A local committee is out to find out more about the health, lifestyles and related issues of people over the age of 50.
It’s a project of the Northern Health Authority and the City of Terrace with officials from both saying that survey answers will guide what initiatives and programs should be undertaken.
“We really want to know what the gaps are for our community,” says Terrace Mayor Carol Leclerc of the survey project.
“We really don’t want to make assumptions because sometimes you might get a curve ball thrown at you.”
Local health authority official Chris Simms said health and lifestyle take in many distinct variables, not all of which are immediately apparent.
“This is a collective responsibility involving housing, transportation, overall well-being. social connectivity is also very important.”
Another committee participant, Happy Gang Centre president Barb Emery, said even issues such as parking spaces for seniors and others can affect mobility and the ability to get out and around.
“Transportation is important. It can be a problem for people to come out and socialize,” she said.
“We want people to be healthy and happy. We want to extend their independent life.”
The committee decided that surveying people over the age of 50 was most appropriate as it would address many issues.
“For people over the age of 50, they have parents who are 75 or 80 years old,” noted Leclerc.
In that context, she said housing needs of older people rank at the top of her list of information she expects to get from completed surveys. This survey of people over the age of 50 follows one undertaken last year of young people in the area.
Simms noted that the survey is intended not only for people within Terrace but also in the rural area surrounding Terrace, including Kitselas and Kitsumkalum.
Copies of the survey will be made available through various Northern Health Authority offices, the city, public venues, the Happy Gang Centre and Volunteer Terrace and online.
An early fall return for completed surveys is to be set.