Ah! The golden years. Retirement. No commitments, just living life at a leisurely pace and stopping to smell those roses we so often passed by because of work and other busyness. What could be more wonderful?
The people at Age Friendly Thunder Bay recognize the value of our seniors and want to make Thunder Bay a great place to grow older – a city that’s welcoming, supportive, and inclusive for all older adults.
“We’re all about helping people stay independent, healthy, and connected,” Age Friendly Thunder Bay Treasurer Ami Forbes says. “We believe in listening to seniors and working alongside them to create services and programs that truly fit their needs and dreams.”
Everything Age Friendly Thunder Bay does is guided by the locally developed Senior Charter, a document aligned with the World Health Organization age-friendly principles and endorsed by Thunder Bay’s City Council. Thunder Bay is one of a few cities in Canada that has a Senior Charter.
Age Friendly believes that all seniors should have someone or something to care about, something meaningful to do, and something to look forward to every day.
Their work evolves around four pillars, each with its own focus, but all connected by the same goal: making life better for older adults.
First, they connect with seniors at community events across Thunder Bay. “We use these moments to have face-to-face conversations with seniors – sharing information and answering questions,” Ami says. “We want every senior to know they’re not alone. We’re here to listen, help, and to point everyone to the right resources when they need them”.
Second, Age Friendly has four committees that identify the biggest challenges older adults face and works to find practical, meaningful solutions. “Whether it’s housing, transportation, health, or social connection,” Ami says, “Our committees are on it.”
Rather than reinventing the wheel, Age Friendly acts as an umbrella organization and partners with about 80 organizations, such as Thunder Bay 55+ Centre, St. Joseph’s Care Group, Red Cross, Nurse Next Door, Wesway, and TBDHU. This pillar is about leveraging existing expertise, avoiding duplication, and coordinating efforts across the community to improve seniors’ quality of life and use their expertise to find new ways to support seniors in our community.
The fourth pillar, communication, is one of Age Friendly’s biggest challenges. Not all seniors use computers, and many are living alone. At the same time, government policies are encouraging seniors to stay in their homes longer – so staying connected is more important than ever. “We’re constantly working to bridge these gaps and make sure no one is left out or left behind,” Ami says. To do this a quarterly newsletter filled with helpful tips, insights and upcoming events is produced and distributed in as many ways as possible.
For information or if you’re interested in volunteering with Age Friendly Thunder Bay, you can contact them at 807-633-7723 or go to their website, ww.agefriendlythunderbay.ca
