Age-Friendly Rural Municipality of Louise, Pilot Mound, and Crystal City Community Consultation Summary Crystal City, Manitoba June 8, 2010 Community consultations are being held with seniors and community members across Manitoba as part of a larger Age-Friendly Initiative. The goal of these community consultations is to assist communities with prioritizing issues that will help them form action plans to make their communities age-friendly. On June 8, 2010, 28 residents from the Rural Municipality of Louise and towns of Crystal City and Pilot Mound, Manitoba came together to talk about age-friendly priorities and issues within their community. Participants also had the opportunity to complete a survey of the age-friendliness of their community. The following is a summary of the age-friendly priorities identified at the meeting and the survey results. Summary of Group Discussion Age-Friendly Rural Municipality (R.M.) of Louise Benefits ■ People know and support one another ■ Many services are available ■ Communities are safe places to live ■ Outdoor recreational opportunities are plentiful ■ Trails are beautiful ■ The local newspaper, Sentinal Courier, regularly reports community events ■ A Rock Lake lifeline program is available ■ An updated resource handbook is to be distributed to all residents ■ Volunteers are recognized annually ■ People are moving into and retiring in the R.M. ■ Snow removal is done quickly ■ Many activities and events are available for seniors Priority: Ensure Recreation Events and Activities For All Ages Potential Actions ■ Invite youth between ages 18 and 25 to participate in activities and events, e.g., learning new skills and volunteering in the community ■ Add internet access to the Friendship Centre and invite youth to assist seniors with learning computer programs ■ Build a relationship with school administrators regarding intergenerational activities, e.g., seniors reading to elementary students, high school students volunteering with seniors, holding cooperative Wii tournaments ■ Meet with the school boards to discuss community use of school gyms, computer labs, and workshops during evenings and weekends ■ Reach out to homebound seniors through social visiting ■ Increase fitness programs with qualified leaders Priority: Increase Affordable Housing Options Within Crystal City and Pilot Mound Potential Actions ■ Add housing for seniors near services in the centre of towns ■ Encourage development of single family housing and rental units Priority: Build Awareness and Communicate Availability of Handi-Van Potential Actions ■ Recruit and train more drivers ■ When requested, provide the handi-van during evenings and weekends ■ Consider purchasing a smaller van for appointments ■ Consider volunteer drivers to aid in providing service ■ Ensure fees cover driver mileage ■ Ensure consistent scheduling Priority: Increase Street Safety Potential Action ■ Repair and even sidewalk surfaces in Pilot Mound, especially over drainage systems ■ Create curb cuts in front of handicap parking signs throughout the R.M. of Louise ■ Assess street lighting for maximum brightness and placement to reduce dark areas ■ Pave the back road adjacent to the Mound Estates 4-Plexes in Pilot Mound Priority: Encourage Accessibility of Public Buildings and Businesses Potential Actions ■ Redesign building entrances to eliminate stairs and to include ramps, e.g., drugstore in Crystal City ■ Replace heavy entrance doors with lighter and more accessible doors ■ Ensure automatic doors are properly timed for people’s entry and exit ■ Request that the Parklane Theatre in Crystal City widen the top step for easier wheelchair and scooter entry ■ Remodel the Crystal City Arena entrance to make it wheelchair accessible Priority: Build Awareness of Location and Service Available at Gas Pumps Potential Actions ■ Place proper signage indicating “self-serve” or “full- serve” ■ Improve accessibility, e.g., so it is easier for individuals with mobility aids to make payment Priority: Improve Emergency Response and Complete Emergency Planning Potential Actions ■ Request home owners visibly display their house numbers in case of emergency response ɶ Communicate essential emergency information to all residents Priority: Enquire Whether Seniors or Other Residents Have an Interest in Grant Writing Potential Actions ■ Routinely investigate available funding grants ■ Develop and train a grant writing team with current grant writing skills Priority: Improve Public Washrooms Potential Actions ■ Wherever possible, ensure public washrooms have enough space for wheelchairs and scooters to manoeuvre ■ Install grab rails ■ Place toilet paper holders at an accessible height and distance for individuals of all ages and abilities Summary of Survey Responses As part of a