Interior designer Andrea Leja has a plan for Niagara-on-the-Lake’s seniors, one that involves staying in the community and maintaining a healthy social life into old age.
The Seniors Housing Options group presented the findings from its housing options survey conducted during three community sessions in October.
Cindy Grant, one of the group members, said residents are not expecting the town to build another retirement home, but to create an environment for seniors housing to occur.
Some of the feedback from residents included wishes to age in place, the ability to have visitors stay in their homes and an interest in granny flats and tiny homes, Grant said.
Leja, who was at the Queenston presentation, brought forth an idea that would address some of the concerns raised by residents.
Her idea proposes a “NOTL village” featuring a town centre, 55 multigenerational units, ground floor storefronts, a medical centre, a concierge or booking service and more.
Leja was partly inspired by her own father’s experience with aging, she said.
“About a year and a half ago, he was happy and healthy. And then one day, he was out with my mom — they came back from grocery shopping and he came out of the car, fell backwards, hit his head and was unable to get up,” Leja told The Lake Report.
After spending time in the hospital, Leja’s father was moved to transitional housing and into a long-term care facility, where Leja said the quality of life is subpar.
“It’s not super family-friendly, he wanted to stay in Grimsby, he wanted to stay at home. He was able to walk, still drive, still talk, so it put a damper on things,” said.
She explained that while her family could visit, they could not stay over and had no communal space to chat and have a coffee.
While the development is in its early planning stages, Leja’s goal is to address this social isolation by creating a space where residents over 55 can socialize, stay fit and live, all in one.
“I’m in the process, it’s also money, making sure all of it works and where it will be coming from. And it’s a feasibility study, which takes time,” Leja said.
Stephen Ferley, who oversaw the survey along with Michael Ennamorato, said that Leja’s proposed idea is exactly what NOTL seniors are looking for.
The two driving elements for seniors are retaining independence and having easy access to healthcare, Ferley said.
According to the survey, 50 per cent of seniors said that they rate access to a single residence with access to a range of services as the first or second most important factor for them, he said.
Another major driving force is wishing to stay local.
“They want that independence but they want to stay in their communities with the social support that they currently have,” Ferley.
“If you combine that, those elements are integral to Andrea’s planning,” he said.
And if there is any location where a development like this can occur, it is NOTL.
Forty per cent of NOTL seniors have financial assets of over $2 million, Ferley said.
“They have the financial wherewithal,” he said.
In terms of location, Leja has her eyes on the former Laura Secord School in Queenston, but a final decision is yet to be made.
