Ottawa Older Adult OttawaBaseline Older Research Adult Consultation Findings ConsultationONTARIO MEDICAL Report Summary ASSOCIATION Submitted to the City of Ottawa Summary Report • Project 2010-101 Submitted to the City of Ottawa Nanos Report • Project 2011-211 • December 2011 Final Report ● Project 2011-211 ● February 2012 Ottawa Older Adult Consultations – City of Ottawa – February 2012 Nanos Research • FINAL Report • Project 2011-211 0 Table of Contents Executive Summary .............................................................................................. 3 Key Findings ................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.0 Context & Methodology ............................................................................. 10 1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................................... 10 1.2 The City of Ottawa Older Adult Plan .................................................................................................. 10 1.3 The Concept of Age-Friendliness ...................................................................................................... 10 1.4 Overview of the Consultation Phase ................................................................................................. 11 1.5 Organization of the Report ................................................................................................................ 14 2.0 Life in Ottawa as an Older Adult .............................................................. 15 2.1 Age Friendly Advantages ................................................................................................................. 15 2.2 Barriers to an Age Friendly City ........................................................................................................ 16 3.0 Outdoor Spaces & Buildings ................................................................... 18 3.1 Age Friendly Advantages ................................................................................................................. 18 3.2 Barriers to Outdoor Spaces & Buildings ........................................................................................... 19 3.3 Suggestions for Improvement ........................................................................................................... 20 4.0 Transportation & Mobility ...................................................................... 23 4.1 Age Friendly Advantages ................................................................................................................. 23 4.2 Barriers to Transportation and Mobility ............................................................................................. 24 4.3 Suggestions for Improvement ........................................................................................................... 25 5.0 Housing .................................................................................................... 30 5.1 Age Friendly Advantages ................................................................................................................. 30 5.2 Barriers to Housing ........................................................................................................................... 31 5.3 Suggestions for Improvement ........................................................................................................... 33 6.0 Respect & Social Inclusion ...................................................................... 36 6.1 Age Friendly Advantages .................................................................................................................. 36 6.2 Barriers to Respect & Social Inclusion............................................................................................... 37 6.3 Suggestions for Improvement ........................................................................................................... 38 7.0 Social Participation.................................................................................. 40 7.1 Age Friendly Advantages ................................................................................................................. 40 7.2 Barriers to Social Participation ......................................................................................................... 41 7.3 Suggestions for Improvement ........................................................................................................... 42 Ottawa Older Adult Consultations – City of Ottawa – February 2012 Nanos Research • FINAL Report • Project 2011-211 1 8.0 Communication & Information ............................................................... 45 8.1 Age Friendly Advantages ................................................................................................................. 45 8.2 Barriers to Communication & Information ......................................................................................... 46 8.3 Suggestions for Improvement ........................................................................................................... 47 9.0 Civic Participation & Paid/Unpaid Employment ................................... 49 9.1 Age Friendly Advantages .................................................................................................................. 49 9.2 Barriers to Civic Participation & Paid/Unpaid Employment Opportunities ......................................... 50 9.3 Suggestions for Improvement ........................................................................................................... 51 10.0 Community Support & Health Services ..................................................... 53 10.1 Age Friendly Advantages .................................................................................................................. 53 10.2 Barriers to Community Support & Health Services ............................................................................ 54 10.3 Suggestions for Improvement ............................................................................................................ 55 11.0 Public Safety & Security ............................................................................. 58 11.1 Age Friendly Advantages ................................................................................................................. 58 11.2 Barriers to Public Safety and Security .............................................................................................. 59 11.3 Suggestions for Improvement ........................................................................................................... 59 12.0 General Impressions .................................................................................... 62 12.1 Most Positive & Negative Experiences with City Services ................................................................ 62 12.2 General Satisfaction with Each Theme............................................................................................. 63 APPENDIX A - METHODOLOGY ...................................................................... 65 APPENDIX B – QUESTIONNAIRE & MODERATOR’S GUIDE ..................... 68 APPENDIX C – DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARIES .............................................. 87 APPENDIX D – STATISTICAL TABLES – CONSULTATION SURVEY........ 91 APPENDIX E – CONSULTATION SUMMARIES .......................................... 107 Ottawa Older Adult Consultations – City of Ottawa – February 2012 Nanos Research • FINAL Report • Project 2011-211 2 Executive Summary Overall, participating Ottawa older adults reported that Ottawa was age- friendly in terms of its size, environment and available activities. However, poor health, diminishing income and isolation were revealed to be elements that tested the limits of Ottawa’s age-friendliness. Older adults stressed the importance of accessible services and places to look after their health and well-being, and wanted easier ways to get information on what relevant programs and services were available. Furthermore, a number of participants stressed the need for more initiatives aimed at reducing social isolation. The City of Ottawa commissioned Nanos Research to conduct consultations with older adults in Ottawa as part of the Older Adult Plan. Part of the consultations was conducted in partnership with Age Friendly Ottawa. The consultations took place between October 3rd and December 2nd, 2011 among approximately 630 older adults and stakeholders in Ottawa. The tasks for this research project were divided as follows: Nanos Research moderated and provided note-taking at nine public consultations targeting the general older adult population. Age Friendly Ottawa moderated 15 consultation sessions targeting specific groups of older adults and for which Nanos Research provided note-taking. The moderator‘s guide was based on the World Health Organization (WHO)‘s Global Age Friendly Cities protocol. The consultation was also comprised of online, telephone and paper surveys created in partnership between Nanos Research and the City of Ottawa. The survey questionnaire‘s themes were drawn from the WHO framework. The following is an overview of the findings from the Seniors Summit, consultation sessions and from the online, telephone and paper surveys that were also available during the consultation period. Each of