Coming of Age: Meeting the needs of our aging population Ontario Long Term Care Association

How do we build a better future for seniors? Elderly populations around the world are growing. And in regions like Ontario, Canada, one in five seniors over the age of 80 have complex care needs that currently can only be safely met in long-term care. Yet Ontario has more than 40,000 people waiting for long-term care and the list is growing.

In this episode, Donna Duncan is joined by three Ontario health system leaders from hospital, long-term care and community care:
Karli Farrow, President and CEO, Trillium Health PartnersNitin Jain, President and CEO, Sienna Senior LivingTess Romain, President, Partners Community Health
Listen as they discuss the challenges facing leaders today and what opportunities they see for the future.

Resources:
How to support our frail elderly, a Suggested Action Plan, by leaders across the health sectors in Ontario, who have identified existing solutions that can be expanded to support seniors’ care for our growing, elderly population.Harvard Business Review: Create Stories That Change Your Company’s Culture, Work with these six building blocks. by Jay B. Barney, Manoel Amorim, and Carlos JúlioRead about Kamaljit’s dream to see Michael Bublé in concert by Sienna Senior Living
This episode was generously sponsored by our Sector Champion, Plan A Powered by StaffStat.

How can communities help more seniors to age in place? Canada’s urban areas are home to a large number of older adults, and more are choosing to live in apartment and condo buildings than ever before.

In this episode, Donna Duncan is joined by a researcher and innovator on naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) in urban centres:
Jen Recknagel, Senior Design Lead and Director of Innovation and Design, NORC Innovation CentrePaula Rochon, Founding Director of Women’s Age Lab at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto and Professor of Medicine and the Ontario Chair for the Retired Teachers in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Toronto
Listen as they explore the evolving world of NORCs and how they could make it possible for more seniors to sustain independence longer.
Resources:
NORC Innovation Centre at the University Health NetworkOpenLab, a design and innovation studio dedicated to finding creative solutions at the intersection of health and society.Article: What works best to support older adults to age in place? by Women’s College HospitalSurvey: Getting ready for the aging Baby Boom generation by the Ontario Long Term Care Association
This episode was generously sponsored by our Sector Champion, Arjo.

How can jurisdictions work across sectors to ensure a better future for all of us as we age? Aging well is multifaceted and requires collaboration to develop and implement innovative and aligned solutions – such as local infrastructure, transportation, housing, health care and social services, education and more.

In this episode, Donna Duncan is joined by two U.S. experts on aging services and multi-sector planning. Listen as they explore how states in the U.S. and their governments are leveraging master plans on aging that bring everyone to the table – local infrastructure, housing, health and social services, education and more – to align initiatives and improve services for older adults and their caregivers.

Episode guests:
Katie Smith Sloan, aging services’ expert, President and CEO of Leading Age in the U.S. and Executive Director of the Global Ageing NetworkSarita Mohanty, a partner and strategist for California’s multi-sector aging plan and President and CEO of The SCAN Foundation
Resources:
The SCAN Foundation resources for aging wellCalifornia’s Master Plan for AgingHow to support our frail elderly, a Suggested Action Plan, by leaders across the health sectors in Ontario, who have identified existing solutions that can be expanded to support seniors’ care for our growing, elderly population.
This episode was generously sponsored by our Sector Champion, Arjo.

Are Baby Boomers preparing for their future healthcare needs? In four years, the oldest of the Baby Boom generation will turn 80. By 2040, the population over 80 will double and we know their complex care needs will grow. Until recently however, one of the missing pieces of information in conversations about future seniors’ care planning was how the Baby Boom generation is preparing for potential challenges as they age.

In this episode, Donna Duncan is joined by David Coletto, Chairman and CEO of one of Canada’s leading polling and public opinion research firms: Abacus Data. With a career spanning over two decades, David has devoted his life to exploring what people think and feel about their work and lives.

In May of 2023, the Ontario Long Term Care Association commissioned Abacus Data to survey 1,000 Ontario residents aged 68 to 76 to help with our planning for the future. Listen as we explore what we learned and the implications for Boomers, governments, and seniors’ care providers.

Resources:
·       Getting ready for the aging Baby Boom generation: a survey
·       Abacus Data market and public opinion research agency

Thanks for listening to Season 3! Join us next week for a new episode. Subscribe to Coming of Age to catch each new episode as soon as it’s released.

This episode was generously sponsored by our Sector Champion, PointClickCare.

What does it take to become an accredited nurse in Canada? In a world where healthcare professionals are in high demand, nations are turning to internationally educated nurses to bridge the gap.

In this episode, Donna Duncan invites two internationally educated nurses onto the podcast to share their journey from the Philippines to working in a long-term care home in northern Ontario, Canada.

Episode guests:
·       Mc Leonarld Puno, Registered Practical Nurse, Extendicare Maple View, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and nursing student, Sault College
·   Nanette Garcia, Registered Practical Nurse, Extendicare Maple View, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Resources:
·       Ontario College of Nurses, How to become a nurse in Ontario
·       Services for Internationally Educated Health Professionals
·       Healthforce Ontario’s Community Commitment Program for Nurses which provides grant funding to attract nurses to work in Ontario, Canada

Thanks for listening to Season 3! Join us next week for a new episode. Subscribe to Coming of Age to catch each new episode as soon as it’s released.

This episode was generously sponsored by our Sector Champion, Plan A Powered by StaffStat.

With an ever-changing demographic landscape, how do we provide care that can be tailored to individual, cultural needs? Also, with an increasing reliance on newcomers to Canada within the caregiving workforce, how do we ensure we are creating inclusive and welcoming work environments? These questions are top of mind with leaders and care providers today – not only in Canada, but around the world.

In this episode, Donna Duncan is joined by two leaders in long-term care in Ontario, Canada that operate in culturally diverse communities.
·   Adil Khalfan, President and CEO of Kensington Health that is based in downtown Toronto and offers community-based specialized healthcare services.
·   Dr. San Ng, CEO of Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, Canada’s largest not-for-profit senior care organization delivering culturally appropriate services to Chinese and other Asian seniors.

Together, they explore cultural proficiency and safety in long-term care homes and the opportunities that are unfolding.

Resources:
·      An introduction to culturally appropriate care and equity, diversity and inclusion by the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care
·       Embracing diversity toolkit developed by the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI)

Thanks for listening to Season 3! Join us next week for a new episode. Subscribe to Coming of Age to catch each new episode as soon as it’s released.

This episode was generously sponsored by our Sector Champion, ARJO.