Aging in place
Providing support for our seniors
Toronto Community Housing manages most of the subsidized units available to seniors in the City of Toronto. About one in four tenants living in Toronto Community Housing is 59 years of age or older, which is what we consider a senior.
The number of senior residents in Toronto will increase dramatically over the next decade, especially those who need subsidized housing. Part of our role is to provide safe, healthy environments for seniors in every community, and connect them to services that will improve their quality of life and help them stay housed.
Throughout 2021, the TCHC Seniors Housing Unit (SHU) focused on implementing and managing phases of the new Integrated Service Model (ISM) for seniors housing. The ISM has new ways of supporting senior tenants so they can age in place with dignity and in comfort. This includes improving the delivery of housing services, increasing access to health and community support services, and hiring more staff to support enhanced tenant needs and build relationships of trust.
Integrated Service Model
- In September, Phase 2 of the ISM launched in all 26 buildings in the North West Region of the Seniors Housing Unit, along with an additional eight buildings in the South East Region. With the Phase 2 launch, the ISM was being implemented in 52 of the 83 Seniors Housing Unit buildings.
- Two new staffing roles, the Seniors Services Coordinator and the Tenant Services Administrator, were created and hired for all Phase 1 and Phase 2 buildings.
- The ISM saw a net increase of 47 staffing resources across the Seniors Housing Unit.
- Two seniors-specific online staff training modules, Mental Health Education and Understanding Dementia, were developed and launched.
- Thirteen procedures have been or are in the process of being updated or drafted to be more seniors-specific, five of which are new.
- The City has engaged a non-profit partner to conduct further tenant consultations on the Seniors Health and Wellness Hubs model in Q1-Q2 2022. Next steps for Seniors Hubs planning will follow the report and recommendations.
Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation
In May 2021, Toronto City Council directed the creation of Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC).
The City of Toronto, TCHC, and the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation are implementing a seamless transition plan to transfer responsibility for operating TCHC’s 83 seniors-designated buildings to the new corporation on June 1, 2022. TSHC will focus on meeting the needs of 15,000 senior tenants through the ISM, currently being implemented at TCHC.
Other highlights
First- and second-dose COVID-19 vaccination clinics were held in all 83 SHU buildings. This major collaborative effort spanned seven months and involved TCHC staff working with Toronto Public Health, regional health providers, and social support partners and volunteer agencies. Third-dose clinics started in October and we expect to be wrapped in February 2022.
Toronto Community Housing manages most of the subsidized units available to seniors in the City of Toronto. About one in four tenants living in Toronto Community Housing is 59 years of age or older, which is what we consider a senior.
The number of senior residents in Toronto will increase dramatically over the next decade, especially those who need subsidized housing. Part of our role is to provide safe, healthy environments for seniors in every community, and connect them to services that will improve their quality of life and help them stay housed.
Throughout 2021, the TCHC Seniors Housing Unit (SHU) focused on implementing and managing phases of the new Integrated Service Model (ISM) for seniors housing. The ISM has new ways of supporting senior tenants so they can age in place with dignity and in comfort. This includes improving the delivery of housing services, increasing access to health and community support services, and hiring more staff to support enhanced tenant needs and build relationships of trust.
Integrated Service Model
- In September, Phase 2 of the ISM launched in all 26 buildings in the North West Region of the Seniors Housing Unit, along with an additional eight buildings in the South East Region. With the Phase 2 launch, the ISM was being implemented in 52 of the 83 Seniors Housing Unit buildings.
- Two new staffing roles, the Seniors Services Coordinator and the Tenant Services Administrator, were created and hired for all Phase 1 and Phase 2 buildings.
- The ISM saw a net increase of 47 staffing resources across the Seniors Housing Unit.
- Two seniors-specific online staff training modules, Mental Health Education and Understanding Dementia, were developed and launched.
- Thirteen procedures have been or are in the process of being updated or drafted to be more seniors-specific, five of which are new.
- The City has engaged a non-profit partner to conduct further tenant consultations on the Seniors Health and Wellness Hubs model in Q1-Q2 2022. Next steps for Seniors Hubs planning will follow the report and recommendations.
Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation
In May 2021, Toronto City Council directed the creation of Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC).
The City of Toronto, TCHC, and the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation are implementing a seamless transition plan to transfer responsibility for operating TCHC’s 83 seniors-designated buildings to the new corporation on June 1, 2022. TSHC will focus on meeting the needs of 15,000 senior tenants through the ISM, currently being implemented at TCHC.
Other highlights
First- and second-dose COVID-19 vaccination clinics were held in all 83 SHU buildings. This major collaborative effort spanned seven months and involved TCHC staff working with Toronto Public Health, regional health providers, and social support partners and volunteer agencies. Third-dose clinics started in October and we expect to be wrapped in February 2022.
Built with Shorthand