Moosomin Age Friendly to survey community
October 12, 2021, 11:33 am
Devona Putland
Moosomin Age Friendly is ready to survey the community!
Moosomin Age Friendly is a committee formed under the umbrella of the Saskatchewan Seniors’ Mechanism. As a community based committee they are going to look at undertaking activities or programs that make the community more inclusive of seniors which leads to the community being more inclusive of all people.
Before the committee embarks on activities, they are circulating a survey in order to hear from community members. Our committee is composed, in many ways, of like-minded folks. This makes getting outside views important to ensure they are actually pursuing activities that the community wants and needs.
The survey will be hand delivered in the week of October 6 following the Thanksgiving holiday. It will take about 10 minutes to complete, and can be returned to the outdoor book depository at the public library. There will also be a collection box inside the library if people wish to drop them inside.
Surveys are to be returned by Monday, October 25. For people in our rural or communities outside of Moosomin, surveys can be accessed at the library and at a few businesses and services within the community so the committee can get those views as well.
The survey is broken into sections including sidewalks, paths, trails and rest areas; transportation and roads; housing; respect and social inclusion/participation; communication and information; civic participation and employment opportunities; and community supports and health services. Each set of questions will allow people to express opinions of what things they think are good or what things need some work.
At the same time as the Moosomin Age Friendly survey is coming out, the Saskatchewan Seniors’ Mechanism is launching an ad campaign for a Home Supports Initiative. The goal of that campaign is to create awareness for the many options that are possible for people as they age, achieving better outcomes, and realizing lower costs. Interestingly, a statistic from the SSM stated that if a person is given sufficient home care supports and ages in place, the cost is one third of the cost of living in long term care.
The baby boom population is almost entirely at the 60-plus age range. As that population continues to age it stands to put added stressors on a system that is already stressed. Examining existing methods is needed because if society always does what it’s always done, it will always get what it’s always got!
Most don’t imagine what getting older will be like in the midst of their prime. As people complete the survey, the Age Friendly Committee challenges each person to envision the community in which they want to live and play, and eventually the place where they will age.
The committee hopes that all people, young and old, will let their perceptions be heard by completing the survey.
