Multi-year wait list for seniors

As such the United Way has weighed in on the issue, working hand in glove with the Seniors Council to meet housing needs.

“Janine is great at providing really holistic support to for seniors as they are transitioning in their housing to be able to ensure that there’s they may need moving support or advocacy with utilities and that so there’s definitely overlap in what we do,” explains Melanie Babbitt, Community Connector.

And housing is a critical factor in the mental health of seniors.

“Being able to look at what the social factors are in a person’s life that may be a detriment to their healthy living and the effects of loneliness on the senior population and how that impacts even their health, their physical health.”

So with wait lists pushing into four years, what are other options available? Well, say, you have a vacant mother-in-law suite in the basement. Can that be offered up as an option?

“Absolutely they can,” says Malhar Kendurkar, Executive Director with PGCOS. “So they can call our office and they can talk to Janine and they can let her know that, ‘Hey, you know, if there is a senior who is in need of renting an apartment or a studio. And then she will talk to that senior because she has a list of clients who are in desperate need of affordable housing.”

Bortolon says it’s merely a matter of calling the Council of Seniors a call to find out if you are a fit.

by Cheryl Jahn

Multi-year wait list for seniors

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