Ways to Engage:

Healthcare Organizations

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Community Connectedness

Older adults are connected to their communities and participate in community life.

 

• Promote volunteer opportunities for older adults.

• Include older staff and former employee volunteers at community fairs and educational events.

• Provide healthy aging education materials at all community outreach events.

• Screen older adult patients for social determinants of health and connect them with local resources.

 

Transportation

Every older adult is able to access and afford transportation to resources.

 

• Subsidize transportation costs for non-driving patients.

• Support community transportation efforts including shuttle services that bring patients to your facilities.

• Promote home visit options for homebound older adults.

 

Varied Housing Options

Older adults have access to affordable, safe and healthy housing.

 

• Ask patients if they have safe and affordable housing and provide referrals to community based housing organizations for housing resources.

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Healthy Living

Older adults have the resources and support to engage in healthy living including good nutrition and self-care, physical activity, positive mental health, chronic disease prevention and freedom from unhealthy addictions.

 

• Ensure that your older adult patients are screened for depression and referred to appropriate resources.

• In your strategic planning process, ensure that you are incorporating healthy aging strategies.

• Prescribe the recommended healthy aging lifestyle practices (exercise and healthy diet).

 

Lifelong Learning

Older adults have access to education and training and are adequately prepared for the challenges of the future.

 

• Refer older adult patients to lifelong learning classes for continued cognitive, emotional and social/relational health.

• Support lifelong learning opportunities for your staff by encouraging and offering classes.

 

Employment and Financial Security

Older adults, and their families, have access to economic resources, services and support to live independently

 

• Refer older low income patients to community based services that will increase their financial security.

• Invite community based organizations in to provide presentations to your staff about available community resources.

 

Health and Community-Based Social Services

Ensure that all older adults have access to the continuum of healthcare and community based services that they need to achieve optimal health and well-being.

 

• Ensure that seniors have access to recommended preventive health services.

• Promote access to care and coverage for seniors who are not eligible for Medicare.

• Engage seniors in the design and implementation of services and programs that serve them.

• Enhance knowledge and adoption of chronic disease self-management programs.

• Increase support for policies and programs aimed at preventing falls among older adults.

• Create partnerships and policies to promote cross referrals between healthcare and community based services.

 

Outdoor Spaces and Buildings

Ensure that older adults can access and participate fully in activities, events and services at community parks, buildings and facilities.

 

• Ensure that all building and parking areas are well-signed outside and inside, with sufficient sitting areas and toilets, accessible elevators, ramps, railings and stairs, and non-slip floors.

• Provide “Age-Friendly” awareness, empathy and assistance training for your staff.

 

Communication and Information

Ensure that older adults are able to access essential information and communication resources, allowing them to be informed about and participate in community services and activities.

 

• Provide informational outreach using a variety of different approaches including in person staffing at information desks, telephone calls, physical mailings, email, website, etc.

• Ensure that telephone answering messages give instructions slowly and clearly, tell callers how to repeat the message at any time and make sure callers have the choice to speak with a real person or leave a message for someone to call back.

• Ensure that printed information – including forms, videos and text on visual displays – has large lettering with clear headings and bold-faced type.