John K. Friesen Conference
2014
Housing Alternatives for an Aging Population
Chairperson: Andrew Wister
While some Canadians become "snow birds" when they retire and others move from one province or country to another, the majority remain in their familiar community, many in the home that they have lived in for many years. This conference explores the range of tenure arrangements, housing forms, and service models currently available and under development for adults 55+ in British Columbia. These include cohousing and the village model popular in the USA; life-lease projects, popular in the prairie provinces; mixed-tenure models and ethno-cultural models currently in operation in the province as well as housing and service options that do not require a person to move from his/her current home. Keynote speakers and expert panels describe the pros and cons of each housing option, the type of resident for whom person-environment fit is maximized, and “how to do it” if it’s a model that is resident inspired and managed. The objective of the conference is to provide information that will enable people aged 55+ to plan ahead and make informed choices. As well, it provides a forum for developers to learn what current and future seniors are looking for in the way of housing for their later years.