'What is it?" A very powerful 331 second video, please check it out!

CAG & Globe article

I'm posting from Montreal where I am attending the Canadian Association on Gerontology's 39th Annual Scientific and Educational meeting as a representative for my own organization, NICE. So far the event seems to have an excellent turn out and many of Quebec, Canada, and North America's leaders from the field of aging.

Two friends also sent me links to the article below today so I think the message is that I should make sure blog followers and interested people check out this story about an older woman (with dementia) whose tree was wrongly cut down by the city of Toronto. Take a look here. I'm also including the Globe & Mail's copyright information as they seem to be becoming active about intellectual property and I want to give everyone their due credit.  Now it's off to bed as tomorrow morning is the first full day of CAG and I want to make sure I bring my A game. Night night.

Publication:	Globe and Mail
Article:	Wrongfully-cut tree leads to plans for Toronto dementia policy
	© CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Will you be there when I'm old?

I went to this event last night, took notes, and there's a lot to say about it. That will come soon, but here's the description:

Will you be there for me when I'm old?: How Canada's aging population will impact the health care system

[ PDF (667 KB) Thursday, November 25, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen Street West, Toronto


It's a fact: we're all getting older. Over the next thirty years, the proportion of Canadians over 65 is expected to double. It's also a fact that seniors need more health services. What impact will this demographic shift have on Canada's health care system? Will seniors swamp the system? Will health costs skyrocket? And will we be able to provide dignified and appropriate care to all who need it? Please join us for a lively discussion of the latest research evidence on this important subject.
This event is presented by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Health Services and Policy Research and its Knowledge Translation Branch. Refreshments will be served.

Experts:

Dr. Pat Armstrong
CHSRF/CIHR Chair in Nursing Research
Department of Sociology
York University
Dr. Peter Coyte
CHSRF/CIHR Chair in Health Services Research
Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto
Dr. Christopher Patterson
Professor, Division of Geriatric Medicine
Department of Medicine, McMaster University
Dr. Karima Velji
Vice-President, Clinical and Residential
Programs and Chief Nursing Executive
Baycrest

Moderator:

Megan Ogilvie

Health Reporter, The Toronto Star

Hospital or Homecare - "Little old ladies are crashing the system"

I read the article "Little old ladies are crashing the system" from the Globe and Mail, after having just had coffee with a friend who works very hard as a social worker with older adults who have been hospitalized. We were just discussing many of the challenges of trying to help older adults within this system, as well as what is involved in giving older adults safe, appropriate, and respectful care according to their needs and wishes.
 

This article hits on some of those issues, though Margaret Wente only skims the surface of the extreme circumstances faced by many older adults who enter and exit the Canadian hospital system. I think the point that care needs to be designed for the comfort and well-being of an older adult in the present is salient and points to an area where over-stressed and under-paid staff, a desire for system "efficiency" above all else, and a financially strained system, are resulting in over-processing older adults while failing to actually account for their immediate and future health and comfort.

Click HERE to view the article. I tried to embed it...but it looks like doing so would violate Globe and Mail copy write...

Now Businesses Can Be Certified "Elder Friendly"

Described in The New Old Age section of The New York Times (to read the article, click here), Elders in Action is a non-profit advocacy group based in Portland, OR, with the following mission: "To assure a vibrant community through the active involvement of older adults".

http://www.eldersinaction.org/about/

The organization provides a range of services including personal advocacy, speakers, workshops, a commission (to advise local members of government), and an "Elder Friendly" business certification. 

Want to see their video? Click here

I'm impressed with what this group is doing. How many places do you think have something like this? If you know of one, post a link or let me know. It's time to find out what is actually happening out there!

Photos of Old People

http://photosofoldpeople.com/page/2/

This blog is actually called Photos of Old People, check it out!

http://photosofoldpeople.com/page/2/

 What do you think? Sweet? Shocking? Beautiful? Offensive? Boring? Leave a comment!

Quiz About FALLS

My project involves recruiting older adults from various ethnic groups to participate in our study. For this reason, I was purusing the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care's website and came across the "Learning Room" which contained a number of quizzes, including one about prevention of falls and injuries. Interesting. Take the quiz to find out how much you know about safety and protection against falls - this quiz gives you answers as you go so that you can learn when you get the question wrong.

