City Council Agenda - November 26, 2012 - City of Guelph

Attachment 1Implications for an Older Adult Strategy:• The private sector will need to be involved, voluntarily and/orthrough the use of incentives and fee structures, in helping to buildthe kinds of neighbourhoods that better meet the needs of olderadults.• Planning efforts will require a focus on the specific needs of theolder adult population and application of the Principles of UniversalDesign.Social HousingSocial housing is not a City responsibility. However, the availability of appropriate, affordablehousing in the city is essential to the ability of older adults to live and grow old in Guelph. Ourconsultations highlighted the need for more and more affordable housing that is suitable for olderadults; the existing wait list appears to be 6 – 8 years, which increases the risk that older adults willface a crisis in accommodation as their needs for support increase.Some of the barriers to living independently are day-to-day concerns about home maintenance –routine repairs and upkeep that older adults can no longer accomplish easily, or knowledge ofreliable, affordable, trustworthy maintenance help. Or it may be the need to increase the safety of ahome, using grab bars, or removing scatter rugs, etc.Implications for an Older Adult Strategy:• Strong partnerships will be fundamental to ensuring residents of theCity have adequate, accessible and affordable housingOlder Adult Strategy for the City of GuelphPrepared by The Osborne Group, October 201236