The New Public Realm: Planning for Independent Aging in Northern Metropolitan Regions

APA Northeast Region Conference

June 26, 2015

JieLan Xu PhD student, University of TorontoBonnie Bartlett Urban and Transportation Planner, Arup

Self-introduction

JieLan XuPhD student,

University of Toronto- -planning tools for 'age-friendly

cities/communities' in relation to the spatial and historical context of urban development;

- -comparative cases studies of aging experiences in different types of built

environment with a focus on the relations between neighborhood environment and

healthy aging/ active aging.

Bonnie Bartlett Urban and Transportation Planner

-graduated with the University of Toronto, 2012, Master of Science in Planning

-employed with Arup (2+ years)

-awarded internal funding to examine age-friendly transportation in the Greater Toronto Area

Summary of Session

• This session explores how municipalities can support the independence of aging adults by providing age-friendly transportation and housing options.

• The responses provide best practices that are applicable to the built form and particular challenges of northern metropolitan regions in North America

• Session time: 8:45 am – 10:15 am

Aging-in-place The ability to adapt to changes in both the aging person and the surrounding environment

As de-institutionalization

The ability for people to stay in a familiar environmental setting as they age

As an interaction between people and the environment

As remaining independent

The ability for people to remain certain competence and control over the surrounding environment

As remaining a sense of place-attachment and social connection, with choices over environment

The ability to stay socially connected, have a sense of security and identity, and have choices over where and how to age in place

Aging-in-community

As being independent with the help of community services/support

The supportive environment in older people's place of living, including mutual support and services or care provided in community

• Community contexts of seniors: inner-city VS. suburb

• Naturally occurring retirement communities VS. mixed-age neighborhoods (construction periods & housing stock)

• Community contexts of seniors: inner-city VS. suburb

• Naturally occurring retirement communities VS. mixed-age neighborhoods (construction periods & housing stock)

• Community contexts of seniors: inner-city VS. suburb

• Naturally occurring retirement communities VS. mixed-age neighborhoods (construction periods & housing stock)

Question 1

What are the key concepts/ issues examined in your research? Could you please describe what drew you to this topic?

Question 2

What are the trends in aging (such as the changes of housing needs and transportation needs) that you’ve found in your research? How these trends will change over the coming decades (any research, evidence or assumption)?

¾ of all 65+ seniors have a driver’s license

Drivers aged 70+ are the 2nd highest accident risk group

Canadian seniors are most likely to drive or to be driven, even in Toronto

Seniors in Canada are disproportionately represented in pedestrian traffic fatalities

Housing Options for Seniors * this slide shows some general comparisons and there can be great variations in each housing options and among different regions

Age-restricted Community

Independent living/retirement communities (for independent seniors)

Assisted living communities (Personalized support services & care)

Nursing care (skilled care facilities with 24-hour care)

Home care (services delivered at home)

Continuing care (assisted living & nursing care in one location)

Adult day care (services in community)

Residence with specialized services (Alzheimer’s care)

Health and social services (often regulated by health authorities)Housing development (regulated by development controls)

Cohousing

Assistance of daily livingCommunity ServicesOverall health of residentsHealth servicesCommunity activitiesIndependent environmentAffordability in general

Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), lifelong housing, etc.Private dwelling (aging-in-place in a narrow sense)

Specialized (Purposively planned) housing

Non-specialized housing

“The majority of caregivers of seniors took care of their parents or parents-in-law, regardless of where the senior lived. This was particularly the case among those who helped a senior in a care facility and in supportive housing (61%).”

Housing and Care for Seniors *data from Canada-wide survey of care-givers

Caregivers helping seniors in care facilities and those living with their care recipient were most likely to report stress associated with their caregiving responsibilities- 33% and 29% respectively.

They also reported more out-of-pocket caregiving related expenses

Reference: Statistic Canada (2015) Senior care: Differences by type of housing. Data Source: Statistics Canada - Social General Survey 2012

62%16%

14%8%

Private residence separate from caregivers

Private residence with care-givers

Care facility (nursing home,hospital, etc.)

Supportive housing

% caregivers provide care on a weekly basis

Notes: 1. Refers to married spouses and common-law partners. 2. 'Other' includes seniors who are lone parents, living with other relatives or non-relatives, or adult children living with their parent(s). Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2011. Retrieved from: http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2011/as-sa/98-312-x/2011003/fig/fig3_4-1-eng.cfm

Population pyramid by living arrangement and sex for the population aged 65 and over, Canada, 2011

Percentage of the population aged 15 and over living in a single-detached house by age group, Canada, 2011

Housing Trends for Seniors (Canada)

Trends of Senior’s Housing in Ontario (specialized senior housing)

Data source: CMHC Seniors’ Housing Survey, multiple years

(Number of Spaces)

($)

Question 3

What organizations or cities are leading the charge in designing cities for accommodating aging populations?

WHO Age-friendly Cities Guide

Outdoor spaces and buildings

Transportation

Housing

Social participation

Respect and social

inclusion

Civic participation

and employment

Communica-tion and

information

Community support and

health services

AARP Livablility Index

Neighborhood

Health

Opportunity

Engagement

Environment

Housing

Transportation

WHO- Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide

Housing

☐ Sufficient, affordable housing is available in areas that are safe and close to services and the rest of the community.

☐ Sufficient and affordable home maintenance and support services are available.

☐ Housing is well-constructed and provides safe and comfortable shelter from the weather.

☐ Interior spaces and level surfaces allow freedom of movement in all rooms and passageways.

