WHAT IS THE COUNCIL
ON AGING?
The Frontenac-Kingston Council on Aging (COA) is a registered charity
whose mission is to improve the quality of life of seniors in the
City of Kingston and the surrounding Townships of Frontenac County
and to increase awareness surrounding elder abuse. We develop community
initiatives in response to these concerns. We focus on the issues
affecting individual seniors and systemic problems, which affect
seniors in general.
Our Mission
The Council on Aging is a non-profit
volunteer organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life
of all seniors in the Townships of North, Central, and South Frontenac,
the Frontenac Islands and the City of Kingston. The Council works
with and for seniors in the community to:
- participate in planning and coordination of services for seniors;
- undertake research and develop programs to address issues of
concern to seniors and arising from the aging of our community;
- disseminate information on issues of concern to seniors;
- educate the general public about issues surrounding our aging
population; and
- support and encourage seniors to voice issues and concerns to
all levels of government and to the general public.
A Brief History
The concept arose in 1989 at a meeting of representatives of the Kingston
Senior Citizens Council, Rideaucrest Home for the Aged, Kingston Parks
and Recreation and Kingston Social Services. It was apparent that
there was a need for a co-coordinating body to deal specifically with
seniors’ issues that would give seniors a voice in the community.
Over the next few years the concept of such a body was developed until
1991 when the Frontenac-Kingston Council on Aging was established.
Health Canada, the Ministry of Community and Social Services and
the City of Kingston first funded the COA. In 1994 the Council received
another New Horizons grant from Health Canada to fund a 2-year study
into information and awareness of older adults in Frontenac County.
Affiliations:
We are affiliated with The Canadian Association for Retired People
(CARP) and The Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizens’ Organization
(OCSCO). We hold membership in the Ontario, Canadian and International
Networks for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.
What We Do:
We consult and network co-operatively with other organizations
in order to help seniors and their caregivers. We organize studies,
lead workshops and make presentations on issues such as elder abuse,
safe and secure aging and accessibility to health care.
Through our Peer Support volunteers, we provide support and information
for those seniors whose financial, emotional and/or physical safety
may be compromised.
We research topics of concern to seniors and prepare informative
reports and presentations to seniors, their families, future seniors,
businesses, caregivers, service providers, policy makers and organizations.
We produce and distribute a wide range of educational materials
about aging and seniors issues. We collect information and resources
and make them available to members of our community.
Our Activities:
SELF-ADVOCACY:
The Council encourages seniors to take an active role in finding
solutions to their needs or voicing their concerns. We have a committed
network of seniors and professionals who are trained to talk with
individuals or groups to help resolve a variety of significant issues
and difficult situations. (Note: All information is treated confidentially).
Visit our Advocacy Page.
ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION / INTERVENTION:
The Council, through its standing committee, Elder Abuse Prevention
Services (EAPS) will provide support to seniors, caregivers and
service providers to help when a senior is at risk of abuse or abuse
has already commenced. Our newly trained Peer Support volunteers
will inform a senior of his/her rights and offer information to
allow the senior to make informed choices. The Elder Abuse Consultation
Network (consisting of sixteen professionals from the community)
is available to confer on difficult to resolve cases and provide
creative options for prevention and intervention. Confidentiality
is maintained.
INFORMATION / EDUCATION / CONSULTATION / REFERRALS:
Informational and educational services offered by COA include:
§ Speakers Bureau – members of the COA, volunteers with
EAPS are available to speak on a variety of topics
§ Shining Lights Luncheon Series – timely and topical
subjects addressed by informed professionals
§ Facilitation of staff training, workshops, discussion groups
on issues of concern and relevance to our aging population
§ Library resources available for research and information
§ Referral services – we make referrals to other agencies
and receive referrals from them in order to ensure that our clients
receive the best support available for their problems
PLANNING / RESEARCH:
The COA staff, volunteers and members pride themselves on staying
abreast of new and ongoing issues associated with aging and sharing
this knowledge with the public at large. We are dedicated to keeping
seniors’ concerns in the public eye and learning about new
initiatives being taken locally, nationally and internationally.
We do research and make presentations to governments on issues of
concern to seniors.
ANNUAL
EVENTS
Every June, for Seniors Month, the COA puts the Seniors Shine insert
in the Kingston Whig-Standard. We provide information, resources
and topical articles of interest to seniors and their caregivers
as well as a directory of telephone numbers of services for seniors.
CONTACT COA:
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