York Region, like the rest of Canada, is seeing a steady increase in its senior population.
But York is also one of the fastest growing regions in Canada full stop.
From 2006 to 2011, York Region's population growth was the greatest among all census divisions in Ontario and the third greatest in Canada. Between 2011 and 2031, the number of seniors (65+) in York Region is expected to grow by 150 per cent. That means, in the next two decades, seniors will comprise almost 21 per cent of the Region's population (as opposed to 12 per cent in 2011).
In order to prepare for this shift, and for an ever-increasing population, the York Regional Council recently approved the development of a new York Region Seniors Strategy.
The draft strategic framework will be presented to York Regional Council in September 2014. In the meantime, the Region will continue to collect research on the aging boomer population.
"The seniors group is growing faster than any other age group in York Region and if we're going to respond to their needs we have to make sure we understand what those needs are" says Lisa Gonsalves, Managing Director with the Regional Municipality of York's Community and Health Services Department.
"From previous studies [
A Profile of Baby Boomers and Seniors in York Region] we know that seniors will be living longer, will be working longer, and may be wealthier than previous generations. But they may also find themselves with higher debt. So one of the things we really need to research is financial security."
Once more data on seniors is amassed--including through personalized surveys that will be distributed to the boomer and senior population--York will evaluate 87 identified programs that may be impacted by a growing senior population.
"We need to do impact assessments on current programs and services, so we've started by figuring out all the services and programs that effect seniors in some way," says Gonsalves. "Are we delivering them the right way? Will they sustainable in the future? Will people have the ability the pay?"
And it's not just York's population growth, but also its unique urban geography, says Gonsalves, that makes this assessment of services especially important.
"In York, we're dealing with a real rural and urban mix--even though most of our seniors will be living in the more urban southern municipalities of Markham, Vaughan, and Richmond Hill--we need to make sure we serve seniors across the region. Also, we're still building our transportation and transit system. Transit in particular is going to be really important going forward because people need to be able to access the community and services.
"These challenges are all the more reason why we're trying to be proactive instead of reactive. The growth is coming and we’re trying to keep up."
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: Lisa Gonsalves, Director, Strategies and Partnerships Branch, York Regional Municipality