Mapleton Township residents were invited to participate in a discussion on the possibility of creating a seniors’ community adjacent to the Wellington Terrace long-term care facility on Wellington Road 18 in Aboyne.
The information session and discussion, initiated by the County of Wellington and held on May 2 at the Drayton Reformed Church, was one of seven meetings throughout the county.
Wellington County council on Feb. 22 directed staff to engage the services of a consultant to determine if there would be interest from the community to consider the development of a larger range of housing options for seniors in the county.
Presenters at the May 2 meeting in Drayton included Wellington Terrace administrator Laura Holtom, SHS Consulting partner Ed Starr and SHS Consulting policy and research analyst Jan van Deursen.
The purpose of the session was to:
– demonstrate the need for more housing options for seniors in Wellington County;
– show what seniors communities look like in different jurisdictions;
– explore how seniors’ housing needs change as they age; and
– develop of a deeper understanding of the need for a seniors’ continuum of care community and of what seniors would like to see in a potential community.
SHS Consulting found that in Wellington County:
– seniors are the fastest-growing population group and the population of seniors will continue to grow in the foreseeable future;
– there are limited suitable housing options for seniors in the community;
– current housing stock is focused on single family homes that are detached and semi-detached; and
– vacancy rates for one and two bedroom apartments, as well as retirement homes, are decreasing.
The consulting firm found a growing need for a more diverse range of housing options for seniors of all income levels in the county.
Approximately 76% of seniors have paid off their mortgage and are able to access other housing options when they become readily available in the community.
Seniors who rent or those who have a mortgage, spend significant amounts of their income on housing and would benefit from more affordable housing options in the community.
Holtom gave a brief description of long-term care today with a focus on The Wellington Terrace.
“The Wellington Terrace has 176 beds in six resident home areas known as neighbourhoods,” Holtom explained.
“A wait list of 300 names exists. We are proud to say that the Wellington Terrace is the home of choice by the Community Care Access Centre.”
Holtom also stated full- and part-time employees number 275, with 120 volunteers at the facility. The Wellington Terrace is located near the new Groves hospital site and the 20 acre site set aside for a possible continuum of care facility.
SHS Consulting Partner Ed Starr explained, “Continuum of care provides housing with personalized supports based on the individual needs of the resident and offers a diverse range of housing and support options including long-term care, assisted living, accessible apartments and houses that are rentals or have life leases. We like to call them seniors’ campuses.”
Starr stated these communities contain amenities that could include restaurants, swimming pools, gardens and have staff-run activities.
The acreage set aside in Wellington County would allow residents to integrate into the community with access to Fergus and within easy reach of the library, new hospital and museum.
Starr described a continuum of care facility, the Georgian Village in Penetanguishene.
Situated in Simcoe County on 25 acres, the facility is a central recreation complex that houses a restaurant, worship centre, billiards, hair salon, convenience store and a library. The facility has long-term care beds, retirement and assisted living units, affordable housing units and life lease units.
“Life lease units are individual bungalows that have an up front cost with residents guaranteed occupation as long as they wish.” Starr said.
“Upon leaving the unit, the occupant receives fair market value for the unit.”
Starr went on to explain a fee is charged for maintenance. Additional support care packages are available for housekeeping, nursing and other services.
Open discussions after the presentation allowed residents to offer input on the proposal. Comments included clarification about availability of a family doctor and the medical community and meal provision.
Mapleton Township Mayor Neil Driscoll commented, “I don’t support the individual units. In my opinion those units should be left to the developers in each township. Is there the land base to build individual units?”
Driscoll added, “I congratulate the county on their foresight to plan ahead.
“A lot of money has been put into libraries and they are a great resource but a huge amount of money has been spent on them. Money now needs to be directed into seniors housing.”
He continued, “Funds need to be budgeted and planned … as we need more seniors housing and replacement of county works garages that we have outgrown “
The continuum of care process has five steps: desk research, community survey, community consultations, interim report and final report. Currently the process is at the community survey and community consultations steps.
Surveys are available at one of the seven focus groups being held around the county, at branches of the Wellington County library and online at www.wellington.ca/CofC.
A final report will be presented to county council in June.
