now and in the future.”
Community Consultations:
Shercon Associates Inc. has been engaged as consultants to facilitate the planning process. Several public consultation and engagement activities are planned this month including:
Interviews with local officials, key service providers and other community leaders.
A community survey where the public is encouraged to share their views on services and supports for seniors. Questionnaires may be picked up at libraries, recreation centres, town and township offices or an online version of the survey is available at: www.muskoka.on.ca/AgeFriendlyCommunities
Focus group sessions with seniors and their families to be held in August in various locations across Muskoka. Specific times and locations will be announced shortly.
Community Planning Forum
All seniors, family members, service providers and interested members of the community are also encouraged to participate in a half-day planning session on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at the Bracebridge Rotary Centre for Youth.
Shercon Associates Inc. will kick off the forum by sharing their findings from the community consultation activities, and then lead participants through visioning and goal-setting exercises to shape the Muskoka Master Aging Plan. Forum registration information is available at www.muskoka.on.ca/AgeFriendlyCommunities or RSVP by calling 705-645-2412 ext. 199.
Following the community forum in September, a discussion paper describing the emerging plan will be broadly circulated to gather further input. The plan is scheduled to be finalized and presented to District Council later this fall.
For more information about the Master Aging Plan project or information about the District’s Seniors Programs and Services in Muskoka, visit http://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/community-and-social-services/Seniors-Programs-and-Services.aspx
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Although a majority of what is required to create an age-friendly community is to be found in the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities), 2005, the Act is not referenced in the article. Simply following its Standards related to Customer Service, Transportation, the Built Environment, and the future Health Care Standard would ensure the desired objectives without a consultant or consultation.