Call the Seniors Information Phone Line to Find Supports and Services in your Community

One number to call

The Seniors Information Phone Line will connect you to programs, services and resources in the Edmonton area from one central phone service. Next time you have a question about supports for seniors, dial 2-1-1 and press 2 to reach the Seniors Information Phone Line.

How does the Seniors Information Phone Line work?

When you call 211, the Community Resource Specialists at 211 Edmonton will answer your questions and provide information on programs, services and resources in the community. If you need more support, your call will be transferred to an outreach worker at one of several senior service agencies in Edmonton which have agreed to perform a more detailed assessment.

Web-based help

For those who prefer web, 211 Alberta offers an online database outlining senior-specific information and a live chat service.

Visit 211 webpage

Reports

211 Alberta – Edmonton and Area Seniors Information Phone Line 2020 Annual Report (211 Alberta, 2020)

Age Friendly Edmonton

Age Friendly Edmonton

Age Friendly Edmonton - The First Five Years Report to the Community (2018)

Advancing Age Friendly Edmonton: What We Heard (September 2017)

Aging Better Together: Storybook highlighting how Age Friendly Edmonton work is improving life for Edmonton seniors

Age Friendly Edmonton leaflets featuring funding for innovative community projects, intergenerational programming resources and home supports initiatives

Vision for an Age-Friendly Edmonton Action Plan (2011)

General age-friendly resources

Global Report on Ageism 

Global Report on Ageism (World Health Organization, 2021)

Checklist of Essential Features of Age-Friendly Cities (World Health Organization)

Age Friendly Communities Evaluation Guide: Using Indicators to Measure Progress (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2016)

Age-Friendly Communities  (presentation by Public Health Agency of Canada)

Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide (World Health Organization, 2007)

World Health Organization's Age Friendly Information

An information resource on conducting quality community arts programs for older adults

The Arts and Aging Toolkit - Edmonton Edition celebrates older adults’ creative potential and seeks to benefit their overall health. By participating in professionally run community arts programs, older adults achieve a sense of mastery and are social engaged in a way that values their artistic abilities, past experiences, and knowledge.

Participating in quality community arts programs enhance older adults’ quality of life and has research-affirmed health benefits. In a 2001 study by Dr. Gene Cohen, participants in community arts programs reported a higher overall health rating, fewer doctor visits, less medication use, and less instance of falls.

Components of the toolkit include

Effective Practices

Program Design

Resources

Grants and Funding

Program Profiles

A project of the Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council

The Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council (ESCC) takes the lead in bringing stakeholders together to plan for improvement to senior services.  We support and encourage shared planning, coordination, and collaboration among senior-serving organizations in Edmonton, and we facilitate joint planning to enhance the capacity of organizations to provide effective, accessible services to meet the diverse needs of seniors.


The ESCC recognizes the research-affirmed benefits of arts participation for seniors. Seniors' engagement with the arts has been shown to benefit mental and physical well-being, quality of life, and connections with community. To support and promote the benefits of year-round participation in the arts, the ESCC has developed the Arts and Aging Toolkit - Edmonton Edition.

Caregiver readiness resources including a video, Care Conversations, Care Options, Balancing Work and Caregiving and Helping Employees Balance Work and Caregiving Responsibilities (Forum of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors, 2016)

Caregivers Alberta provides group and one-on-one supports that help caregivers connect with others, navigate the system and look after themselves while providing care

ElderCare Edmonton provides community–based day programming for seniors in Edmonton

Alzheimer’s Society provides information, resources, education, support and counselling

The Carers Canada website contains caregiver resources

• Assessing Readiness for Community Engaged Evaluation, (Tamarack Institute, 2020)
  

COVID-19 Reports

Coordinated Pandemic Response for Edmonton Senior Serving Community (Edmonton Coordinated Pandemic Response Group, 2020)

Pandemic Resources for Low Income Seniors

The Edmonton Coordinated Pandemic Response Group compiled resources for seniors:

Resources for Low to Moderate Income Seniors During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Edmonton Coordinated Pandemic Response Group, 2020)

Leaving Home & Staying Safe Balancing Risks & Mental Health (Edmonton Coordinated Pandemic Response Group, 2020)

More COVID-19 resources

The Older Adults Needs Assessment undertaken by the City of Edmonton and Age Friendly Edmonton focuses on issues specific to the needs of older adults in Edmonton, including participation in activities, volunteering, technology use, intergenerational connectedness, social isolation and loneliness, safety and financial security, aging-in-place, and ageism.

Older Adults Needs Assessment Highlight Report and Final Report (2016)

Older Adults Needs Assessment Highlight Report and Final Report (2019)

Data from the 2016 Canadian census focusing on seniors

Atlas of the Aging Population of Canada (The Geographies of Aging Projects Lab at Queen’s University)

Ageing in Cities Policy Highlights Brief and Book (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, April 2015)

Edmonton Municipal Census data

United States of Aging Survey (National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), the National Council on Aging and UnitedHealthcare, 2015)

A Portrait of Seniors In Canada (Statistics Canada, 2006)

Canada’s Aging Population: The Municipal Role in Canada’s Demographic Shift (Federation of Canadian Municipalities, 2013)

Senior Serving Organizations: A Toolkit for Inclusion (City of Edmonton, 2016)

Senior Serving Organizations: A Guide to Planning Inclusive Meetings & Events (City of Edmonton, 2016)

Ambassador Program Curriculum and Facilitators Guide (City of Edmonton, 2016)

Immigrant, Refugee and Newcomer Seniors

Age of Wisdom Collective Initiative: Backgrounder

Age of Wisdom Collective Initiative: Knowledge Mobilizing Tool

The Age of Wisdom: Giving Voice to Edmonton's Immigrant Seniors and Identifying Their Needs - summary report and full report (2015)

Mobilizing for Action Report 2008 (Creating Culturally Responsive Pathways for Isolated Immigrant Seniors)

Tips for Developing Programs and Services that Engage Immigrant and Refugee Seniors (ESCC, 2015)

LGBTQ Seniors

The Pride Centre of Edmonton provides supports that respond to the needs of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. The centre provides an array of senior-specific services, including a Pride Seniors Coffee and Chat meetup every Thursday from 1 until 3 p.m. and a Mentorship/Caregivers program.

Aging with Pride Phone Support Group (Seniors' Centre Without Walls and Edmonton Pride Seniors Group)

Edmonton Pride Seniors Group

Edmonton Seniors Centre LGBTQ Support Group

Aging with Pride: A Guide to Creating Inclusive Services for LGBTQ2S+ Older Adults will help organizations and businesses create a more welcoming environment for all seniors, including those who identify as LGBTQ2S+. (Government of Alberta, 2020)

Videos of speeches at the LGBTTQ Older Adults Symposium held in Edmonton February 24, 2015

• Dr. Tim Johnston, Manager of Education and Training, Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) in New York
• Summary/analysis of the LGBTTQ Older Adults in Edmonton survey

LGBTQ2S+ Reports

Into the Closet – A Needs Assessment (Tang, 2015)

Into the Closet Again – An Assessment of Housing Needs and Preferences among LGBTQ2S+ Seniors and Soon-to-be-Seniors in Edmonton (Goldblatt et. al, 2015)

Creating Safer LGBTQ2S+ Spaces: A Long Journey Into Light (Goldblatt et. al, 2017)

Creating Safer LGBTQ2S+ Spaces: Second Pride Intergenerational Dialogue May 5/18 (Goldblatt et. al, 2018) 

Elder Abuse Intake Line: 780-477-2929 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Seniors Abuse Help Line: 780-454-8888 (Information and referral 24 hours a day)

Seniors Safe House Temporary accommodation for seniors leaving abusive situations. Intake phone number is 780-702-1520

Local Organizations

Seniors Protection Partnership

Elder Abuse Resources and Supports (EARS) program: Provides support, assessment and referral to seniors who are experiencing low to medium level risk in their home situation and where police intervention is not required

Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Network

Elder Abuse Resources

Types of elder abuse (Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Network)

Getting help for yourself (tips from Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Network)

Elder Abuse Prevention Tips (Elder Abuse Resources and Support)

How to help abused seniors (Edmonton Police Service)

Let's Talk: Elder Abuse Tip Sheet and Resource Manual (Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta, 2015)

Planning ahead to prevent elder abuse (Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta, 2015)

What You Can Do to Keep Yourself Safe From Abuse (It's Not Right! Neighbours, Friends and Family for Older Adults)

Protection for Persons in Care (Government of Alberta)

How You Can Identify Abuse and Help Older Adults at Risk and What You Can Do When Abuse or Neglect Is Happening to an Older Adult in Your Life (It's Not Right! Neighbours, Friends and Family for Older Adults)

Recognizing Abuse Toolkit (Alberta Council on Aging, 2016)

Elder Abuse Resources for Professionals

Addressing Abuse of Older Adults: Best Practice Success Kit (Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario) includes resources for practice, education and policy, organization and system levels.

