We all know healthy food is best, but not everyone can easily access it. So, in partnership with Toronto Community Housing and FoodShare, the City of Toronto has a plan in place to offer healthy food for seniors access initiatives that are accessible to seniors living in social housing. Community Gardens Toronto Community gardens include fruit and vegetable gardens, established with partners from the local community. An additional component of the community gardens is their connection with gleaning programs which involve collecting leftover crops from farmers, processors or retailers. Additional recommendations of the project include establishing partnerships with local agencies to support community gardens and to increase the rate of garden development across the city. Healthy Food For Seniors – The Good Food Box Run byFoodShare, this program provides nutritious food to communities including seniors in social housing. Twice monthly, volunteers pack the boxes, and deliver them to neighbourhoods in Toronto with 10 or more participants. Volunteer coordinators collect funding beforehand, place the orders directly from farmers and ensure everyone receives their boxes. Healthy Food For Seniors – Good Food MarketsFoodShare works with community organizations to set up special, inexpensive farmers market alternatives by setting up one initial stall, attracting farmers to join the affair.  Targeting traditionally under-served Toronto communities, conventional food stores increase their opportunities to purchase fresh and affordable food. Food For Good Mood. These healthy food for seniors initiatives have several goals; including improving access to affordable healthy food for seniors in social housing, promoting healthy eating, encouraging sustainable agriculture, promoting community development and community building through social interaction, networking, volunteerism, education and celebration. Toronto Community Housing promises to continue their work with the City of Toronto to identify opportunities and develop community food initiatives.  To find out more, contact FoodShare at 416-363-6441 or email info@foodshare.net

Exercising is extremely beneficial to your health but having access to appropriate equipment can sometimes be a challenge. For this reason, The City of Toronto is promising it will consider senior-friendly outdoor fitness facilities and equipment when designing and refurbishing outdoor parks.  Appropriate seating is another very important aspect for seniors who tire more easily and need places to rest. Modern benches come in all shapes and sizes but sometimes a traditional bench, that’s not too low and provides both back support and armrests, is truly what’s needed. As a result, one of the actions of the 2013 strategy was installing 500 benches, with a focus on parks in areas frequented by seniors. Seniors are at a greater risk of dehydration, and sensitivity to light increases with age so the glare of sunlight on shiny surfaces is often uncomfortable when spending time outside. The shelter and shade of trees address both issues, which is why an increase of tree cover is also part of the development plan for urban parks. Toronto seniors’ access to healthy food Outdoor Fitness Facilities – What are the benefits? Parks aren’t simply a place with trees, grass and equipment; they offer us many other advantages. Social isolation is another well-known issue for seniors, but these parks represent us with an opportunity to connect with neighbours by supporting and facilitating social interaction. Toronto offers outdoor exercise stations in five locations and will continue to implement the new considerations in future, to make it easier for us to enjoy facilities like the outdoor elliptical machines and other exercise apparatus. The City Council adopted the strategy to facilitate development in 2013 and by 2016, 99 percent of the recommendations have already been implemented. If you’d like more information on the locations of outdoor exercise parks, you can find them by clicking here.

As a senior living in Ontario, you are likely to seldom grow bored. Ontario is now supporting programs at more than 300 Seniors Active Living Centres across the province. The Ministry of Seniors Affairs has promised us they are committed to promoting age-friendly community-hub development, with programs acknowledging the contribution seniors make, helping keep you healthy and engaged by providing you with a range of social, recreational and wellness programs, as well as educational and support services. Read more about Seniors Active Living services in Toronto. What does this mean for you? Centres offer you a range of activities customized to the unique interests and needs of the community you are from, such as fitness classes, healthy lifestyle and wellness classes, social engagement, as well as learning opportunities like financial-management. Fun Facts These programs aim at ultimately providing you with opportunities for active and healthy living, social engagement and the chance to learn new things which may interest you. Impressive housing benefits for Toronto seniors

Looking for new opportunities to learn, have fun or meet new people? These days, seniors are living longer and more actively than they ever have before, with many remaining independent at home and in their communities, thanks to community engagement initiatives. Opportunities for seniors Ontario’s Seniors Community Grant Program has said it will be extending and enhancing its support to larger projects that will benefit more seniors in the long run. The program has, since being formed, funded over 1,300 projects in hundreds of communities that have helped more than 435,000 seniors to learn, volunteer and be socially involved in their communities. Read Impressive housing benefits for Toronto seniors. Engaging through the arts Did you know, engagement with the arts is known to reduce isolation, promote self-confidence and build a sense of community? Participating in arts activities and art therapy has proven to benefit both physical and mental illnesses associated with aging. The government has said it will create a fund to support art enrichment for seniors in community settings such Active Living Centres, retirement homes, hospitals, and long-term care homes, as well as the capacity for seniors to engage in arts organizations in their communities. Help with technology The Change the World program of Ontario is launching a special project that will link youth volunteers with seniors to help build their understanding and enable their use of technology, which in turn will help reduce social isolation. Social connectedness is vital to seniors’ health and well-being. Those with close connections and relationships tend to cope better with health conditions and experience fewer mental health issues than those without. Click here  to can find details on social activities and community engagement initiatives.