– by Shauna Dorko, Owner, Sidney SeniorCare –
As we settle into the warm bliss of summer we are, once again, grateful for the incredible beauty of our island community and the benefits associated with our enviable lifestyle here – a calmer, more laid-back atmosphere; a culture that encourages spending as much time outdoors as possible; and a more forgiving climate year-round than our Eastern counterparts. It is not surprising that residents of BC have the longest life expectancy in Canada or that our province has the fastest growing senior population in the country.
By the year 2031, our population in BC will be comprised of 24% seniors with an estimated 1.35 million seniors – 56% will be age 65 – 74, 30% will be age 75 – 84 and 14% will be 85+ years old. Now that BC is finally sitting up and taking notice of the current statistics, advocates of seniors have identified what they feel to be the most pressing challenges that seniors face these days.
Housing: There is a definite need for more financial support to meet basic housing needs for seniors. The high cost of renting and home ownership is prohibitive for many seniors living on low to modest incomes, and there are even fewer housing options in rural areas.
Transportation: Impaired mobility, remote living conditions and the increase in complex-care seniors are issues that need to be carefully considered when determining suitable transportation options for seniors to get to their appointments and even run daily errands.
Low Incomes: The misconception that today’s seniors are wealthy, affluent and don’t need any financial assistance is beaten down by hard facts – 50% of BC’s seniors live on $24,000 per year or less and more than 52,000 seniors are living on $20,000 or less.
Lack of Awareness of Services: Many seniors are simply not ‘in-the-know’ when it comes to their awareness of programs, services and assistance available to them. Information is not clear, forthcoming or shared appropriately with seniors and their families.
Ageism: Seniors are typically seen as weaker members of the community and are often diminished and taken advantage of.
By partnering together we can help seniors take their rightful place as respected elders and mentors of our community. Don’t forget to submit your story of a meaningful engagement with a senior in your community. Your submission could be selected to receive a complementary service from Sidney SeniorCare. Until we meet again … let’s partner together in advocacy for seniors!
Written in collaboration with Sherrin Griffin. We welcome all comments, suggestions and ideas for future columns. Please email us at news@seasidemagazine.ca with ‘Seniors’ in the subject line.
