What SPRY Seniors Have to Say: Report on the Community Consultation with the Seniors’ Group ‘SPRY’ in the Hills: Creating Space for Strength: An Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) and Research Project Focused on Calgary's North Central Communities

CreatingSpaceforStrength: AnAssetBasedCommunityDevelopment andResearchProjectforCalgary'sNorthCentralCommunities
WhatSPRYSeniorsHavetoSay: ReportontheCommunityConsultationwith theSeniorsGroupSPRYintheHills
Presented to the Steering Committee March 9, 2013 Eaton International Consulting Inc.
Preliminaryreport:SeniorsCommunityConsultation2
For information about this report, please contact the authors: Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D. Lee Tunstall, Ph.D. Vilma Dawson SarahEaton@eatoninternationalconsulting.com Lee.Tunstall@eatoninternationalconsulting.com Vilma.Dawson@eatoninternationalconsulting.com
Copyright 2013 Aspen Family Services
Citation information: Eaton, S.E., Dawson, V. and Tunstall, L. (2013). What SPRY Seniors Have to Say: Report on the Community Consultation with the Seniors Group SPRY in the Hills: Creating Space for Strength: An Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) and Research Project Focused on Calgary's North Central Communities. Aspen Family Services.
March,2013EatonInternationalConsultingInc.
Acknowledgements We gratefully acknowledge the support and contributions of those who have helped us prepare this report and support this project: Project Origins - Northern Hills Constituency Project Funders - Government of Alberta (CFEP Grant); United Way of Calgary and Area; Aspen Family and Community Network Society; Northern Hills Community Association Project Supporters - Northern Hills Constituency; City of Calgary; Aspen Family and Community Network Society; Northern Hills Community Association; United Way of Calgary and Area
We are especially thankful to the individuals who made the consultation with seniors a success: Dell Sudnik, SPRY in the Hills founder All the SPRY seniors who participated in our study Moraig McCabe, Northern Hills Community Association Matt Pechey, Northern Hills Constituency Office
TableofContents Introduction ............................................................................................................... 5 Meeting Format ......................................................................................................... 5 Seniors concerns about income data ........................................................................ 6 Group consultation results ........................................................................................ 7 Q1: What is good and strong in our community? .................................................. 7 Q2: What could be better? ..................................................................................... 8 Q3: What do we want to see happen in 5 years? ................................................... 9 Q4: How do we get there? ................................................................................... 10 Directory of handymen and volunteers to help with odd jobs ............................. 10 Seniors top priorities .............................................................................................. 11 First priority ......................................................................................................... 11 Second priority .................................................................................................... 12 Third priority ....................................................................................................... 13 Researchers observations ....................................................................................... 14 Appendix 1: Meeting Agenda ................................................................................. 15 Appendix 2: Slide presentation ............................................................................... 16 Appendix 3 Questionnaire ................................................................................... 24 Appendix 4 Scribes Notes .................................................................................. 25 Table 1 Scribe: Vilma Dawson ......................................................................... 25 Table 2 Scribe: Moraig McCabe ...................................................................... 27
Introduction
As part of the Creating Space for Strength: An Asset-Based Community Development and Research Project for Calgary's North Central Communities, we wanted to incorporate the voices of senior citizens in the Northern Hills area. The SPRY in the Hills group, run by Dell Sudnik, invited us to one of their regular meetings at the Panorama e-Community Centre. As the group meets regularly on Tuesday afternoons, we coordinated with Northern Hills Community Association (NHCA) to schedule the community consultation for Tuesday, January 22, 2013.
MeetingFormat
Before the meeting, the agenda was e-mailed to Dell Sudnik and the Steering Committee members who planned to attend. (See Appendix 1.) The meeting started with an introduction of the members of the Steering Committee who were there (Moraig McCabe (NHCA), Matt Pechey (Northern Hills Constituency Office), Sarah Elaine Eaton and Vilma Dawson (Eaton International Consulting Inc.). Then, we went around the room and each of the seniors introduced themselves and told us which community they lived in. It was noted that there were no participants present from MacEwan Glen, Sandstone Valley, Creekside or Evanston. In other words, all the participants lived in the Northern Hills communities. Approximately 17 seniors took part in the afternoon consultation. We presented an overview of the project with a slide presentation. A copy of the slides we used is included in Appendix 2. Conversation about some of the demographic data occurred and in particular, the participants wanted to know how we got our information about the median income of seniors in the communities we are studying. In this report we have provided more details about how we accessed our information. After the project introduction, we had a coffee break. The team took this time to discuss how the consultation itself would proceed. We learned later that the seniors had hoped we would have coffee and chat more with them.
