Unique Senior Housing Project Gets Funding

The first of it’s kind in Ontario, Carlington Community Health Centre will blend housing for low-income seniors with an existing health care centre as well maintaining a range of programs for all ages.

The project, planned for the City of Ottawa, is expected to be completed by 2017 and will include 42 self contained units as well as a common kitchen and lounge area on each of the three floors.  The first floor of the building will be occupied by a medial clinic which is designed to help keep seniors healthy and reduce the load on hospitals and emergency rooms as the number of older adults continues to grow over the next 20 years.

According to a report in the Ottawa Citizen, funding for the $13-million project comes in part from the Ontario Ministry of Health as well as the City of Ottawa and from Ottawa Community Housing.  The money is in place but the last hurdle, approval by the province’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs, must be completed before site preparation can begin in the 2016.

As we face an increasing larger segment of the population reaching 65 and beyond, communities are thinking creatively to meet the housing and health care needs of an older population.   According to statistics Canada, 600,000 seniors live in poverty and 28.5 per cent of single seniors are considered to be low-income. Finding innovative ways to care for this vulnerable population is a challenge municipalities are faced with right now as the first wave of baby boomers hit retirement age.