Engaging local seniors

I'm sure most of you will recall the unseasonably
warm weather last week that brought
Haligonians out in throngs to Point Pleasant
Park, Spring Garden Road and down to the
waterfront.
The city is beginning to buzz again with people
of all ages as spring settles in, and I for one
am excited to see our beautiful city in bloom.
It is especially nice to see so many more seniors
out and about now that the weather is so
much more sunny and warm.
I have a great deal of respect for the strong
sense of independence of seniors in our community
and the wisdom, history and experience
that they have to offer. Shortly after I was elected
in 2006, I conducted a survey of seniors in
one of the manors and asked them what I could
do to make life easier for them.
They told me that they wanted to be more
active and connected as a community. Based
on what they told me, in partnership with the
tenants associations, I supported a variety of
initiatives at McKeen Manor, Joe Howe Manor
and Spencer House which made it possible for
them to have regular social gatherings -
movie nights, karaoke, barbershop quartets,
low impact exercises, relaxation classes and
the like.
On March 31, I attended the Easter Lunch
at Joseph Howe Manor and it was wonderful to
see so many residents involved as leaders and
participants.
That same survey told me that some seniors
felt vulnerable during power outages and
weather related emergencies. McKeen Manor
and Joe Howe Manor now have generators
installed to run their elevators and lighting in
emergencies. Their heating systems are now
powered by natural gas.
We also heard that seniors were concerned
about air and water infiltration and mould
from drafty windows. When the federal government
introduced their Stimulus Infrastructure
funding we matched those funds and set
about replacing windows
at seniors
manors. I am told that
these energy efficient
windows are not only
less drafty, but they
also make the apartments
quieter. These
upgrades have vastly
improved the quality of
life for the residents in
seniors manors. On February 10 of this year, we
eliminated, as promised, security deposits for
nursing homes.
This regulatory change ends the unnecessary
burden that has been placed on families
and helps to make life more affordable for
today's seniors.
Although these are financially trying times,
it's still important that we continue to invest in
our people.
It's no secret that Nova Scotia's population
is an aging one, and while we have, and are,
making great strides forward with respect to
retaining and encouraging our young people to
stay and build a life here, we must also be properly
prepared for our aging demographics.
Our new Age Friendly Community Grants
and Positive Aging Grants are aimed at keeping
seniors engaged and in their communities.
To ensure that our seniors are respected,
included and consulted within our communities,
the Department of Seniors and the Union
of Nova Scotia Municipalities has entered into
a Memorandum of Understanding to promote
and develop age-friendly communities.
The Memorandum of Understanding states
that "an age-friendly community is a community
for all ages."
I encourage you to support and engage with
seniors in our community and I look forward to
working with you to make Halifax a leader by
example.
As always, please let me know if there is
anything you would like me to respond to. You
can contact me by calling 444.3238 or via email
at preyra@eastlink.ca.