Seniors now have a resource directory that lists every public support available to them on the Coast.
The 28-page guide was created by a volunteer group working under the direction of Sechelt council. Group member Sue Jackel presented the finished product at the Dec. 19 council meeting.
"This is the result of some discussion and long-standing need in the community for a single place where people could find the information that's essential to them to get through their time here in Sechelt," Jackel said. "It's directed at seniors, but seniors is a fairly elastic term. Sometimes we find it's anyone over 60 and sometimes over 65. The majority of people in Sechelt are in fact over 55, so we are a very seniors dominant community."
The Sunshine Coast Seniors' Resource Directory is divided into 10 sections: healthy living, home care, counselling, finances, housing and care facilities, seniors' centres and activities, volunteer opportunities, transportation, hospitals and health centres, and other information.
Healthy living is the largest section with contacts for things like nutrition counselling, meals on wheels, recreation centres and education opportunities.
The book doesn't provide contacts for private providers of seniors' services as Jackel said they "are available elsewhere."
The new resource directory is available throughout the Coast at seniors' centres, home care offices and public libraries as well as the District of Sechelt.
To request a copy or for more information, the public can contact Andre Boel, community planner at the District of Sechelt, at aboel@sechelt.ca or by calling 604-885-1986.
The new resource was made possible by a grant from the B.C. Ministry of Health under the 2012 Age Friendly Community Projects program administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.
"It's a complicated way of saying this is government money that paid for this but it came through several routes," Jackel noted.
The age friendly grant funding is available yearly and Jackel asked councillors to think about how the money could best be used next year, noting the guide may need yearly updating to keep current.
"This has come from the community but it certainly could come from council as well," she said.
