Metchosin launching forums on "friendliness" of community for an aging population

Seventy years ago, John and Daisy Bligh were married in Metchosin, just down the road from where they live now. They raised a family and grew old, but not without planning ahead.

The pair live in their homeB次元官网网址檚 renovated basement to avoid having to negotiate stairs. John, 95, and Daisy, 90, built in extra-large drawers to hold pots and pans, so they donB次元官网网址檛 have to bend down or reach overhead too far. John, still a jack-of-all-trades, even welded longer legs to their cast-iron stove to make it easier to pack in wood.

B次元官网网址淲e made (the basement) for old age so we can get at stuff easily. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no stairs to go up and down,B次元官网网址� John says. B次元官网网址淵ou never know what will happen when you get old. You live the day for the day.B次元官网网址�

The Blighs in some ways are a model of what Metchosin would like to see B次元官网网址� seniors choosing to age in place instead of moving into an urban retirement centre.

Facing a population that is growing greyer by the year, the district is launching a series of public forums to figure out how friendly Metchosin is for senior citizens. The district plans to gather residentsB次元官网网址� opinions and ideas on mobility and transportation, accessibility to outdoor spaces, home services and social participation.

B次元官网网址淲e want to find out how our older residents feel about aging in Metchosin,B次元官网网址� says Ed Bennington, chair of MetchosinB次元官网网址檚 healthy community advisory select committee. B次元官网网址淲e want people to come together and share ideas about practical, sustainable ways to enable older people to stay in their own homes longer and to participate more fully in the community.B次元官网网址�

The Blighs, perhaps the most senior of senior citizens in Metchosin, reckon the district should encourage secondary suites or second dwellings B次元官网网址� a controversial topic in the rural community B次元官网网址� to allow relatives or friends to live on the same property.

B次元官网网址淪ome around here are against it until they get old, then they change their minds,B次元官网网址� John says. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got to have someone around to help (seniors) out.

B次元官网网址淎 few years ago a (councillor) told me if you canB次元官网网址檛 drive, donB次元官网网址檛 live in Metchosin,B次元官网网址� he adds laughing. B次元官网网址淣ow IB次元官网网址檓 told and canB次元官网网址檛 drive anymore. They wonB次元官网网址檛 let me on the highway.B次元官网网址�

The Blighs depend on help from their daughter to run errands and get around, although John still drives his tractor. With Daisy happy to tend the garden in the summer and John puttering around in his workshop, they arenB次元官网网址檛 planning on going anywhere.

B次元官网网址淚 like living in Metchosin. ItB次元官网网址檚 a nice place to be,B次元官网网址� John says. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e getting used to it,B次元官网网址� laughs Daisy. B次元官网网址淎fter 70 years youB次元官网网址檒l get used to anything.B次元官网网址�

The aging in place project is timely. In the 2001 census, Metchosin had 490 people aged 65 and older, or about 10 per cent of the population. Five years later the district's total population fell, but the number of retirees jumped to 580, and the cohort of people nearing retirement age was at 855. The 2011 Census should confirm the entrenched greying of Metchosin.

B次元官网网址淥ur objective is to see if there are ways to age in place in homes. Many seniors want to spend their remaining years in their home,B次元官网网址� says David Richardson, chair of the active aging project. B次元官网网址淭here are ways to help older people remain engaged in the community.B次元官网网址�

Transportation and accessing services, and managing typically large properties are key challenges, but not insurmountable challenges, Richardson says.

B次元官网网址淚f you have 10 or 20 acres and you canB次元官网网址檛 handle the property, thereB次元官网网址檚 not many alternatives people can step into,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淏ut there may be options for people to keep their property longer."

Metchosin Coun. Jo Mitchell noted in recent years Metchosin has become popular for "woofers," young travellers willing to trade labour for food and board. Bennington pointed out Metchosin has an informal network of neighbours that offer rides and look out for each other.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of people come to Metchosin at 55 and see themselves aging here,B次元官网网址� Mitchell says. B次元官网网址淭he problem is the economic reality that young people canB次元官网网址檛 afford to move to Metchosin.B次元官网网址�

Part of the solution might be working out a system of volunteer drivers, Richardson says, similar to Metchosin neighbourhood B次元官网网址減odB次元官网网址� system used for emergencies.

B次元官网网址淭he idea is to get what will work in the context of Metchosin,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淢any seniors access services in nearby communities like Langford and Victoria, so accessing those may be where we need to concentrate our focus.B次元官网网址�

The project is connected with a Metchosin council committee, which gives it a starting point to apply for government grants.

B次元官网网址淔unding is always a concern,B次元官网网址� Richardson says. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 want to build up expectations that canB次元官网网址檛 be fulfilled, but there are things that can be done through volunteer programs.B次元官网网址�

Workshops are Feb. 24, March 3, March 17 and March 31, 6:30 p.m. at the Metchosin municipal hall.

Metchosin residents interested in participating are asked to contact the committee at activage1@gmail.com or by calling Jane Hammond at 250-478-6126.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com