Empowering Orillia: An Age-Friendly Revolution | Valerie Powell

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In this episode, I sit down with Valerie Powell, an advocate for age-friendly communities and co-chair of Age Friendly Orillia. We dive into the formation of this organization, a grassroots initiative aimed at addressing the needs of older adults in Orillia and area.

Valerie discusses the eight domains of age-friendliness as defined by the World Health Organization and highlights the importance of combating social isolation, especially in the wake of the pandemic. She offers practical advice for older adults feeling isolated and emphasizes community engagement through programs like homesharing and Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs).

Listeners will also learn about the upcoming Aging Well Expo on October 16 at Lakehead University. This free event will feature informative booths, engaging speakers, and workshops focused on promoting healthy aging.

Join us for an insightful discussion on how we can all contribute to making our communities more inclusive and supportive for older adults.

Guest Links

Website: agefriendlyorillia.ca
Facebook: @AFOrillia

Resources Mentioned

World Health Organization – Age Friendly Environments
Alzheimer’s Society
Homeshare Program
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs)
Seniors at Play Program
Aging Well Expo at Lakehead University