Click HERE to take the quiz! The website says it takes 20 minutes but I'm pretty sure I finished it in about 2 minutes. Also, when you're done, you get a printable certificate ooh - mine certifies my score of 8/10.

Hot off the Press - Seniors Health Report from the Canadian Chief Public Health Officer

 

Growing Older - Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Annual Report 2010 just released - on seniors' health

The Chief Public Health Officer's Report on the State of Public Heath in Canada, 2010: Growing Older - Adding Life to Years is now public and available on the Public Health Agency of Canada website: Click here!


I'm reading the report right now so comments soon to come. The Executive Summary so far has hit on some of the key issues (trends in the aging population, caregiving, accessibility, social engagement and isolation, age-friendly cities, elder abuse, health indicators and risk factors, etc.)

Ancestral Light

 

This past Tuesday night I had the pleasure of attending a talk by writer, scholar, and shaman, Malidoma Some, called Ancestral Light: The Healing Wisdom of Africa.

It happened that the day of the talk was November 2nd, otherwise recognized as "Day of the Dead" according to several spiritual and cultural traditions. The audience wore brightly coloured clothes representing core values of the West African tradition taught by Malidoma. I came from work so only had a red scarf, however was pleased to learn that this represents fire, strength, and celebration. Many people in the audience also wore traditional garments or intricately decorated masks. The vibrant visuals, warmth of the community gathering, and dynamic music of a string and percussion trio made for a particularly energetic and inspiring environment, even before the event had formally begun.

The host, Leslie Fell, gave a generous introduction and also invited the audience to share any personal ancestral tokens on a table at the front of the room. I had already placed my Grammy's handkerchief up there, along with many photographs, family jewelry, and other mementos representing the ancestors of the people gathered in the room. It was very powerful. By the time the event began the table was full of significant objects; it had become an alter.

To my surprise, before Malidoma went up to speak, Larry Nusbaum, the guitarist from the musical trio, came to the front and invited the group into a most amazing collective musical experience. He expressed his faith in all sounds that come from nature and in our potential to produce something beautiful together, then Larry handed out various instruments (these were dispersed among the 100 or so people in the room) and finally brought the group to silence. Then he invited us to begin, to follow our instincts. Something magical happened during the five minutes that everyone in the room was participating in this musical exercise - we all traveled through sound using what we had to contribute to some sort of rhythm, melody, etc. I had expected chaos but instead I was transported.

I think that may have been a "you had to be there" moment.

Afterwards, Malidoma took the stage and spoke, sharing his life learning and guiding the audience to connect with our ancestors and change the way we think about faith, love, and life purpose.

Who is Malidoma Some? According to the Ancestral Light ticketing/event website:
Malidoma Somé, PhD, is one of todays most eloquent champions of indigenous wisdom. His life and teaching form a bridge between the traditional ways of his people, the Dagara of West Africa, among whom he is an initiated elder, and the modern world. He is a gifted medicine man and diviner, as well as a compelling teacher and author.  For more than twenty years, Malidoma has shared the ancient knowledge of his tribe with people in the West who are increasingly disconnected from their ancestors, spirit and the richness of life in community. His voice awakens in our hearts the recognition that we are all born with a life purpose to fulfill and that we can do so in a deep and abiding relationship with all beings. Dr. Somé is the author of several books, including Ritual: Power, Healing and Community, The Healing Wisdom of Africa, and his acclaimed autobiography, Of Water and the Spirit  (These books will be on sale at the event).

I took notes throughout Malidoma's talk but I can definitely say that what I got most out of the whole event was that stopping to reflect on life, appreciating where we come from, and and imagining that we have been sent to this world by our ancestors for a particular reason, is a very powerful and energizing experience. We all get so caught up in our day-to-day details that it is easy to forget about having gratitude and love for being alive and for each being given the unique challenges and opportunities in our lives.

http://www.houseofngolo.com/dcdagaravillage/

Here are a few quote from Malidoma:

"Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt."

"We need an ancestral GPS!"

"Mistakes can be healing tools, however human arrogance insists on staying on the mistakes, not the healing."

"We need to reinvent gratitude."

"The more indigenous the person, the closer you are to the technology that modernity cannot explain."

"We do not want to enter a fashion where cosmetic speaks louder than authenticity."

