Hastings County Administrative Intern Meredith Staveley-Watson delivers a report on supportive living options for seniors, at a Hastings County Council meeting, on August 31, 2017. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Hastings County Council has heard some new ideas on how to improve the quality of life for seniors in the area.
Administrative Intern Meredith Staveley-Watson spent the summer working on a research assignment on seniors care and supportive housing options, which she presented Wednesday.
She tells Quinte News, one option would be a smaller, rural supportive facility in one of the member municipalities, while the other is a larger, campus-style model on property behind Hastings Manor.
Staveley-Watson adds that providing more affordable living options has a number of benefits for seniors who are still able to live on their own, but have unique healthcare issues to deal with.
CAO Jim Pine says county council was very receptive to the report and has given staff the go ahead to get right to work on some possible solutions, echoing Staveley-Watson’s point that it’s important to find a low-cost way to fill the gap between seniors living on their own and moving into full-fledged assisted living facilities.
According to the latest census results, 21.3% of Hastings County’s population is 65 and over, which doesn’t account for those who are close to that age bracket.