"You Only Pray that Somebody Would Step In”: Mapping the Gaps Between Expert and Public Understandings of Elder Abuse in America (FrameWorks Institute, January 2016) This report represents the first step in a larger effort to reframe public understanding of elder abuse.

Elder Abuse Resource Manual, Facilitator's Guide and Tipsheets (Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta, 2015)

Environment Scan of Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults in Canada (2003)

Flowchart regarding the abuse and neglect of older or vulnerable persons. It shows what to do and gives some sample interview questions, strategies and possible interventions.

Risk Management Tool developed by the Protocols Project with input from the Elder Abuse Intervention Team and Edmonton Seniors Safe Housing.

Safety Plan for Older Adults developed by the Protocols Project with input from the Elder Abuse Intervention Team and Edmonton Seniors Safe Housing.

Financial Literacy

The Seniors Financial Empowerment Network (SFEN) provides financial literacy information sessions in the areas of personal finance, protection of assets, housing, legal considerations, areas of fraud or abuse, communication and self-esteem. The seven core education modules can be presented as stand-alone sessions or as a complete series at seniors facilities, community leagues, churches, or in larger settings. The modules are delivered by senior volunteers.

Canadian Financial Literacy Database

Strengthening Seniors' Financial Literacy (Government of Canada, 2014)

Presentations by Jane Rooney, Canada’s Financial Literacy Leader (April 2015)
Enhancing Seniors’ Well-Being with Financial Literacy
Protecting Seniors Against Financial Abuse

Pensions and Retirement (Government of Canada)

Seniors financial assistance programs offered by the Alberta government

Scams and Frauds

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (contains information on frauds and scams and provides tips to protect yourself)

Scams and Fraud (Royal Canadian Mounted Police)

Recognizing Fraud Toolkit (Alberta Council on Aging)

Service Alberta's Consumer Awareness Research and Education Unit delivers presentations to seniors community groups on consumer protection topics

Legal

http://www.LegalAve.ca (Free access to family law resources in Alberta including information for seniors such as Powers of Attorney, personal directives, wills, estates, elder abuse, and grandparents’ rights.)

OakNet Canadian Law for Older Adults (The Centre of Public Legal Education Alberta)

Wills and Estates Information (Edmonton Community Legal Centre)

Privacy information such as access to personal information and identity theft (Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada)

Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA) provides free legal information resources on topics such as consumer law, elder abuse, and planning for the future. CPLEA also provides referrals to other services that may be able to help. Call 780-451-8764 or email info@cplea.ca.

Edmonton Community Legal Centre (ECLC) provides free legal information and advice to low to moderate income people. Call 780-702-1725 or email intake@eclc.ca.

General Resources

Health Link is Alberta’s free, 24/7 health information and advice service. The service is staffed by registered nurses and other health professionals who provide health advice and navigation services. Call Health Link by dialing 811.

Healthy Aging Information Series: Request free presentations for your group by knowledgeable professionals on a range of healthy aging topics such as medication management, health conditions, driving and beyond, caregiver stress management, nutrition, financial literacy, housing transitions, and leisure. Review the catalogue of presentations offered and request a presentation.

McMaster Optimal Aging Portal includes research summaries written in plain language and web resources that have been reviewed and rated

World Report on Ageing and Health (World Health Organization, 2015)

Summary report from the the November 2014 forum “What’s Stopping Us? Innovating for Seniors’ Health and Wellness” presented by the Covenant Health Network of Excellence in Seniors’ Health and Wellness. The forum focused on community-based approaches to seniors’ health and wellness. 

Mental and Emotional Health

Drop-in single session counselling services in Edmonton

If you or someone you know has dementia (or cares for someone with dementia), the Dementia Advice service offers support and information. Call Health Link at 811.

Seniors' Suicide Prevention: Information on warning signs, protective factors, and resources (Centre for Suicide Prevention)

Mental Health First Aid Seniors training supports the mental health of Canada’s aging population

Health

Prevention in Hand provides information on prevention of chronic diseases for health professionals and the public (College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada)

Alberta Health Services Continuing Care Information (programs and services related to home care, supportive living, long-term care, hospice and end of life care)

Public Health Agency of Canada information on health promotion and injury prevention for seniors

Advance Care Planning Recommendations Infographic and Report (Advance Care Planning Collaborative Research and Innovation Opportunities, 2016)

The Leisure Access Program allows eligible low-income Edmontonians to access participating City of Edmonton recreation facilities through an annual pass or a subsidized monthly pass.

