Transitions

In September, 1979, my wife and I moved to Vancouver from Calgary or dare I say it, to Eden. I immediately began selling radio for LG73. By 1984, I was a partner in GDL Graphic Developments Ltd, a leading Type and Production house. I was there as Apple computers transformed an entire industry.

I have watched the transition of technology; we had one of the first fax machines, it immediately cut courier costs by 50%, to us, it was cutting edge. In 1992, I formed my own advertising agency, The Idea Zone, and for a number of years was publisher of Canadian Healthstyle Magazine. During this time, I have been privileged to work with some of the lower mainland's best creative and marketing talent.

And, I have aged with the rest of my generation, the baby boomers. Some of us are grandparents, we are watching our parents pass on or lose their independence and that scares us, for through them, we see our own future.

I am faced with the question, how will my wife and I transition for the rest of the journey?

How will you and I live or, more importantly, where will we live? What is the best aging environment for our parents and us? Our decisions will have a huge impact on how our children and grandchildren enjoy their lives. And I, for one, want to enjoy my future, so I plan to be open to change, as it is inevitable.

Housing is an issue that I will all have to address. Will I have the luxury to go calmly into the night or will I fall? Health is a natural part of the equation and will impact on where I live.

Densification is a community issue we sometimes rail against; it too is inevitable. Seniors need access to, and a place in, the vibrant core of every city. Their inclusion, assures better access for all of us to a proper and efficient public transportation system and the greener environment that we desire and deserve.

40% of our communities are already paved over with roads, highways and parking. Seniors, maintaining a core presence, can reduce the rush to pave over the countryside. We have a desperate need for volunteers to help us, care for us and educate us. Keeping seniors in the core will provide volunteers to every organization desperate for help and support.
Senior's Housing and Assisted Living Facilities are a relatively new industry. It was only 15 years ago, a group of seniors in New Westminster, went looking for a list of seniors housing in the lower mainland and found none existed. Though their efforts, the Seniors Housing Information Program (SHIP) was formed. You can find more information on SHIP at www.seniorshousing.bc.ca

Aging comfortably requires involvement with the community; not being parked outside of the community, left to live in isolation. Seniors contribute so much to our communities and our families. As for us boomers, we will soon be seniors, so it is important that we invest personal time looking into the future.

On April 9th in Vancouver, the Federal government and the Province of British Columbia launched a new $123-million seniors' Rental Housing Initiative to build up to 1,000 units for seniors and people with disabilities. Including Municipal and third party contributions such as land, the estimated total value of the project is $161 million.

These developments pose questions. How will we be involved? How will that money be spent and where? As our family members and eventually ourselves, will be living in them, you and I need to be involved.

How do evolving programs like Universal Housing, housing for people with disabilities play into those developments? Housing that allows for aging, doorways wide enough for a wheel chair, hallways wide enough for power carts, these and many other issues need to be addressed.

Today, there is a new and major player in the housing market. Seniors Housing and Assisted Living Facilities represent an ever expanding segment of the housing industry. Governments at all levels have been making commitments to this sector and the recent downturn in the economy has only spurred them on to greater heights.

Our involvement will inspire developers to continuously evolve the products they are delivering to our market. The future looks bright... when you take the time to look.

As a consultant to the Seniors Housing industry I am always interested in opinions, yours in particular, so please do not hesitate to contact me at theideazone@shaw.ca.