community consultation held in Crystal City on June 8, 2010, residents were asked to complete a brief questionnaire designed to collect information on the age-friendliness of their community. Twenty-six residents from the Rural Municipality of Louise, and towns of Crystal City and Pilot Mound completed questionnaires. This report summarizes the findings from the 26 residents who completed the Age-Friendly Communities Survey; 69% identified themselves as a senior. Most Age-Friendly Areas A number of age-friendly aspects were identified by residents in the R.M. of Louise. Most feel seniors are generally treated with respect and they live in safe communities, as most residents noted seniors feel safe when walking alone during the day and at night. Within the communities, residents indicated the road signs are easy to read and large enough for older drivers, snow clearing is done in a timely manner, and there are enough pleasant places for walking. Seniors have enough volunteer opportunities available to them. Residents identified the meal delivery services, which bring meals to seniors’ homes and home care services supporting seniors in their own home are sufficient. Additionally, information about community events is readily available to residents. Least Age-Friendly Areas Residents in the R.M. of Louise identified public telephone answering services need to be improved and adapted to the needs of seniors. Seniors would like to see more activities and programs as residents feel there are not enough lifelong learning programs and exercise classes specifically for seniors. Additionally, residents feel there are not enough intergenerational programs bringing seniors and children together. Priority Areas Individuals were also asked to write down the top five issues they felt needed to be most urgently addressed in their community. Nineteen out of the 26 individuals (73.1%) identified at least one priority area. Figure 1: Priority Areas Identified by Participants Buildings/accessibility 74% Transportation 63% Housing 53% Sidewalks/streets 47% Communication/social inclusion 37% Recreation/social activities/programs 21% Health/medical services 21% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% % of Participants who Identified Area as a Priority Written comments were grouped into the priority areas as shown in Figure 1: ■ Buildings/accessibility (e.g., bathroom access, wheelchair ramps, easier access to businesses); ■ Transportation (e.g., more handi-van services, public transportation); ■ Housing (e.g., more housing for young and older persons, assisted living facilities, more affordable housing); ■ Sidewalks/streets (e.g., better sidewalks, sidewalks need to be repaired, more crosswalks); ■ Communication/social inclusion (e.g., communication, part time job opportunities, more inputs for seniors, visits for isolated seniors); ■ Recreation/social activities/programs (e.g., exercise programs for seniors, more organized social activities); and ■ Health/medical services (e.g., senior medical specialist, need eye care and dental care). Age-Friendly Survey Responses Percent Responding (%) Housing Yes No Don’t Know There is enough housing that meets the needs of seniors. 32.0 56.0 12.0 Housing for seniors is affordable. 61.5 7.7 30.8 There is enough subsidized housing for low-income seniors. 40.0 24.0 36.0 The waiting times are reasonable to get into senior housing that provides 32.0 36.0 32.0 supports to seniors (e.g., assisted living, nursing homes). There is enough housing for younger people. 36.0 36.0 28.0 Percent Responding (%) Transportation Yes No Don’t Know The public transportation (not provided by family or friends) to shopping, 20.8 62.5 16.7 senior centres, religious events, cultural events, and so forth is sufficient. The public transportation (not provided by family or friends) to and from 20.8 50.0 29.2 medical appointments is sufficient. The transportation that is available for individuals with disabilities (e.g., 40.0 44.0 16.0 Handi-Van) is sufficient. The public transportation (not provided by family or friends), including 70.8 8.3 20.8 Handi-Van that is available in my community is affordable for seniors. There are volunteer drivers or an informal network of drivers available for 72.0 16.0 12.0 seniors who need transportation. There are enough parking spaces close to services and stores. 83.3 12.5 4.2 There are enough “handicap” parking spaces close to services and 79.2 16.7 4.2 stores. Percent Responding (%) Respect and Social Inclusion Yes No Don’t Know Seniors are generally treated with respect. 91.7 0.0 8.3 Seniors serve in an advisory role to municipal government (e.g., there is 21.7 43.5 34.8 a seniors’ council). Community consultations specifically include seniors. 34.8 34.8 30.4 Planning processes specifically