When I think about it, there was something about this entire event that modernity wouldn't be able to explain.  I struggle to identify precisely what particular "point" was being made during the talk, or what the specific "point" of the whole event really was... Thankfully, the brightness, the light, the warmth, the music, the words, the listening and the community gathered left me satisfied and certain that actually identifying a unified reason why were were all there together was entirely beside the point.

Young or old, this event left everyone feeling more alive.

Seniors Are Cool!

Seniors Are Cool is an incredible educational video! The full version is only available on dvd so far, but you can check out a little preview here!

Also, I had a fascinating meeting today with two women in who in inter-generational education, more to come on that soon! 

Elder Abuse Training

(from Age & Opportunity)

Hey there, it's been a little while since I posted, but the reason is because I was just at the Elder Abuse Training & Information Forum which was held earlier this week in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I gave a presentation on the elder abuse research project that I coordinate here in Toronto and also had the opportunity to meet an impressive group of fellow Canadians who work to help and protect older adults through their professions in nursing and medicine, social work, community development, education, policing, and policy development. Connecting with these people was truly inspiring, plus it is always encouraging to know that there are other people out there who care and fight for these issues!


I attended a workshop about inter-generational education (which included a very impressive video called "Seniors Are Cool" which I strongly suggest you check out...I will find the link and post it as soon as I can.) I also learned about Community Response Networks, the law relating Power of Attorney and the rights of older adults in choosing and changing their PoA, how older adults can avoid financial scams, and best practices for non-Aboriginal professionals who are entering First Nations communities to help address issues of mistreatment. There was so much more, this is just a snapshot of some of the things that were covered. More to come soon!

Age Friendly Communitites in Ontario

University of Waterloo partnered with MAREP, Alzheimer Society, and the Research Institute for Aging have developed a website with tools and resources aimed to guide communities toward "age-friendly" solutions, check out their website: http://afc.uwaterloo.ca. I found the image above at: http://www.marep.uwaterloo.ca/Age-Friendly/Age-FriendlyCommunityInitiative.htm

How much do you know about seniors?

The Ontario Seniors Secretariat has created a quiz to promote awareness of the needs of the aging population. I took the quiz and scored 60/70 or 66.66%, and I work in the field of aging (uh oh)! Actually, I would be very interested to see what you think of it. I find it a bit generous/overly optimistic...but maybe that is because the negative stories are the ones that get the most press, or maybe it has to do with the kind of sampling the government did in the studies that the data is based on...In any case, the more knowledge out there the better!

Check out the quiz here: http://www.apps.mcl.gov.on.ca/agingquiz/englishQuiz.asp

Safe Sex & Aging

             Don Hogan Charles/The New York Times

 

           

This New York Times article from 2007 looks at sexual education for the aging population: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/14/nyregion/14sex.html

NICE isn't just nice, it's cutting edge

National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE) is an international network of researchers, practitioners and students dedicated to improving the care of older adults in Canada and abroad. What makes this non-profit unique is that it supports evidence-based interdisciplinary research, knowledge transfer, student mentorship, and international network engagement with the goal to improve care for older adults.

In addition to pushing forward research projects in the field of aging (click here to view the project page), NICE operates through a network of theme teams and committees committed to putting research into practice. The theme teams examine evidenced-based literature to create user-friendly pocket tools which can be disseminated in inter-professional and community contexts. The committees explore golden standards, push for curricula development, and encourage students in the field of life course and aging. These bodies include researchers, students and practitioners from several disciplines to emphasize the importance of inter-disciplinary activities to create positive change in the field of aging.

If you are interested in learning more about the NICE pocket tools, click here and you can order some FREE of charge.

Age-Friendly New York

Well, I am thus far impressed with what I see of New York City's age-friendly initiative,
being led by the non-profit New York Academy of Medicine. The website even uses the words "from the perspective of seniors" - this could turn out well!





The Age-friendly New York City website states that the campaign is being steered by "a committee of policymakers, service providers, community leaders, and seniors [who were] convened to advise the Academy on the implementation of a comprehensive assessment as well as the analysis and dissemination of results." Ok, so far so good.

