In the spring of 2013, Sunrise Ridge Senior Housing Society (SRSHS) approached the Community Development Institute (CDI) with an inquiry into the seniors housing needs for Fraser-Fort George Electoral Districts D and E, and especially the communities of Blackburn, Hixon, and Pineview. SRSHS felt that there are many seniors in the region who would like to retire in the community, but the options for seniors housing are limited.

Previous CDI research has shown that many older adults want to remain in their home communities because they enjoy the quality of life and have developed the strong social networks that are common in rural areas. Their concern is that they will have to leave because of failing health and mobility, a lack of support and services, or both.

The purpose of this project is to gain an understanding of the housing needs of seniors in Blackburn, Hixon, and Pineview. The CDI worked with SRSHS during the winter of 2013-2014 to survey seniors housing needs. The findings from this survey are contained in this report, and will be used by SRSHS to inform the future development of seniors’ housing in their region.

The project objectives were to:

• Collect information on the current needs for seniors housing and support services;
• Collect information on the expected needs for seniors housing and support services;
• Develop a report which demonstrates the seniors’ housing and support needs in Blackburn, Hixon, and Pineview to inform SRSHS’s plans for a seniors housing development.

Sunrise Ridge Senior Housing Needs Assessment                                  Sunrise Ridge Senior Housing Needs Assessment Appendices