LIVERPOOL – An age-friendly community is one that is good for all ages, and it takes teamwork for communities to build them.
Simon d’Entremont, deputy minister of the Nova Scotia Department of Seniors, was the guest speaker talking about age-friendly communities at the Queens Care Society’s annual general meeting. The meeting took place at 6:30 p.m. at Memories Café & Eatery in Liverpool May 23.
So how do you make a community age-friendly?
“Not everyone needs to do it the same way,” said d’Entremont. “I would encourage you to come up with your own thing that makes your plan unique.”
D’Entremont suggested the group develop a plan. He provided an example of a community that had a goal of having age-friendly businesses. Another idea he suggested was a well-connected age-friendly community.
“You’ve got to bring people together, get all these ideas together,” he said. “Try to get consensus around a vision of what you want your community to be.”
The project is one that the Queens Care Society (QCS) fully supports.
“We’re a group of dedicated individuals working together to make a better life for seniors in our community,” said Grant Webber, chairman of the Queens Care Society (QCS).
He said the group does that by finding out what’s needed and then advocates to get those services. Some of the things the society has been working on include transportation, Helping Hands and housing.
Housing report
John Murray provided a housing report that looks at seniors’ housing in Queens County, and says increasing the number of units available is key.
“The thrust of the housing committee this year was to bring Northwood to Liverpool,” said Murray. “Northwood is the largest not-for-profit continuing care organization in Atlantic Canada. They specialize in seniors’ affordable housing, nursing-home care, homecare and Northwood lifeline.”
Northwood made a presentation to the Region of Queens Municipality in the fall and expressed its interest in Liverpool. The organization proposed a building between 36 and 68 units, said Murray.
The housing report also said the QCS is advocating for a solution for Queens Manor, which requires renovations or replacement.
Also mentioned in the report was the number of private developers who have recently built new dwellings in Queens.
“The plan for the upcoming year is to work toward further affordable and age-friendly accommodations in Queens,” said Murray.
Transportation issues
The QCS has done studies, brought in consultants and done a lot of other groundwork to advocate for the need of transportation in Queens County, explained Murray.
The vision is to develop an on-demand transit system in Queens County that users could call to access a ride to places like medical appointments.
A new and separate group, the Queens County Transit Society, has since taken over the work to get this sort of transit system off the ground. Ken Colthorpe is chairman of that society. He thanked the QCS for working on transportation and said the transit society wouldn’t be where it is now without that work.
“Our goal is definitely by first of September to have an active system operating,” said Colthorpe.
But the current group can’t do it alone. Colthorpe said the society is looking for some more directors.
Helping Hands
The idea behind Helping Hands is simple. It’s an initiative to meet the needs of those living within the community who need a helping hand but do not have someone nearby who is able to lend a hand.
The Helping Hands program mobilizes volunteers to help people within their homes with tasks that are becoming too difficult or that can no longer be done safely. Volunteers will be set up with individuals on an “as needed” basis, depending on the need.
Debbie Page said Helping Hands received a lot of calls in the winter about snow removal and, in the summer, seniors need help with lawn care.
“It has been identified as a big need in the area for seniors,” said Page.
Another problem are green bins. Some people are having trouble getting them to and from the curb, especially in the winter, she said.
To learn more about the Queens Care Society, visit https://www.facebook.com/queenscaresociety/.
