Sarnia-Lambton businesses and service providers may soon get a better idea of ​​how to meet the needs of seniors with a free online course.

Lambton Public Health (LPH) has partnered with Age-Friendly Sarnia-Lambton and the Older Adult Care Pathway Steering Committee to develop an age-friendly online learning certificate course.

The Age-Friendly Best Practices for Businesses and Service Providers course was developed after securing funding in 2021 through the Department of Seniors and Accessibility’s Inclusive Communities Grant.

“Based on a community-wide survey also conducted as part of the Inclusive Communities Grant, we were able to identify barriers for older adults, caregivers and service providers from their own experience and from their own perspectives,” said the community engagement specialist and age-
Friendly coordinator Amy Weiler in a statement.

LPH Health Promotion Supervisor Anita Trusler said nearly 25% of Lambton County’s population is over the age of 55, so the course helps ensure inclusive services and supports are available. .

“The course has a few different modules,” Trusler said. “We’re really looking to help workplaces figure out how they can become more age-friendly with links to some really great assessment tools, there’s a module on improving the seniors’ experience at towards clients, tips for people to advocate for at-risk seniors in the community, and simply connect people to all the available community services and supports that we have in Sarnia-Lambton.

Trusler said the course is flexible so participants can work through the modules at their convenience.

“I would say it probably takes about two hours in total to complete the entire certification course,” she said.

A virtual class launch will take place on March 22 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Residents can register for the event on the health unit website.