The page goes on to discuss the various activities that contributed to the initial research for this initiative, including "self assessment by city agencies", and "expert roundtables [on issues of] Business, Housing Development, Civic Engagement, Transportation, Tenant Rights, Social Services, and Health". It doesn't sound like older adults were part of these roundtables; maybe that is because they were targeted in other components of the study such as Community Forums and Seniors Focus Groups. Personally, I am troubled by what sounds like a separation between the consulting experts and the individual's with personal experience and expertise with the issues being discussed.

Since I work in research, I am empathetic to the fact that there is always a reason why things go the way they do. Sometimes you are operating according to a mandate from higher up. Sometimes you just have really limited time and smaller groups of like-minded individuals are perhaps the efficient way to move forward. While these things may be true, I can't help but worry that this is contributing to a dubious form of knowledge production where the "elite", so-to-speak, are meeting in one room to discuss an issue, while the community members (those actually "living the issue") are meeting somewhere else... I imagine that the City of New York has the very best of intentions, but that isn't an excuse to avoid an integrative approach where diverse groups collaborate directly on early stage development of large expressively stated community-focused initiatives. If this kind of engagement strategy is not feasible, for whatever reason, it would still be good to know what happened. I have no doubt that clear communication would assure parties that truly collaborative approaches have not been forgotten, even if a modified approach has been taken for whatever reason.

Maybe you are not so worried about community engagement; I just came out of a seminar on this topic and am feeling particularly passionate about the importance of meaningful public participation in policy and planning.

In spite of my concerns, there is an impressive report of the findings of New York's Age-Friendly City study which restores my confidence in New York's age-friendly initiative. From the looks of the early pages, this report is everything that city's age-friendly website leaves to be desired. The research is detailed and relevant, there is meaningful inclusion of older adult contributions, the photography is lovely. While New York's age-friendly city website seemed to understate the importance of older adult contributions to the research, this report makes very clear that this work was undertaken with commitment to the voices of New York's older adults. The methodology section (p. 6) provides comprehensive information about the research that took place and its various components. A Limitations section (p. 9) also provides an earnest description of excluded populations of older adults and mention of areas for future research. There is also reference made to a Technical Report which apparently includes a more detailed rendering of the project's quantitative findings.

There are several other additional documents which further build the credibility of this project. These include:

• Awesome data maps which you can take a look at here;
• Literature reviews on several of the core themes of urban aging;
• Private Sector Response document highlighting critical findings and the ways in which private sector plans to take action and work toward solutions, and;  
• A page with links to international documents such as the original World Health Organization report and pieces of interest.

UN launches new scheme to make cities friendlier to eldery

I can't decide whether this is offensive or just really creepy. Anything that makes older adults sound like voiceless babies should be an issue for all of us.

Yes, public discourse around the theme urban aging is emerging, but I am worried about the lack of critical analysis, and a lack of visible engagement mechanisms, in the reporting and development of the age-friendly city movement. Of course improving cities to make them more accessible and inhabitable for our communities, young and old alike, is a very good thing. Indeed this will be necessary in order to accommodate the demographic transition of baby boomers getting older. Still, I hesitate to applaud words that have not yet been followed by meaningful action...

Japan's biggest challenge: its aging population

For a short, informative article from Foreign Affairs online, about the economics of Japan's aging population, click here.

Check this out too:

Welcome

The goal of this blog is to consider cities and how they can support life, especially life as time passes and the needs of our society change.

I am a young professional who works in the field of aging research. My BA was in Sociology at University of Chicago and my MSc in Ecological Economics from University of Edinburgh. While gerontology and the field of 'aging' or 'life course' are relatively new to me, community well-being and development has always been an area of personal interest.

I currently live in Toronto, however I have also spent considerable amounts of time in Chicago, Paris, Montreal, Edinburgh, and London.  If you know about other cities, have an idea for a posting, want to share an interesting resource, or simply want to voice questions or concerns, please post a comment!

As a high school debater, I was taught that you should never start talking about anything without first defining your terms. I chose the blog name Cities for Life because it was affirmative and concise. Though I am very interested in the "age-friendly cities" movement, I don't want to limit this discussion to the criteria that have already been laid out by the World Health Organization and other bodies reporting on aging in the urban sphere. I also object to the "age-friendly cities" terminology because claiming "friendliness" implies a separation (if still a friendly one) between the city and the life within it. My point is precisely the opposite: we must treat cities and life together as they are integrated and their futures and well-beings are inter-connected.