Active Living

Active Living resources for practitioners such as tip sheets on a variety of topics and Healthy Living Workshop Toolkit (Active Aging Canada)

The Alberta Centre for Active Living loans pedometer kits to health promotion and workplace wellness practitioners in Alberta.
Falls Prevention

Finding Balance is a campaign designed to increase awareness of falls prevention among older Albertans. The campaign, coordinated by the Injury Prevention Centre, promotes real life strategies older adults can implement to reduce their risk of falling. They provide many useful resources such as fact sheets, multi-language handouts, posters, brochures, etc.

Preventing Falls In and Around Your Home (Health Canada)

National Falls Prevention Resource Center (National Council on Aging)

Handout: How to Safely Help Someone to Get Up

Handout: How to Get Up From the Floor by Yourself

Learn about balance exercises to improve stability and help prevent falls by the Mayo Clinic

Preventing Falls Through Physical Activity (A Guide for People Working with Older Adults)

Hoarding

Hoarding 101 (2013 presentation to outreach workers)

Housing Reports and Data

Seniors Home Supports Program Evaluation Report (ESCC, 2020)

Finding Housing

Online Alberta Seniors Housing Directory (Alberta Seniors Communities & Housing Association)

Your Rights When Renting (Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta) contains many helpful resources for senior renters including fact sheets on living in a rental property, age discrimination, affordable housing, nursing homes, and an introduction to the Alberta Human Rights Act.

Home Modifications

Information on how to make homes more user-friendly for older adults and supports that may make it more feasible to implement changes and/or modifications

The Seniors Home Adaptation and Repair Program (SHARP) will help senior homeowners to remain in their homes and maintain their independence by providing eligible seniors with a low-interest home equity loan to finance home repairs and adaptations. (Government of Alberta)

Home for Life™ is a set of voluntary guidelines to help home owners, home buyers and home builders create homes that meet the needs of all people, regardless of their age or ability. The guidelines were designed to be used by people building new homes, but they can also be used for renovation project.

The Residential Access Modification Program (RAMP) provides grants to help lower-income Albertans with mobility challenges modify their homes so they can enter and move around more easily.

Making Our Houses Lifelong Homes: Accessible Housing for Seniors - a made-in-Edmonton resource.

 
Home Safety

Fire and Fall Prevention Checklist (8 ½ x 11 inch and 11 x 17 inch)
Fire and Fall Prevention Flyers
Fall Safety cards and Fire Safety cards
Safety tip sheets: high-rise fire safety, home escape planning safety, fire safety tips for people with disabilities, and medical oxygen safety tips

Disaster Preparedness Guide for Seniors and Caregivers

Help Around the Home

Edmonton Seniors Home Supports Program: Referrals to trustworthy people, companies and groups providing snow shovelling, yard maintenance, housekeeping and minor home repair

Assisted Waste Collection service for customers who have difficulty getting their recycling or garbage to the curb or lane. There is no additional charge for this service offered by the City of Edmonton's Waste Management Services. Call 780-496-5698 for more information.

Planning for Aging in Place

Resources to encourage and support individuals to plan for aging in place in their homes or communities:

Brochure: Thinking about aging in place
Factsheet: Plan your future today - live the life you want tomorrow
Checklist: Thinking about your future? Plan now to Age in Place
Videos: What is planning for Aging in Place?, My home and neighbourhood, My social connections, My supports and services
 

Seniors Property Tax Deferral Program allows eligible senior homeowners to defer all or part of their property taxes through a low-interest home equity loan with the Alberta government

Social Isolation

Pan-Edmonton Group Addressing Social Isolation of Seniors/Connecting Edmonton Seniors

By addressing a range of factors that may lead to social isolation, the PEGASIS/Connecting Edmonton Seniors initiative promoted healthy connections and built networks among seniors, caregivers, and communities. While funding for this initiative has ended, stakeholders continue to collaborate through the Stewardship Round Table, a network of experts within Edmonton's seniors serving network to address complex issues impacting older Edmontonians, including isolation. A summary report of this initiative is available below for more information. 

