Aging In Place

AGING IN PLACE COMMITTEE – MISSION STATEMENT & PROCESS
(updated Nov 2025)

Purpose
The Aging In Place Committee (AIP) is a confidential committee which answers to the board and the general membership. AIP was founded to develop and facilitate ways to help Helen’s Court members safely age in their homes with dignity, respect, and the self-determination to decide how they want to be supported. 

Mission
We intend to provide support by:

  1. Fostering a community that recognizes the value of the elders, encourages and celebrates intergenerational and reciprocal connections through various initiatives, communication, and events;
  2. Facilitating systems to promote safety and well-being through physical and emotional support;
  3. Supporting members, when requested, by connecting them to individuals, resources and services to help them be healthy, informed and empowered;
  4. Advocating for elders’ needs and priorities across all Helen’s Court committees within the limitations of the units we have; and providing help to elders to work with co-op committees and programs;
  5. Encouraging intergenerational storytelling and elder participation in the sharing of cultural, traditional, and emerging values: connecting through food, play, the arts, and stories. We support the recognition of elders’ histories, struggles, conciliations, and sense of purpose;
  6. Supporting elders in their need to connect with the natural world. 

Commitment
We are committed to serving the needs of all elderly members of Helen’s Court with compassion, care and foresight. 

In all of its work, the AIP Committee will remain confidential in its work and will exist to complement, not replace, the support provided by primary caregivers, caring family members and friends, medical professionals, and government services. We exist to provide resources and support where needed and requested. Committee support should also not be construed as being ultimately responsible for the health of an individual member.

Process
MEETINGS
The AIP Committee will meet monthly and when needed, on an ad hoc basis.  As a committee, we will uphold confidentiality in all meeting spaces. 

COMMUNICATION
AIP may share helpful information and resources with the general membership through email, newsletters, AIP Library, meetings, or events.

If individual safety or legal concerns come to light, the committee may be required to act in consultation with (OR may need to escalate to) the Board, member’s family, and appropriate services. For example, when a member has to go to the hospital via ambulance.

RECEIVE TASKS
The Board or any other committee can request AIP assistance with a project. AIP may also suggest an appropriate task for Maintenance to consider or undertake, or to involve AIP in an ongoing Maintenance project where AIP input could be helpful.

MEMBER-GENERATED TASKS
Members can approach AIP for help in addressing an aging-in-place related issue within their unit or  within the co-op, either for themselves or on behalf of a neighbour. Where appropriate, AIP may assist members by identifying relevant external services and community organizations.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE CHECKLIST
Several Helen’s Court elders have found themselves in crisis and an ambulance has been called. To meet the needs of these circumstances, AIP has a protocol that can be instigated in an emergency and with the permission of the elder member.

REVIEW AND FEEDBACK
AIP will review its goals and activities once a year to ensure alignment with its mission and the evolving needs of members.

Members are welcome to provide feedback at any time. The feedback will help guide future initiatives and the overall direction of the committee’s work. AIP evaluates the community needs as expressed in the Annual Occupancy Record survey.