New older adults housing directory launched in Waterloo

(Waterloo, Ont. – March 19, 2015) The mayor’s advisory committee for age-friendly Waterloo has developed and published an older adults housing directory to assist the aging population in Waterloo with the task of finding affordable and appropriate housing.

On June 24, 2013, the mayor’s advisory committee for age-friendly Waterloo presented to council a summary report of their work to date along with a recommended action plan for continuing to develop the city as a sustainable, age-friendly community. One of these recommendations was to develop and publish an older adult housing directory.

In addition to basic information such as housing costs, number of units and unit sizes, level of care and contact information, the directory also provides information about the amenities provided at each location and the surrounding neighbourhood including a walk score to indicate how easy it is to walk to nearby amenities.

While some of this information exists in various forms through different agencies in the region, this directory focuses on housing available in Waterloo and pulls together data from the Region of Waterloo’s Community Information Database, seniors’ living directories, the Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre, individual residence websites and one-on-one interviews with staff. The result is a directory that compiles relevant information about independent living, supportive and assisted living and long term care for older adults in the City of Waterloo.

The directory is intended to be updated annually, and integrated with the City of Waterloo’s open data catalogue.

For more information about age-friendly Waterloo or to view a copy of the older adults housing directory for 2015, visit www.waterloo.ca/agefriendly.

Age-friendly cities committee contact:
Arlene Groh
Committee chairperson
519-741-4507
[email protected]

Media contact:
Janice Works
Communications specialist
519-747-8731
[email protected]