• PEGASIS/Connecting Edmonton Seniors Summary Report (Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council, 2021) 
  

This Journey Map illustrates the many factors that can lead to isolation and what is needed to overcome them. Key factors were identified through in-depth interviews with seniors and seniors organization staff members involved in the PEGASIS project. 

The Social Isolation of Indigenous Seniors report outlines issues and concerns of isolated Indigenous seniors and explores ways to improve services in a culturally responsive way. (Edmonton Social Planning Council, 2019)

Hello, How Are You?: Seniors Isolation and Loneliness resources and video (City of Edmonton)

View contact information for seniors centres in Edmonton

Outreach Toolkit (manual, interview guide, resource list, and collaborative case management process) developed for support workers who do outreach to isolated and at-risk seniors in Edmonton (ESCC, updated 2017)

Social Isolation of Seniors Toolkit (Forum of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors)

Volume 1: Understanding the issue and finding solutions

Volume 2: Ideas Exchange event

Supplement: A Focus on Indigenous Seniors in Canada

Supplement: A Focus on LGBTQ2S+ Seniors in Canada

Supplement: A Focus on New Immigrant and Refugee Seniors in Canada

Report on the Social Isolation of Seniors (Government of Canada, 2014)

The Future of Loneliness (Friends of the Elderly, United Kingdom, 2014)

Aging in Place: A Neighbourhood Strategy (City of Edmonton, 2007)

Assisted Transportation Advocacy Brochure

Provincial Assisted Transportation Advocacy Brochure (ESCC, 2020)

Municipal Assisted Transportation Advocacy Brochure (ESCC, 2020)

Assisted Transportation Volunteer Driver Toolkit

Assisted Transportation Volunteer Driver Program Toolkit (ESCC, 2018)

Assisted Transportation Volunteer Driver Program Toolkit brochure

Assisted Transportation Volunteer Driver Program F.A.Q.

Information for Transportation Providers

The Assisted Transportation Network Alberta (ATN Alberta) community of practice offers resources, collaboration and networking for individuals and organizations interested in implementing, expanding, and/or improving an assisted transportation service.

Medically At-Risk Driver Centre (MARD) conducts research, education and implementation of solutions concerning medically-at risk drivers and aging-related issues

Building a Sustainable Assisted Transportation Service: A Collaborative Approach (ESCC, 2018) Report on exploration of issues surrounding assisted transportation services in and around Edmonton and potential of collaborations to address the issues. Summaries of Lessons Learned and Promising Practices.

Assisted Transportation Volunteer Driver Program Toolkit (ESCC, 2018)

The Transportation Toolkit for the Implementation of Alternate Transportation for Seniors in Alberta (Medically At-Risk Driver Centre, 2016) provides information and resources to help communities successfully develop and implement sustainable, responsive models of alternate transportation services for seniors

An In-Depth Analysis of Ride-Scheduling Software Programs for Use by Community-Based Organizations Providing Alternate Transportation Services to Seniors (Medically At-Risk Driver Centre for ESCC, 2014)

Insurance Requirements for Volunteer Drivers and Community-Based Organizations Providing Transportation to Seniors: Myths and Facts (ESCC, Medically at-Risk Driver Centre, and Insurance Bureau of Canada)

National Blueprint for Injury Prevention in Older Drivers (Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, 2009)

A Guide for Drivers of Seniors and Persons With Disabilities (1996)

Seniors Transportation Roundtable Report (2006)

ESCC Alternate Transportation Services Provision Report (2009)

Seniors on the Go (Edmonton Transit) combines instruction with community-based field trips on ETS buses and trains to familiarize seniors with public transit options, services and features to help them become confident independent public transit users. Recreational, social and residential seniors groups are eligible to apply.

Transportation Information for Seniors

A Guide to Mobility and Independence (Medically At-Risk Driver Centre, 10th edition, 2020)

Senior's Transportation Information Hubs Eleven locations in Edmonton where you can pick up information about driving, retiring from driving, using buses and taxis, and assisted transportation services for seniors

Edmonton Transit Service: Mobility Choices Travel Training and tools for customers with mobility difficulties including bus hailer kit, customer communication cards and mobility card

Seniors Transportation Information: A handy list with links to resources for drivers, Edmonton Transit Services programs/services and alternative transportation options.

Seniors Driving Portal contains information on assessing driving skills, renewing a driver’s license, modifying driving habits because of changing abilities, tips for managing challenging driving conditions, etc. (Canadian Automobile Association)

Older Drivers website (National Institute on Aging)

SafeRoads: Information for drivers (Government of Alberta)