Aging In Place

Supporting Aging in Place in Terrace Bay- Fall 2020

Aging in place continues to be a topic of concern and discussion among many
countries around the world, Canada included. More recently, various housing and
support options have emerged as popular alternatives to traditional supportive housing
or retirement homes, including co-housing, villages or naturally occurring retirement
communities (NORCs), and livable communities or age-friendly communities (Koss &
Almelda, 2016). Many of these models have focused on addressing issues related to
social isolation as well as the need for physical support. However, in many
communities, the continuum of care options is not available or is limited, and this is
even more likely in rural communities. As such, there are often few options for those
people who are “in between”—that is, no longer able or willing to remain in their own
homes but are not eligible or frail enough for a long-term care home (Koss & Almelda,
2016).

For many years, Terrace Bay has been considering ways of supporting members
of their community to stay in Terrace Bay as they get older and potentially require more
supports. The economic climate, reliance on the primary resource industry, and changing
demographics have made this issue a priority for the community. A feasibility study and
other initiatives have led Terrace Bay to consider a supportive housing complex.
Building a supportive housing complex, however, is a major undertaking along with a
considerable financial investment by the township in an era of financial instability due to
reliance on the primary resource industry, which makes this potential investment even
riskier. Terrace Bay has no shortage of buildings, with many houses and storefronts
vacant in the community. Constructing a new building in an era of fiscal instability is a
major risk. There are several other alternatives that may provide less risk and be more
financially sustainable for the community. However, these options need to be explored,
with a focus on how the community perceives these options and would utilize them.

To read the full report, please click HERE