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Session focuses on seniors issues

Study underway on improvements to support age-friendly communities
seniors
DELVE DEEP: Social development consultant Christien Kaaij [standing] recently asked seniors what the city could do to make life easier at a recent session at Powell River Recreation Complex. Contributed photo

City of Powell River staff is working with a social-development consultant to undertake a study on ways the Powell River region can become more age-friendly.

In an age-friendly community, older people are supported to live active, socially engaged, independent lives, said city director of parks, recreation and culture Ray Boogaards.

“As people get older, some face limitations,” said Boogaards. “What we’re trying to do is look at ways to become more age-friendly.”

The city was successful in securing a $20,000 grant from the Union of BC Municipalities earlier this year for the creation of an age-friendly plan, as well as to implement a new program that brings together seniors for a lunch, guest speaker and physical activity at Powell River Recreation Complex.

Social-development consultant Christien Kaaij, who helped the city develop the terms of reference for its developing social plan this summer, was at the last Seniors Together gathering on October 19 to ask participants what should be included in the plan.

City councillor Jim Palm, who attended the session, said the session generated an extensive list of ideas.

"There was a very healthy discussion that day on a number of topics concerning our seniors,” said Palm.

Palm said topics of discussion included affordable housing, accessibility in the complex and improved, accessible transportation for seniors.

“One of the things you will probably be seeing coming out of that is greater advocacy,” said Palm.

Palm said the seniors were enthusiastic about establishing something similar to the city’s youth council in order to discuss issues that are important for seniors and make recommendations to local governments.

Boogaards said he will be asking council to approve another grant application to the Union of BC Municipalities in 2018 to cover the cost associated with continuing the Seniors Together program and developing what he called a "senior action table."

“We want to make sure that people stay active and healthy their whole lives,” said Boogaards. “That's going to get us to our goal to being the healthiest and/or most active community in the province.”