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Perfect spot for seniors

Letters

Editor:

Every week as I read the ongoing saga of how Vancouver Coastal Health and the current B.C. government have botched up their attempt to provide new, better and much needed senior care facilities on the Sunshine Coast, I think about how great it would be if the owners of the vacant lot on Teredo Street, opposite Claytons, would consider designing and building a multi-storey assisted living facility connected to a senior care home on that land, or sell it to the government to build at that location.

This location is close to all the seniors’ needs and would allow them to walk or use mobility scooters to get to shopping, doctors, dentists, banks, liquor store, library, recreation centre and seniors centre rather than being stuck out in the bush or on a cliff where it is difficult for seniors to get out and about. If designed without individual balconies but a large shared balcony, residents could look out on the ocean to see the boat activity, seals and sea lions and occasionally a whale. A shared balcony on the other side would allow them to see the activity at the mall, traffic on Teredo, float planes going over and the helicopter landing at the hospital.

It would be great if our planning department, elected officials and Vancouver Coastal Health had the foresight and leadership to promote the concept of aging in place to make the golden years a more pleasant place to live. If this location is not available for such a development, then a piece of the land recently cleared by the Sechelt Indian Band near the hospital would in my opinion be the next best location for a senior aging-in-place development. Let’s hope that something better can be done for the Sunshine Coast seniors.

Brian Hulme, Sechelt