Assisted living efforts ongoing

Following up on its survey to determine the current and future housing and support service needs of older adults in Rainy River District, the Assisted Living Action Group is holding a strategic planning session tomorrow (Oct. 3) at La Place Rendez-Vous.
A.L.A.G. member Erma Armit said the post-survey strategic planning workshop is the next step in the process, which is meant to develop an action plan for the next three years and commitments as to who is going to do what on the road to having a facility with full support services.

Not only did the survey indicate there is a clear need for assisted living in the district, but Armit said she continues to hear about the issue on a regular basis.
“We keep getting messages from the people around us that it is very important to have some form of transitional living between your own home and Rainycrest,” she remarked.
“One of the things I’ve learned is people are so busy living their lives to the fullest that they are in a crisis situation when they realize their bodies aren’t able to live as independently as they have in the past,” she explained.
“Their minds are still very active and thinks they can do all of these things, but the body is frail and aging,” Armit noted.
“They’re just not ready to go to Rainycrest, but there’s no alternative for them right now.”
The aim of tomorrow’s session, which will be facilitated by Ian Simpson, is to establish a mission statement, vision, and values.
“We have done this ourselves but this is going to be a broader group,” said Armit.
“We have got some really good people who are coming from beyond our working group, and we’re looking forward to their input.”
Armit said organizers directly invited stakeholders from various sectors, ranging from district municipalities to the health-care field, including two regional representatives of the latter.
“We’ve got really good representation from our senior volunteers and our A.L.A.G. community partners,” she added.
“There’s a good balance there,” she enthused. “It should be a really good, interesting day.”
Armit stressed the importance of having input from multiple representatives from the health-care sector who will be on hand tomorrow.
“This is a big issue about the cost of health care,” she remarked.
“Is there going to be money there to take care of our people if we keep doing what we’re doing?” she wondered.