By Spencer Sterritt

New initiatives coming to support mid-island seniors

Apr 27, 2018 | 11:36 AM

NANAIMO — Mid-island area seniors will hopefully have more confidence when travelling around their communities

A $15,000 project in Ladysmith is promoting walkability by installing a bench and railings downtown and also a scooter map for seniors identifying the safest routes to key services.

“The project recognizes the challenging landscape of Ladysmith, the limited transportation and transit services and the fact that the percentage of the population that is 65 and older is high than the B.C. average,” a provincial release said.

Ladysmith businesses will also complete an age-friendly assessment to find new ways to help seniors.

It’s part of the larger age-friendly grant program in B.C., totaling nearly $600,000 this year.

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Though Nanaimo didn’t receive any provincial grants this year, social planner Karin Kronstal said the City is still working on a 2016 federal grant. It created Seniors Connect, which is designed to bring seniors together and remove barriers to social isolation.

“You want to make sure people are in a position where they feel comfortable to call on their neighbours if they need help. But even just having friends in the neighbourhood who they feel connected to,” Kronstal said.

Seniors Connect has created two initiatives. City Builders looks at aging infrastructure to find opportunities to make Nanaimo more age-friendly, while the Living History speakers series features speakers sharing their personal history with the area.

A recent City Builder survey about transportation within Nanaimo provided insight into how to make the harbour city more age-friendly.

Kronstal said they heard more benches around the city and at bus stops are desired as well as making sure bus stops well-marked and the sidewalks are even to prevent tripping.

“Some people did say they felt Nanaimo was very age-friendly, but certainly there’s always areas for improvement.”

Nanaimo last received a provincial age-friendly grant in 2012, to develop a plan focused on removing barriers to social isolation for newly arrived or multicultural seniors.

Starting in May, a program boosting social connectivity will hold open meals in three different areas, giving residents a chance to meet and interact with their neighbours.

The City is also drafting an application for Nanaimo to be designated as an age-friendly City, which is being organized through Seniors Connect.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit