During the Fall 2025 term, students in the Developing Healthy Communities course at Brock University worked with Stamford Court residents located at 3874 Portage Road, Niagara Falls, to collect research for the Through Their Eyes project. Each team of students partnered with seniors from the residence to gain a better understanding of what makes an age-friendly community through the eyes of the city’s experts—local senior residents.
- If you are our future, then I’m not worried!
- Summary of Findings
- Student thank you notes
- Gallery: Community Forum
- Gallery: Aging Simulation
If you are our future, then I’m not worried!
– Older Adult Participant, Through Their Eyes 2025
Summary of Findings
Teams of Brock University students interviewed and shadowed the day-to-day experience of local senior residents to assess the age-friendliness of Stamford Court through the factors of social participation; housing; public spaces; transportation; information and communication; health and social services; respect and social inclusion; and civic participation and employment.
Here’s a brief summary of what they learned through their eyes.
Age-friendly observations:
- Residents enjoy the quiet environment, appropriately sized units, and amenities (like the laundry room)
- The building is well kept and is professionally cleaned on a weekly basis
- Residents feel safe
- The senior residents felt the building had a lot to offer them
Not-so-age-friendly observations:
- Residents struggled with juggling walkers/assistive devices while holding the door open when they were carrying items in or out of the building
- The lip on balconies are inaccessible to some tenants
- Some tenants had concerns over loose shopping carts on the property, unfinished hallways or damaged lighting
Age-friendly observations:
- There are many health and social services nearby for residents, including a doctor’s office, dentist, medical clinics and more
- A person from Brock University comes to the building to host a fitness class that’s enjoyed by many of the residents
- Some residents have medications delivered by local stores like Shoppers Drug Mart
Not-so-age-friendly observations:
- Getting to the hospital can be expensive
- The local grocery stores have higher price points which can be expensive
Age-friendly observations:
- Residents enjoy having a bus stop right outside the building and that they can go from one end of town to the other on the bus
- Some residents enjoy the freedom of being able to walk to nearby amenities
Not-so-age-friendly observations:
- Traffic safety is a big concern among residents—tenants are afraid to cross the 5-point intersection
- Rounded corners mean cars take corners at a higher speed, posing a risk to pedestrians
Age-friendly observations:
- Some residents volunteer in different ways (e.g. fixing motorcycles, supporting their church, leveraging their creative talents to make the building more accessible, etc.)
Age-friendly observations:
- Tenants value social participation in the building and see the importance of getting out
- Some residents participate in social activities (e.g. dinner or tabletop games)
Not-so-age-friendly observations:
- Social isolation is a concern among participants, with social options limited to what is offered in the common room
- Some tenants are stuck in their apartment
Age-friendly observations:
- Tenants appreciate how many public spaces are within walking distance (e.g. shops and parks)
Not-so-age-friendly observations:
- Local sidewalks are in dangerous condition, making it extra challenging for individuals using a walker, wheelchair or similar assistive devices to navigate
- Some sidewalks slope towards the road making it extremely dangerous in the winter when pathways are slippery
- Shortcuts to some public spaces are inaccessible (e.g. stairs or damaged asphalt, etc.)
- The bus shelter is not maintained or cleaned
Age-friendly observations:
- Overall, participants feel really connected to their neighbourhood
Age-friendly observations:
- Residents appreciate the building’s event board where activities are posted
- Tenant handbooks are handed out when residents move in
Not-so-age-friendly observations:
- Fonts on bulletin board documents are small and lighting could be improved
Opportunities for Change
- Repair and maintain sidewalks
- Put a garbage can by the bus shelter
- Enhance building maintenance (lighting, hallways, accessible doors)
- Increase the crossing time at the 5-point intersection
Student thank you notes
Students from the project wrote thoughtful thank you cards to their senior participants. Here’s a glimpse at what some of them had to say!
Gallery: Community Forum
Keeping up with tradition, Pauli Gardner’s students, community partners, and senior residents from Stamford Court gathered in December to share and learn about the project findings together.
Students and seniors were given the opportunity to share reflections with the group about their experience with the project. Below is a gallery of images captured at the community forum event.
Gallery: Aging Simulation
In addition to learning how to develop skills in qualitative data collection, the students were involved in an in-class simulation exercise to better understand the daily challenges and obstacles older adults face.
Through Their Eyes 