Following the coffee break, the seniors broke into two groups, each of eight or nine participants. Each group then discussed these four questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. What is good and strong in our community? What could be better? What do we want to see happen in 5 years? How do we get there?
The participants responses to these four questions are shared in the pages that follow. Finally, the seniors were asked to fill out a questionnaire that asked them to select their top priorities from a list that was given to them. Each person was asked to put a number one next to their top priority, a number two next to their second-most important priority and a number three next to their third most important priority.
Seniorsconcernsaboutincomedata
During the introductory presentation, a few of the participants asked how we got our demographic information about the median income level of seniors in the community. The median income rates for seniors were last reported as part of the 2006 federal census and are taken from 2005 tax data. As seniors often live on fixed incomes, it seems fair to assume that the rapid increase in household income that occurred within the rest of Calgary households between 2006 and 2011 did not occur with seniors incomes. The median income for seniors in the study area ($20,518) is slightly lower than the Calgary average ($22,625). It is interesting to note that Panorama Hills has the lowest median income for seniors at $15,468, while the highest is found in Country Hills at $25,429. Country Hills Village is next at $24,322. As this consultation had seniors from only Northern Hills, many probably came from the Panorama Hills community, which did have the lowest income rates at $15,468. This probably contributed to the surprise at the study area median.
Groupconsultationresults
In this section of our report, we share key highlights of seniors responses to the four questions we asked them. We have included the full transcript of each of the table scribes in Appendix 4. Q1:Whatisgoodandstronginourcommunity? Participants listed numerous strengths in their communities. Though we did not ask them to do so, they chose to talk about the strengths of their individual neighborhoods, as well as the overall Northern Hills area. Highlights of what the seniors shared follows: Northern Hills Community Association Participants noted the good work done by the community association and mentioned that they appreciated the good relationship that they have with NHCA. Commercial amenities Participants talked about good shopping in the area and in particular: Superstore T & T supermarket Movie theatres Banks Participants also commented that there were some doctors and dentists in their community, but noted that they are not all taking new patients. Natural spaces The green spaces, parks, walking and biking paths were seen by these participants as being a definite asset in the community. Quality of life Participants commented on a variety of factors relating to the overall quality of life in the community including good value for housing prices and low crime rates. There was a sense that the Northern Hills is a good place to raise a family.
Q2:Whatcouldbebetter? The participants identified numerous priorities that focused around a few central themes: Affordable programming Participants commented that they would benefit from having more programs like those run by the Kerby Centre. But it is not enough for the programs to exist, they must also be affordable for seniors, who live on a limited budget. Meeting space for seniors The participants talked about how their group cannot grow in size because they have nowhere else to go. Their current meeting space at the Panorama e-Community Centre works well for smaller gatherings, but is not big enough for their growing needs. The seniors talked about the importance of being able to socialize with others around their own age in a safe, affordable space that is easy for them to access. Improved public transportation Some participants expressed frustration around the public transit system. They commented that buses do not run frequently enough in their area. Those who do not drive are dependent on either family members to give them rides or on the public transit system. Having more buses running more frequently would increase their sense of independence and mobility. Medical services Participants discussed the need for improved medical services at length. They highlighted diagnostic and urgent care as being of particular importance to them. Some felt that Airdrie had more accessible health services for seniors than what it is currently available in the Northern Hills area. Seniors housing and long-term care Some participants commented on the growing need for affordable seniors housing and the increasing need for long-term care for seniors in their community.
Q3:Whatdowewanttoseehappenin5years? In general, the participants demonstrated great wisdom when it came to talking about what might be realistic to expect over the next five years. Highlights include: Prioritizing goals Participants talked about the need to identify and then prioritize realistic goals that relate specifically to seniors. Increase affordable programming for seniors One participant noted that with the population growing in the North Central communities, the number of seniors is likely to grow, too. Improved public transit Participants were adamant that having more frequent bus service to their community would benefit them greatly. They felt that this was achievable over the next five years. Increased participation and community engagement The seniors commented that they wanted more of their peers to get involved in programs in the community. This group realized that they are a small, but engaged group of citizens. They wanted to reach out more to other seniors in their communities and get them more involved. Improved medical services The participants came back to the issue of medical services for seniors repeatedly. They noted that the need for medical services would only increase as population in the community increases. They commented that this is an issue that needs to be addressed before it becomes a crisis for the community. Help with odd jobs around the house Participants at one of the two tables talked in some detail about their need to have a list of reputable people whom they could trust to help them with small, ad hoc projects around the house such as putting up pictures and other odd jobs.
