Ageing Well in Sutherland Shire

1. Ageing Well in Sutherland Shire

2. Ageing Well in Sutherland Shire That Council prepare a concise but comprehensive strategy to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by Sutherland Shire’s ageing population via the process outlined in this minute.

3. Methodology • Review existing work • Census data • Ageing Strategies of other councils, State Plan, interstate work • Review plans, policies of State and Federal Government Departments • Internal working party • Focus sessions • Communications/consultation plan • Responses to issues papers • SSC Older persons Housing Survey

4. Discussion Papers on: • Housing • Getting Around • Care and Support • Being involved • Staying Healthy

5. Communicationand Marketing • We developed the Our Shire insert • Mayoral column • Media release • Bookmark to direct people to the web • Notepads • Banners • Stand alone banners • Developed a photo library • Revamped website with fact sheets, FAQ’s and even a poem • Information for library, SEC and leisure centre screens • Selected 6 Ambassadors

6. Housing – the answers • What is the most favourable housing mix for the Sutherland Shire?

7. Housing – the answers • Increase building heights and densities in centres generally. • Increase building heights and densities for aged persons housing in centres • Provide incentives for villa developments • Examine dual occupancy dwellings as a viable cost effective form of aged housing

8. Housing – the answers • Work with the real estate industry to market adaptable housing • Set targets for nursing home and hostel accommodation • Lobby other spheres of government to provide nursing home and hostel beds

9. Housing – the answers • Explore the use of car parks and other assets to facilitate the increased supply of aged housing eg Hay Ave, Caringbah • Increase the % of all adaptable housing from 20% to 30% • Adaptable housing to be listed on title for continuity

10. Housing – the answers What you can do: • Plan well in advance to downsize • Begin to plan for a low maintenance garden • Consider purchasing an accessible property or home, villa or unit • Consider access to services and facilities

11. Housing – the answers What you can do: • Become informed of your rights under tenancy laws before you move to new arrangements • Get legal advice about new housing arrangements • Find an advocate for support if in housing with collective decision making (i.e. strata meetings

12. Care and Support – the answers • Ageing well is about remaining in control of your life • Support services should empower • 17% of those 65 and over have a caring responsibility

13. Care and Support – the answers • Most people who require care assistance receive it from their partner or spouse • Nursing home entry due to onset of dementia or personal care issues

14. Care and Support – the answers Dr Hans Becker: Founder Apartments for Life Denmark. “too much care is worse than too little care, and do not take care of people, but take care that they take care of themselves”

15. Care and Support – the answers • There may be a waiting list for some government subsidised services • Access services before a crisis is reached

16. Care and Support – the answers • What will council do? • Promote volunteering • Lobby for increased funding for home andcommunity care services • Plan to co-locate services and facilities • Provide community services staff for referral • Communicate the availability of seniors • services

17. Care and Support – the answers What you can do: • Talk to your GP • Accept some services, remain independent in others • Ask for or download a Senior’s Service Directory from Council’s website • Find your local Neighbour Aid Centre • Make yourself aware of the subsidies that you are entitled to • Know your neighbour’s contact number for emergencies

18. Getting Around – the answers • Transport is an enabler • A bigger role for council • Supporting infrastructure

19. Getting Around – the answers • Changes to driver’s licence laws • Pedestrian friendly Shire • New forms of transport such as motorisedscooters – a pedestrian device

20. Getting Around – the answers • What will council do? • Continue to spend $1million per year on new and improved footpaths • Manage footpaths to minimise trip hazards • Continue to improve physical access • Upgrade curb ramps in prioritised areas • Continue to develop non-slip pavements and surfaces

21. Getting Around – the answers • Scooter parking, • shared pathways, • ramps, • width & condition of paths • Scooters inside facilities • Width of doorways and corridors

22. Getting Around – the answers • Drop off and wait zones • Sitting areas • Disabled parking at medical centres • Access to public transport within a walkable distance (400m from residence)

23. Getting Around – the answers • Community transport services • Group transport to libraries and leisure centres

24. Getting Around – the answers • Map access routes • Lobby Telstra to co-operate with the location of pits near ramps • Keep a watching brief on mobility scooter parking • Provide additional disabled parking spaces near medical facilities

25. Getting Around – the answers • Provide wide footpaths in major centres, near nursing homes & hostels • Provide drop off zones and waiting zones at medical facilities, council facilities including seating • Lobby State and Federal governments for increased funding for community transport services

