Posted by: SWOOS
OSCA Senior Watch Old Ottawa South (SWOOS)
Objectives & Strategies May 2020 – 2021
Old Ottawa South is a great community for young and old. SWOOS endeavours to enhance the quality of life for and with our senior residents in terms of:
- (Winter) Walkability
1. Monitor and inform our residents about our winter walking conditions by means of organising and facilitating yearly SNOW MOLE audits in conjunction with the Council On Aging, writing articles dealing with (winter) walkability, engaging volunteers.
2. Advocate for adequate snow removal, salting/gritting of our sidewalks, paths and crossovers by means of a yearly report to be shared with our councillor and presented to the Transportation Committee.
3. Identify problems and improvements in our local public transportation services by means of monitoring, reporting and advocating.
4. Continue efforts to develop a Winter Walkability App by means of sourcing technical expertise, funding and volunteers.
5. Continue support for efforts to improve accessibility(e.g. “Stop Gaps”), to increase the number of benches (either side of Bank Street, parks), to identify washroom availability to the public by means of articles, notices on OSCA’s social media, (informal) lobbying
- (Intergenerational) Social Connections
1. Initiate, support and promote opportunities for (Intergenerational) Social Interactions:
by means of maintaining the swoos2018@gmail.com representation on the Community Pillars committee, writing articles and promoting streetparties, potlucks, the City’s Intergenerational Day and initiating community activities.
2. Interact with Carleton U students and staff by means of engaging in meetings that focus on efforts to enhance the quality of life for seniors
3. Increase “Chat Benches” in our community
- (Intergenerational) Housing
Mobilise efforts to enhance “Aging In Place” by means of researching, dialoguing (“Housing Needs Survey) and lobbying for desirable housing options in Old Ottawa South, distributing information such as “Housing Options in Ottawa”
- Health and Quality of Life
1. Promote and support exercise classes suitable and affordable for seniors by means of articles in the OSCAR and on social media
2. Search for a volunteer who can take on a health file to lobby for more local health services in Old Ottawa South
Budget 2020 – 2021: $455.23 (this includes tax)
SWOOS foresees expense in the following categories:
Printing, drinks, snacks, giftcards, parking at City Hall
Staff time – 22.50 hrs. (3 days)
SWOOS foresees needing staff time in the following categories:
room preparation, meetings, administrative and technical support