2 ~ North Shore News - Sunday, February 20, 2000 The cost of agi Seniors need mare supportive housing Layne Christensen News Reporter lehvistenssn@nsnews.cam THE North Shore’s populstion is aging. By the vear 2001. 14% of our Gamimunite’s residents will be over O53. 4 percentage that fs among the highest in aay community in nc. When a community's poouliuan grows older where does it go? And ar what cost? According to a North Shore Health Region 1998 report, iflong-term care facilities continue to be used in the same manner as they are today, almost 500 additivaal beds would be needed to meet demand to the vear 2008. This would have capital cest implicauons of around SSO million and additional annual operating costs of more than $20 million. : The good news is that innovative approaches to seniors” housing, will help meet some of that demand, providing affordable options that allow seniors to “ape in place” and live independently for as long as they can. Supportive housing is housing that provides at minumum, a private space with a lockable door, a safe and barrier-free (wheelchair accessi- ble) environment, 24-hour monitoring and emergency response on. site. Services such as housekeeping, laundry and meals may be pro- vided in a package or on an as-need basis. Health services are available only as they would be to anyone hving independently in the community. The concept is that supportive housing can prevent problems caused by social isolation {such as depression). Supportive housing can also help keep seniors active in the community while alowing them to maintain independence. The bad news is that there is a shortage of such housing on the North Shore. Currently, the only supportive housing facility on the North Shore, 33-unit Hollyburn House at Marine and 2}st in West Vancouver. But with monthly rents that start at $2,590 for a studio apartment and climb to $4,200 for a nvo-bed- room suite, the facility is not affordable for most seniors. According to Lorna Lloyd-Jones, coordina- tor of the Seniors One-stop information line, 18% of telephone inquiries from seniors are SUNDAY FOCUS in the SG NEWS photos Mike Wakafiehd WEST Vancouver-based desiqner Bev Nielsen specializes in supportive housing for the non-profit housing market. She and her deceased husband Gary conceived of the adaptable designs in Zajac-Norgate House (above) when he was diagnosed with MS. about housing, that’s right behind inquiries about health, at 24%, “We don't have a day go by, where we don’t have somebody asking for subsidized seniors’ housing,” she says. “There are a lot of seniors who cannot afford to stay in the community. You wouldn't believe the number who have moved away and want to come back. They've sold their home and moved to White Rock or Langley and they can’t afford to return.” A North Shore Health Region July 1998 dis- cussion paper “What makes us healthy?” recog- nized the impact of housing on seniors’ health. “Overwhelmingly we realized that the mais issues that were raised were the lack of affordable housing. While there are some developments coming to the North Shore now that offer a sup- portive environment, in many cases, theyre not affordable. And that’s a challenge to health regions and municipalities and private develop- ers, to be able to offer a supportive housing envi- ronment but make it affordable to the majority of seniors.” Bev Nielsen is up for the challenge. RRSP GAME Nielsen is a West Vancouver-based design consultant who specializes in supportive housing for the non-profit sector. Currently she’s work- ing on a project in Dawson Creek, a 44-bed multi-level care facility in conjunction with a 31 units of supportive housing, a pilot project that has already received a commitment trom B.C. Housing to provide capital funding. Some units woufd be subsidized while others would be mar- ket rentals. See Bridging page 3 PLAN Two-thirds of Canadians don't have financial retirement plan. So, whether you're just getting started, you're building a solid plan, or retirement is on the horizon, North Shore Credit Union financial advisors can help you make a move towards Financial Wellness. * Premium Rate and Cashable Term Deposits Year Round RRSP Soluctons * Mutual Funds * Full Brokerage Service including Stocks and Bonds * Self-Directed RRSPs ¢ RRIFs _ Anyway You Choose In-branch advisors, TeleConsultants at 713-3000 or !-888-713-NSCU (6728) or on-line at WWW. ASCU.Ca “ifterm depostt cates are higher on February 29. 2000 than on your date of purchase, we guarantee you the higher rate. You Belong Here a NORTH SHORE CREDIT UNION Mutual funds are offered through Credential Asset Management inc. and mutual funds and other securities are offered through Credential Securities Inc. Those companies are subsidiaries of Credit Union Central of Canada. Mutual funds and other securities are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Credential Securities is a Member - CIPF.