26. Getting Around – the answers • Lobby the state government for increased public transport in the Shire • Consult older people when formulating transport policy

27. Getting Around – the answers What you can do: • Know about your driving eligibility • Report damaged footpaths to council to minimise falls • Taxis • Be informed before you buy a scooter • Plan ahead with trips to get out and about

28. Getting Around – the answers What you can do: • Contact Community Transport to enquire about escorts to and from appointments • Ask a friend, neighbour or family • Find out about subsidies and off-peak fares • Apply for disabled parking permits through your doctor if you need it

29. Being Involved – the answers • Social isolation of older people • A focus on financial planning – not ‘life planning’ • Staying in the workforce • Further education • New leisure opportunities • Volunteering

30. Being Involved – the answers • What will council do? • Provide affordable recreation and leisure opportunities, with seniors discounts for: • Rates • Golf • Leisure centres • Hall hire • Micro-chipping dogs

31. Being Involved – the answers • Provide cultural activities and events • Senior’s Week • Hazelhurst • Sutherland Entertainment Centre

32. Being Involved – the answers • Provide and promote volunteering in: • Bushcare • The animal shelter • Hazelhurst • Cultural events • Management of tennis and other sporting facilities • Older People’s Advisory committee • Kurnell Historic Drive Care Program

33. Being Involved – the answers • Publicise ‘Volunteer Link’ • Encourage ‘life planning’ • Provide opportunities for older people to contribute to decision-making • Encourage local businesses to respond to the economic opportunities created by an ageing population

34. Being Involved – the answers • Provide information on succession planning • Implement our workforce sustainability plan • Adopt available technologies in library services • Employ a community Liaison Librarian to introduce programs for older people

35. Being Involved – the answers • Work with community transport providers to transport older people to branch libraries • Work with retirement villages and residential care facilities to bring groups of residents to branch libraries

36. Being Involved – the answers • Provide motor scooter parking at libraries • Plan for scooter access when redeveloping libraries • Refurbish and upgrade seniors centres and community halls • Facilitate broad community use in leases for sports clubs and other building • Ensure that seniors centres are accessible and utilised by a range of clubs and groups • Rename facilities to make them all-age friendly

37. Being Involved – the answers • Provide reliable information through various methods including: • Senior’s Directory • Directory of Retirement homes and aged care facilities • Council’s website with an ‘Ageing Well in Sutherland Shire’ page and associated information

38. Being involved – the answers What you can do: • Discuss finances • Develop a ‘life plan’ • Become a volunteer • Investigate flexible work arrangements such as part-time work • Consider owning a pet

39. Staying Healthy – the answers What will council do? • Increase planning and partnerships with govt departments • Liaise with the Division of General Practitioners to discuss older peoples services for those over 75

40. Staying Healthy – the answers • Partner with Division of GPs to promote active ageing activities • Develop new services and programs for an ageing community at leisure centres, golf courses, etc • Plan for multi-use of edges of reserves, playing fields and parks (eg walking tracks, rehabilitation activities)

41. Staying Healthy – the answers • Provide the option of a second bin for residents with on-going medical conditions (including incontinence and renal failure) • Raise the issue of the cost of extra bins due to medical conditions with peak local government bodies and other levels of government

42. Staying Healthy - the answers • Develop some key parks with seating for large groups to accommodate group outings • Develop more passive rehabilitation facilities in parks • Provide health related information at libraries • Work to get more GPs to the Shire

43. Staying Healthy - the answers • Investigate planning requirements for small medical practices in residential areas • Lobby for more dental and podiatry services

44. Staying Healthy – the answers What you can do: • Build a relationship with your GP by having regular checkups (even if you are a bloke!) • 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily • Walk for pleasure, exercise and transport • Get help to stop smoking • Eat a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables • Limit your alcohol intake to the recommended range • Check medications and always tell your doctor about all medications you are taking

45. Staying Healthy – the answers What you can do: • Keep your mind active use services and facilities provided by Council • Maintain social networks and volunteer • Go to information sessions • Be security conscious around home • Be aware of possible consumer fraud, if in doubt seek another opinion • Overcome fears of crime, and get out and about, even at night

46. Where to from here? • Launch was held during Seniors’ Week • Implementation already started • Minister for Ageing and peak organisations advised of the strategy • Local residents advised • Local organisations to be contacted over coming weeks • Staff and managers advised • Ongoing reporting and monitoring