Q4:Howdowegetthere? The final question generated both general and concrete ideas. Lobby politicians The seniors talked about letter-writing campaigns, petitions and talking with local politicians as a way to have their voice heard in order to get their needs met. This particular group demonstrated a clear understanding of how, when and why to lobby elected officials. Advocate for more affordable seniors programs Participants talked about the possibility of entering into discussions with Cardel Place around the need to have free, low-cost or subsidized programming for seniors. Advocate for improved public transit The participants talked about lobbying the City of Calgary and Calgary Transit for improved bus service in their community. Directoryofhandymenandvolunteerstohelpwithoddjobs One of the most inspiring results of the afternoon came from the table were they identified a need to have help around the house for odd jobs. One participant suggested that the group put together its own guide of local handymen and volunteers that they could trust to come into their homes. They identified that services would need to be affordable for seniors and that they wanted to feel safe and secure knowing that whoever was in their home was trustworthy and reputable. One participant stepped up and volunteered to lead an initiative to put together an informal Trusted Guide of Handymen. Others offered to help her. Suggestions came in from participants and others around resources they could access including contacting the Arusha Calgary to learn about their barter program, as well as contacting the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association, as someone had heard they already had a similar initiative.
Seniorstoppriorities
The seniors identified their top three priorities through the questionnaire they filled out. Firstpriority This group of seniors is actively engaged in regular meetings and feel they are outgrowing their current space at the Panorama e-Community Centre. They noted that a community space to gather, socialize and enjoy programs that are designed, especially for them was very important. After that, access to emergency health services was identified as a key priority for seniors in the community.
Secondpriority Seniors clearly identified access to health services as a top priority for them including access to diagnostic services (such as blood tests, X-rays, etc.) and access to emergency health services. In addition to health services, participants also identified access to recreation services as being important to them. As we talked with participants, they clarified that although there are ample recreation services available in the community through Cardel Place, they were particularly interested in low-cost, affordable programs that are specifically designed for seniors. Several participants commented that they are unable to afford the programs offered at Cardel Place.
Thirdpriority As a group, the participants did not have consensus around a third priority. Instead, they continued to emphasize that it was important to them to have a community space in which to meet, good access to health services and affordable recreation programs. They also identified traffic solutions, public transportation and cultural services as being important to them.
Researchersobservations
We noted that while the group of 17 seniors present included two or three immigrants, none appeared to be visible minorities and all appeared to be mostly able-bodied (i.e. no wheelchairs, no walkers). We understand that the results of our small consultation are not generalizable to the entire population of seniors living in the north central communities, due to the limited sample size. Nevertheless, the insights gained from this group of seniors are relevant. They are an informed and engaged group of senior citizens who brought significant depth to their discussion and shared much wisdom around what matters to them. The data gathered were reliable in the sense that we posed specific questions that resulted in clear and comprehensible results. From our experience as social science researchers, the SPRY in the Hills seniors group provided much needed insights about what is important to seniors in the Northern Hills communities that had never before been gathered scientifically.
