About Age-Friendly Saskatoon Initiative
The Age-Friendly Saskatoon Initiative began in 2011 and completed in 2016. Made up of three phases, the project goal was to establish Saskatoon as an “age-friendly” community. In an age-friendly community, older adults lead healthy independent lives and are active members of the community. SCOA consulted with over 500 older adults about their experiences growing older in Saskatoon. Three reports were published which included recommendations. The City of Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Government of Saskatchewan and multiple organizations have partnered with SCOA to implement the actions recommended. The City of Saskatoon is part of the World Health Organization’s Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.
Coffee Break Series Beyond the Pandemic Age-Friendly Lens Age-Friendly News Age-Friendly Videos Projects and PartnershipsCoffee Break Webinar Series
View on YouTube:Technology and Older Adults
View on YouTube:Navigating the Health Care System
View on YouTube: Conversations with Physicians
View on YouTube: Mental Health and Older Adults
View on YouTube: What You Need to Know About Renting
View on YouTube: Coping with Isolation and Developing Resilience
View on YouTube: Budgets with Bruce
Beyond the Pandemic
409 older adults aged 55+ from Saskatoon and area responded to the research survey and 49 older adults participated in the 8 focus groups for SCOA to better understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of older adults. More news to follow.
Age-Friendly Lens
Age-Friendly News
Age-Friendly videos
Caregiver Information and Support Centre – YouTube
Seniors Neighbourhood Hub Clubs – YouTube
Projects and Partnerships
Saskatoon Transit Partnership – Age-Friendly Training Video: Partnership with Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatoon Fire and Preston Park Retirement Residence
SCOA joined with Police and Fire Services, and Preston Park 1 Retirement Residence to celebrate the premiere of the Working with Seniors training video—and the fabulous actors! We celebrated community partnership, community action, and the knowledge that the police and fire services now have a tool to raise staff awareness about older adult issues that will help in their work to create a safer, age-friendly Saskatoon.
Seniors Community Police and Fire Academy: Partnership with Saskatoon Police Service and Saskatoon Fire
The first 8-week academy launched on April 17, 2019. Twenty older adults from Saskatoon participated. This new venture educated older adults by providing information about safety and security concerns. Topics explored include home and personal security, fraud prevention, internet security, traffic safety, elder abuse, K-9 policing, emergency preparedness, fire safety, fall prevention and when to call 911 and report an emergency.
Building Respectful Inclusive Communities – B.R.I.C
For many older adults, aging in place means moving from the family home into a retirement home, or assisted living. Older adults living in these facilities deserve to feel safe, respected, and included in the life of the community. This is done through education and empowerment toward positive change presented to older adults by older adults.
Working with Seniors Video: Partnership with Saskatoon Transit and Preston Park Retirement Residence
The Saskatoon Council on Aging partnered with Saskatoon Transit to develop training videos to support older adults using the transit system.
Remembering When: A Fire and Fall Prevention Program
The Saskatoon Council on Aging partnered with Saskatoon Fire to deliver presentations on fire and fall prevention to older adults in the community.
Experience Transit: Partnership with Saskatoon Transit
Experience Transit is a first step – a positive experience to overcome these initial challenges of travelling on transit. The Saskatoon Council on Aging works with Saskatoon Transit to assist older adults to use the transit system with the Bus Buddy Program.
Age-Friendly Saskatoon Initiative: Subprojects
Aboriginal Engagement in an Age-friendly Saskatoon: Reaching Out to the Aboriginal Community is part of the Age-friendly project.
The Saskatoon Council on Aging (SCOA) worked with Aboriginal Seniors and Elders to add their voices to the conversation about an age-friendly Saskatoon.
- Hear directly from older aboriginal people about their experiences of growing older
- Identify ways to include the aboriginal voice in the discussions on making Saskatoon an age-friendly community
- identify their needs and ideas about what is necessary to improve their quality of life
- Look at ideas and suggestions that can be offered to leaders on change
LBGTI Older Adults
The Saskatoon Council on Aging partnered with OUT Saskatoon to examine ways to meet the needs of older lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender individuals living in residential environments. Funded by the Saskatoon Health Region