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 planned 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.
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 per cent 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.
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.
