In this episode of CHATS: Chat About Aging in Your Community, CEO Christina Bisanz

sits down with Dr. Howard Abrams, Director of UHN’s OpenLab and Medical Lead for

the NORC Innovation Centre (NORC)- to explore how community agencies are

shaping the future of aging in Ontario and across Canada. An Associate Professor of

Medicine at the University of Toronto and former Division Head of General Internal

Medicine at UHN and Mount Sinai Hospitals, Dr. Abrams brings decades of clinical and

system-level experience to a timely conversation about Naturally Occurring Retirement

Communities (NORCs) and the growing need to support older adults where they

already live.

Together, they unpack what sets NORCs apart from traditional seniors’ housing and why

they are becoming increasingly vital within Ontario’s aging-at-home strategy. Dr. Abrams

highlights the pivotal role community agencies play in identifying emerging NORCs,

building trust with residents, and partnering with property managers, municipalities,

Ontario Health Teams, and primary care providers. The conversation is insightful and

hopeful at how local leadership and cross-sector collaboration can strengthen

communities and transform the aging experience in Ontario.

To learn more, visit:

NORC Ambassador Program: Home | NORC

NORC Innovation Centre: NORC Innovation Centre - Creating Possibilities for Aging in

Place

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CHATS CEO Christina Bisanz welcomes Constable Erin Brown, Senior Safety Officer and Detective Jeff (voice only) with the Financial Crimes Unit at York Regional Police, for an important and eye-opening conversation on protecting older adults and the broader community from fraud and abuse. The discussion explores common scams targeting older adults, including grandparent scams, bank scams, and other schemes designed to obtain personal information and money.

Constable Brown also explains the work of the Senior Safety Unit, a specialized team made up of two senior safety officers and a social worker who support investigations involving elder abuse, domestic violence, neglect, and fraud. The episode highlights warning signs to watch for, including the misuse of power of attorney, and offers practical fraud-prevention tips.

Listeners gain insight into how police assess complex situations holistically before laying charges, making this a valuable and informative episode for anyone looking to better understand and prevent elder abuse and frauds.

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CHATS CEO Christina Bisanz welcomes an exceptional group of leaders to the podcast: Amy Coupal, CEO of the Ontario Caregiver Organization; Dr. Samir Sinha, a leading geriatrician at Sinai Health System and University Health Network, Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Director of Health Policy Research at Toronto Metropolitan University’s National Institute on Ageing, and Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences; and Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of CanAge and a nationally recognized advocate for seniors’ rights. Together, they explore a powerful and timely theme, “Aging Well Takes a Community: From Policy to People.” This wide-ranging and insightful conversation looks at what aging well truly means, the role of social prescribing, the impact of ageism, caregiver burnout, and the small, practical steps that can create meaningful change. Aging affects us all, and this episode highlights how strong systems, caring communities, and a willingness to listen can make a lasting difference. This is an informative and thought-provoking discussion you will not want to miss. 

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CHATS CEO Christina Bisanz recently welcomed Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) CEO Lori Holloway, whose organization serves as the provincial voice for home and community care in Ontario. Holloway emphasized the critical importance of advocacy at a time when the health-care system is under significant strain: one in five Ontarians is now over the age of 65, and 2.5 million people lack access to a primary care physician. “Advocacy is now about survival,” she noted. “We are bringing the voice to people who may not have a voice.” You won’t want to miss this enlightening episode.

Learn more about OCSA at Home & Community Support Services | ON and more about what CHATS is advocating for at Invest In Home & Community Support Services”

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Dr. Patricia Spindel has worked with youth and engaged in systemic advocacy for people with developmental disabilities and their families and older adults for over forty years. She taught at both the University of Guelph-Humber and the Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, where she also coordinated the Social Services Worker Program and was an Associate Dean of Health Sciences. She is a former President of Concerned Friends of Ontario Citizens in Care Facilities, co-founder of the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly, organizer of the Ontario Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, and co-founder of Seniors For Social Action Ontario.

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