Local Elder Abuse Prevention Networks
o There are over 50 local networks across the province that help address the needs of vulnerable seniors and the complex nature of elder abuse. They link health, social services and justice agencies/organizations to improve local responses to elder abuse and help deliver public education, training, and facilitate cross-sectoral knowledge exchange between front-line staff, often including advice on managing elder abuse cases. Contact information for local elder abuse prevention networks can be found on the Elder Abuse Ontario website.
Age-Friendly Community (AFC) Planning Committees
o Based on the World Health Organization's eight dimension framework, the AFC concept highlights the importance of safe and secure environments, social participation and inclusion, all of which are aligned with senior's participation in the community safety and well-being planning process.
o Many communities are developing AFC plans to help create social and physical environments that allow people of all ages, including seniors, to participate fully in their communities. Local AFC planning committees are being established to lead the completion of needs assessments and multisectoral planning. To support planning, the Ontario Seniors' Secretariat has created an AFC Planning Guide and an AFC Planning Grant Program. More information about AFCs and local activity underway can be found on the Ministry of Seniors Affairs website.
Accessibility Advisory Committees
o Under the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001, municipalities with more than 10,000 residents have to establish local accessibility advisory committees. Most of the members of these committees are people with disabilities, including seniors.
o Over 150 Ontario municipalities have set up local accessibility advisory committees. The committees work with their local councils to identify and break down barriers for people with disabilities.
o Engaging accessibility advisory committees in community safety and well-being planning would contribute to the development of inclusive policies and programs that serve all members of a community. For more information about Accessibility Laws, please visit the Government of Ontario accessibility laws web page.