☐ Home modification options and supplies are available and affordable, and providers understand the needs of older people.

☐ Public and commercial rental housing is clean, well-maintained and safe.

☐ Sufficient and affordable housing for frail and disabled older people, with appropriate services, is provided locally.

Source: http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/age_friendly_cities_guide/en/

Transportation ☐ Public transportation costs are consistent, clearly displayed and affordable. ☐ Public transportation is reliable and frequent, including at night and on weekends and holidays.

☐ All city areas and services are accessible by public transport, with good connections and well-marked routes and vehicles.

☐ Vehicles are clean, well-maintained, accessible, not overcrowded and have priority seating that is respected.

☐ Specialized transportation is available for disabled people. ☐ Drivers stop at designated stops and beside the curb to facilitate boarding and wait for passengers to be seated before driving off .

☐ Transport stops and stations are conveniently located, accessible, safe, clean, welllit and well-marked, with adequate seating and shelter.

☐ Complete and accessible information is provided to users about routes, schedules and special needs facilities.

☐ A voluntary transport service is available where public transportation is too limited.

☐ Taxis are accessible and affordable, and drivers are courteous and helpful. ☐ Roads are well-maintained, with covered drains and good lighting. ☐ Traffic flow is well-regulated. ☐ Roadways are free of obstructions that block drivers’ vision. ☐ Traffic signs and intersections are visible and well-placed. ☐ Driver education and refresher courses are promoted for all drivers. ☐ Parking and drop-off areas are safe, sufficient in number and conveniently located.

☐ Priority parking and drop-off spots for people with special needs are available and respected.

Source: https://livabilityindex.aarp.org/categories/housing

Question 4

Can you give some examples of specific planning tools or policies (urban design/ housing/ transportation) have been or can be implemented to create 'age-friendly' environment?

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities ActHealthy Aging in Rural and Remote

Cohousing: Case-Cohabitat Québec

Source of images: http://temp.cohabitat.ca/

Canadian Mortgage and Housing Cooperation provided Seed and Proposal Development Funding to help cover some early-stage development costs.

NORCs-SSP: Implementation at different places, scales and neighborhoods

Data Source: An Overview of Programs in the National NORCs Aging in Place Initiative: Results from a 2012 Organizational Survey. Retrieved from: http://agingandcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/National-NORC-FINAL.pdf

50.0%42.3%

3.8% 3.8%

Predominantly urban areas

Suburban areas

Rural areas

Mixed geographic area

34.6%

30.8%

26.9%

7.7%

Within apartment buildings

Within a neighborhood or section of a town or city

Within an entire town or multiple towns

Within entire county

19.2%

46.2%

19.2%

11.5%low income areas

low to middle income areas

middle income areas

middle to high income areas

NORCs-SSP: Supportive Services Provision and Utilization

Recreational, social, and cultural gatherings

Central telephone number or email to request services

Professional coordination of services

Transportation

Facilitation of volunteer opportunities for older adults

96.20%

96.20%

92.30%

76.90%

69.20%

Top Five Services Most Commonly Provided by STAFF

Friendly visitors

Recreational, social, and cultural gatherings

Transportation

Facilitation of volunteer opportunities for older adults

Grocery shopping

50.00%

50.00%

46.20%

38.50%

38.50%

Top Five Services Most Commonly Provided by VOLUNTEERS

Home health

Home-delivered meals

Transportation

House cleaning

Legal services

92.30%

84.60%

76.90%

73.10%

73.10%

Top Five Services Most Commonly Provided by REFERRAL

Data Source: An Overview of Programs in the National NORCs Aging in Place Initiative: Results from a 2012 Organizational Survey. Retrieved from: http://agingandcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/National-NORC-FINAL.pdf

In most surveyed programs, transportation and home health services were requested most frequently over the year of survey.

Question 5

What are three key challenges for city planners uncovered in your research thus far?

“Transit use is generational and driving can be part of a generation’s culture. It would be intimidating to start riding transit as an older adult if you’ve never ridden before. ‘When do I go, where does the bus go?’”

- Steve MacRae, City of Mississauga

"I am a senior and am new to Burlington so do not know the streets or routes. When I am on the bus there are no announcements for stops. This makes me very nervous that I will miss my stop, and makes me hesitant to venture out on my own.” - Burlington resident feedback

Question 6

What are three key recommendations for city planners uncovered in your research thus far?

Question 7What special challenges the northeast region face?

1/3 of 65+ Canadians and Americans fall every year

$34 billion in direct costs in US (2012)

Question 8

If you could enforce one aspect of age-friendly design for all cities, what would it be? Why?

Questions?

SourcesInformation

• http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/publications/public/injury-blessure/safelive-securite/chap2-eng.php

• http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/adultfalls.html

• http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/age_friendly_cities_guide/en/

• http://www.seniorhousingnet.com

• https://livabilityindex.aarp.org/

• http://www.cohousing.org/

• http://www.nyc.gov/html/dfta/downloads/pdf/dfta_aps_0914.pdf

• http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/economy/demographics/projections/

Photos

• http://www.urbanindy.com/2014/02/10/wthrs-report-on-sidewalk-snow-clearance/

• http://countryhosts.com/

• http://temp.cohabitat.ca/

• Vinoth Chandar https://flic.kr/p/dZRjFE

• https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnath/6876795286/in/photolist-dkJyJo-Kx33L-btFnDY-bF7TSB-9zDhKF-a1tTAu-oncwQ-7dEjM