Oasis Senior Supportive Living: Description of a Novel Aging-in-Place Model in Ontario
Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
10 March 2023
Abstract
Older adults are the fastest-growing demographic group in Canada, and the majority of older adults want to age-in-place within their communities. Many older adults live in naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs), unplanned communities with a high proportion of older residents. NORC supportive services programs can help older adults successfully age-in-place. One such program is Oasis Senior Supportive Living, a partnership between older adults, building owners and managers, community partners, funders, and researchers. Using a qualitative approach, interviews were conducted with Oasis participants to understand their experiences of Oasis. This article will describe the three pillars upon which Oasis programming is based and provide insights from Oasis participants. It will discuss nutrition programming implemented in these NORCs and suggest how dietitians can support NORC residents.
Résumé
Les aînés constituent le groupe démographique qui connaît la croissance la plus rapide au Canada et la majorité d’entre eux souhaitent vieillir chez eux, au sein de leur communauté. De nombreux aînés vivent dans des collectivités de retraités formées naturellement (NORC), des communautés non planifiées comptant une forte proportion de résidents âgés. Les programmes de services de soutien de ces collectivités peuvent aider les aînés à bien vieillir chez eux. L’Oasis Senior Supportive Living, l’un de ces programmes, est un partenariat entre des aînés, des propriétaires et des gestionnaires d’immeubles, des partenaires communautaires, des bailleurs de fonds et des chercheurs. À l’aide d’une approche qualitative, des entrevues ont été menées auprès de participants d’Oasis afin de comprendre leur expérience avec ce programme. Cet article décrit les trois piliers sur lesquels repose le programme Oasis et présente le point de vue des participants. Il aborde les programmes de nutrition mis en place au sein de ces collectivités et suggère des moyens pour les diététistes de soutenir les résidents qui y vivent.
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Source of financial support: The Oasis expansion was supported by funding from the Baycrest Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility. Each grant was specifically designated to support the expansion to a particular Oasis community.
Conflicts of interest: Catherine Donnelly and Vincent DePaul are the two co-primary investigators on the Oasis research project. Simone Parniak is the program coordinator for the Oasis program.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 84 • Number 2 • June 2023
Pages: 119 - 122
Editor: Naomi Cahill
History
Version of record online: 10 March 2023
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© 2023.
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Christine MarieMillsRD, MPH, PhD(candidate), SimoneParniakBHSc, MA, Vincent G.DepaulPT, PhD, and CatherineDonnellyOT Reg (Ont.), PhD. 2023. Oasis Senior Supportive Living: Description of a Novel Aging-in-Place Model in Ontario. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research.
84(2): 119-122. https://doi.org/10.3148/cjdpr-2022-040
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