Sechelt residents can weigh in on the future of seniors’ care at an open house scheduled for Sept. 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Seaside Centre.
An E-Town Hall meeting will be held that evening at 7 p.m. and residents can complete an online survey at www.sechelt.ca to provide input as well.
Sechelt wants to get feedback from the public before creating an official community plan amendment bylaw dubbed “Spectrum of Care” that would identify where and what types of seniors’ care are appropriate in the district.
Current policies around seniors’ care are disjointed and may only apply to one type of care, like assisted living, while leaving others out, like end of life care.
In June, council asked staff to look at developing policies around long-term care and then take those draft policies to the community for input.
At the time, council said that well-defined policies would help make requirements clear for large seniors’ projects like the one pitched by Trellis for West Sechelt.
“Staff have conducted research on long-term care facilities and how they fit into other communities in B.C.,” a staff report at the end of July stated.
“Through this initial research, staff have concluded that long-term residential care should be viewed as one form of care on a ‘spectrum of care.’ The spectrum of care ranges from independent living to palliative care or acute care.”
Other points raised by staff include a note that any form of housing within the spectrum of care should likely be located within the Urban Containment Boundary; that until sewer services are expanded, Sechelt Village, West Sechelt and West Porpoise Bay are the most likely neighbourhoods to have care-focused housing developed; and that care facilities should be located near transit, shopping, medical, social and cultural opportunities.
Council is eager to hear what constituents think and they’re also looking for feedback from developers who currently have seniors projects before council.
Once all of the feedback has been garnered, staff will create a bylaw amendment for council’s consideration. After council gives that bylaw first reading, it will go back to the public again, for a formal public hearing.
