THIS IS THE POTENTIAL SITE FOR A SENIORS APARTMENT AND NURSING HOME AT 360 JOHN STREET IN THORNHILL MARKHAM
FOCUS ON OUR SENIORS
As with our children, we must continue to focus on our seniors and the quality of life they deserve.
Today’s seniors are living longer and more active lives than ever before. Many seniors are continuing to work full or part time subsequent to their formal retirement. Other seniors are becoming active in charitable activities as well as hobbies and personal growth. Finally, some seniors for health and other reasons are dependent on others to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.
We have to provide a cost effective lifestyle, communities with multi-use facilities available such as swimming pools and gymnasiums, have programs and activities where they get involved with the community and keep them constantly engaged.
Some people tend to realize that seniors still want to be active and contribute to the community so we must give them that opportunity. I know this for a fact because I have a mother who is 86 years old and she still loves to get out and get involved.
The baby boomers are now beginning to retire. Seniors are the fastest growing segment of our population. We have to pay more attention and we must provide seniors a good, safe and affordable lifestyle. We will need to have interactive programs available and accessible to seniors.
Thornhill ward 2, has no senior housing. Currently only ward 1 Thornhill has housing geared towards seniors. Why has this not been addressed?
We should consider using our vacant lands to have more Retirement apartments for seniors in Thorn hill Ward 2 so as not to lean on Ward 1 who takes most of the burden.
I will work hard to get an affordable seniors lifestyle apartment that will be equipped with all the facilities that will be available on site.
A wide range of opportunities should be provided to the adult population to maintain a balance in their lifestyle and provide outlets for expression and physical pursuits.
Seniors love hobbies and we must try to encourage this to keep the mind constantly stimulated and provide leisure type affordable activities.
For some seniors, loneliness is faced after a certain age. There in a constant worry about finances, health and how they could occupy their time and mind. As a community, we have to find those answers for them and I intend to give them that attention. In Thornhill we want the seniors to be safe, healthy and active.
As a community, we have to encourage volunteers to get more involved with our senior citizens to assist them in using our parks, recreational facilities, cultural activities and library facilities.
There is a definite benefit to all if we keep an active healthy lifestyle as it reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer.
There is more self-confidence when one is physically fit as it reduces stress.
Tib Green who is a resident in Thornhill is an example of how one could continue to use their time and talents. She had her art displayed in her Glynwood Retirement Residence in Ward 1 Thornhill which was appreciated by many.
We have to do our best to encourage such talent and enthusiasm.
Many seniors are active and would like to continue to live in their own residence. Fixed levels of income or in other cases an actual decline in monetary assets more recently have added to the stress of maintaining their own homes in retirement. Increasing property taxes only exasperates the issue. We need to give tax breaks for lower income seniors who wish to remain in their homes. Several communities including Toronto and surrounding cities such as Burlington for example have property tax rebates and deferral programs available to lower income seniors.
Sydney Sokoloff , a resident in Thorn hill who is 82 stresses that “after 80 years old, you can’t do the things you used to do” and I fully agree with him.
Today many seniors continue to live in their homes rather than go to a senior’s facility and we in the Town of Markham have to help them have a tax break.
If they want to continue to live in their homes and if they have a family member to take care of them then that family member must be compensated. Current federal tax laws provide for some relief for caregivers of certain seniors. As your councilor for Ward 2, Thornhill, I will work with all levels of government for tax relief for seniors and those caring for seniors.
I have the ability to communicate with all levels of government and I will fight vigorously for seniors to achieve this privilege.
No comments:
Post a Comment