Appendix1:MeetingAgenda
Creating Space for Strength: An Asset-Based Community Development and Research Project Focused on Calgary's North Central Communities SPRY in the Hills - Seniors Community Consultation Tuesday, January 22, 2013 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Panorama Hills eCommunity Centre, 88 Panamount Hill NW, Calgary, AB T3K 5R9 The purpose of this community assessment is to find out what our communities strengths and assets are, what can be improved, and how. Identifying current resources, as well as needs, is a key step toward maximizing the potential for building an effective, locally relevant, and evidence-based community action plan. Agenda 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. 2:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Introduction, background, project overview presentation Coffee Interactive community consultation workshop
We are interested in hearing your voice. We want to know what you think is working well in your community, what can be strengthened and how we can achieve the goals we set as a community. Project Origins - Northern Hills Constituency Project Funders - Government of Alberta (CFEP Grant); United Way of Calgary and Area; Aspen Family and Community Network Society; Northern Hills Community Association Project Supporters - Northern Hills Constituency; City of Calgary; Aspen Family and Community Network Society; Northern Hills Community Association; United Way of Calgary and Area For more information: Sarah Eaton, Ph.D., Principal, Eaton International Consulting Inc. (403) 244-9015 saraheaton@eatoninternationalconsulting.com or Northern Hills Community Association http://www.northernhills.ab.ca/ (403) 226-6422
Appendix2:Slidepresentation
Appendix3Questionnaire
Prioritizing community issues Prioritize these key issues that have been identified: 1 = Most important to you 2 = Second most important to you 3 = Third most important to you Your1,2or3 Keyissue Community gathering space Emergency health services Diagnostic services Baby clinic Traffic solutions Public transit Space for seniors to meet Space for youth to meet A public high school Access to human services (e.g. parenting assistance, in-home assistance) Cultural services (dance, art, etc.) Recreation services
Appendix4ScribesNotes
Table1Scribe:VilmaDawson 1. What is good and strong in our community? All of the seniors in this group came from the following communities: Panorama Hills: E-Centre. Sadly though, the computers dont work. 4 new schools in the area all spread out. Cardel Place. NHCA is there (Cardel Place). CPL is there with activities for seniors (once a month). Sadly, no hospital. Peter Lougheed and Foothills are the closest. Bike trails. Parks although the parks are more for kids.
Coventry Hills: Accessible for banking, retail, Superstore, medical. Doctor in the mall (although they are not taking any new patients). Pre-school. Young families. Homes are affordable. Good place to raise families. Low crime rates. Police and fire services are close.
Country Hills and Harvest Hills: Golf courses Airport is close. Nose Hill Park. T & T Supermarket. Gyms. Medical clinics. Churches. Movie theatres (with seniors nights). Pods of 50 + (age wise). Supportive. Harvest Hills is quite diverse (including children).
Cardel Place (too expensive). Calgary Public Library. E-Community Centre in Panorama. Public Transit is not the greatest. There is a golf course. Easily accessible to amenities by car.
2. What could be better? Community Centre with programs like the Kerby Centre. City of Calgary should play a bigger role in assisting with subsidies for programs for seniors. Cardel Place will not do anything for free. There needs to be more participation by seniors. Cost is too prohibitive for seniors to access programs. If they had exercise programs it would be a magnet. If no e-Community Centre at Panorama all would be lost for seniors. Dell is the glue who holds the e-Community Centre program for seniors together. Transit passes are now $55 annually went up by $20 within a year. Schools can provide space for programs but it must be in the afternoon and not in the evenings. Many seniors do not drive.
3. In 5 years? Growth in senior population will more than double. We have an aging population. Seniors need to participate. Make seniors programs more structured. Too ad hoc at the moment. Need better snow removal, particularly in parking areas, in handicapped zones and public pathways. Need small hospital with emergency services. Beddington and Airdrie are the closest for these two communities.
4. How do we get there? Prioritize goals/plans - short-term; mid-term and long-term. Newsletters could be expanded to reach more if they had bigger spaces. More expected from the City subsidized programs. Accessibility is KEY and not just by car. Talk to elected officials. Facilitators Notes: $23,000 seniors income stats 2006 census many did not agree with this figure. They felt that it was lower.
Table2Scribe:MoraigMcCabe
SENIORS CONSULTATION Inc: NHCA SPRY in the Hills Group, Panorama resident seniors 2:00-4:00 pm, Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013 at the Panorama e-Centre Q&A session dialogue Q1: What is good & strong in your community? SPRY group Businesses / Lots of services o Lots of banks, dentists, library, Cardel, doctors, shops, grocery stores. o Mainly centred in Country Hills Towne Centre, so many have to travel (cant walk to shops). Buses (in Harvest Hills) o Buses in Panorama Hills are not good. o Everyone is glad the LRT is coming. Very strong community association (NHCA). Q2: What could be better? LRT More buses o More frequent buses are generally packed and often cant get on; some have had to let four buses go past before one turns up that they can get on, especially during commuter times. o Some find it difficult to get to the e-Centre or the shops without access to a car (whether they drive or get a ride) unless they can walk there. o Better route as current schedule/routes means it takes longer to go where they want and they have to take two buses to go to the shopping area in their own community. Cardel is too expensive o Cardel doesnt accept the fee assistance cards and wont recognize them as proof of low income for their own low-income allowance program. o Need City of Calgary subsidy for programs as too expensive for seniors, who are living on fixed incomes (many didnt realise Cardel was run privately, although on City land). Cardel has nothing for seniors o No walking track. o Could use their space better.
o Seniors fitness classes run by Cardel staff not designed for seniors (i.e. some have heart problems, whereas others have osteoporosis, osteoarthritis or joint problems apparently all seniors are treated the same, do the same exercises and are pushed too hard, which is why SPRY now run their own fitness program), Permanent place for seniors o SPRY group now at capacity and not enough room in Panorama e-Centre for any more seniors in fitness class. o Permanent place would allow SPRY to expand programming (time/space limited at e-Centre) they would like to have something every day and expand to do dance classes (or just dancing?), etc. o e-Centre has no room for them June through September, so there is no programming for seniors during the summer. o Permanent building would give seniors who have nowhere to go during the day somewhere to go for free (like a drop-in); this was considered especially important for seniors living with their kids who are left on their own during the day. Medical services o Laboratory services -some spent a lot of time regularly travelling to Beddington or Airdrie for regular tests; this can only be done with access to a car/driver. o Urgent Care Centre like Airdrie has so they dont have to go to the Emergency Department at the hospitals, which are not in the area. Places for seniors to go without driving o Seniors Playground like at North Hill Shopping centre. More long-term care facilities o A lot of couples are split into different areas of the city due to lack of beds/rooms in the north if their partner is in the south, they spend most of the day travelling there and back to visit. o Waiting list for places in the north (not even just in the Northern Hills area) are very long (years). Housing for seniors o Specialized housing complexes for seniors (50+) where they can rent a condo or apartment, where the complex has all the amenities and facilities they need (they have these in Winnipeg).
Q3. What would you like to see in 5 years? More long-term care facilities o So people dont have to move to be near their husbands/wives when they go into care. o We wont be here in 20-30 years, so we need this quickly! Medical facilities
o More doctors offices that are taking on patients. o Diagnostic/laboratory facility (long waits in Beddington of many hours). More buses Cardel expansion including seniors (needs/input) o Including a place for seniors to meet. o Including a walking track. o Including seniors rates (see Q2 re: fee assistance cards; apparently they dont accept these for handicapped children either? The seniors suggested that someone send out secret shoppers to confirm how seniors and handicapped are not given help with fees, despite the Cardel program to give help with those on low incomes Im not sure where from or what one would do with this information?) Trusted handyman guide o So seniors feel safe letting these people into their homes to do jobs they are no longer able to do. o c.f. Hillhurst-Sunnyside guide. o Rent-a-husband. o Discounted for seniors. Volunteers to help with odd jobs for seniors o Help with mowing lawns, landscaping & planting. o Help with snow clearing (apparently neighbourhood kids used to do this for the elders in the community, but not anymore unless they know the seniors?) o Help with little jobs. o Different from handymen because some seniors cant afford handymen. o Possibly contact Corporate Calgary?
Q4. How will we get there? Lobby government (medical, long-term care) o Lobby elected officials: Teresa Woo-Paw (MLA) and Jim Stevenson (Alderman, Ward 3) office (labs, doctors, urgent care, long-term care) write letters and petition. o Write to the Minister of Health get individuals to all write personal letters and send them in a big package for impact. Ask the City (buses) o Ask for buses to run in circuitous routes around the communities, stopping outside the main shopping area of Country Hills Towne Centre so those without cars can go shopping in Country Hills Towne Centre can go and come home again without having to exchange at the bus hub opposite Cardel. Talk to Cardel (seniors-friendly Cardel expansion) o Tell Cardel that we need a sports centre that considers the needs of seniors.
o Get a group together to go and speak to Cardel Board and explain their issues / discuss what they would like to see in the expansion. Do it themselves (Handyman Guide/Volunteer Guide) o This happens in lots of communities in Edmonton, so why not here? o Unless we get someone to head it up from the SPRY group, it wont happen (so Marylin stepped up!) o Start with one and build; do it slowly. o Ask someone who has already done it and build on their experience (HillhurstSunnyside contact from Dell). o Ask the Hillhurst-Sunnyside contact how they got volunteers. o Ask community members to help to drive a senior in their street to the shops when they go for their own shopping or get some shopping for them.

What SPRY Seniors Have to Say: Report on the Community Consultation with the Seniors’ Group ‘SPRY’ in the Hills: Creating Space for Strength: An Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) and Research Project Focused on Calgary's North Central Communities

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