Correction - Of course I was really interesting, but so was it! 

I heard part of the presentation about this on CBC radio.  Mostly about how it was progressing in France - and then I had to leave!  

It sounds great to me.  There HAVE to be better ways to provide safety and LIFE to our older citizens.  I heard somewhere that dementia patients aren't locked up in one of the Scandinavian countries.  If they want to go for a walk, they do.  If they get lost, someone finds them.  If they die - well, I guess they die happy!

I love the BabaYagas (and their name!) - heard that broadcast a while ago.  They still had a lot of issues to figure out, but it was a work in progress. 

Ninja - did you try sending Bloor St. United an e-mail to enquire?

do you think it was this major redevelopment project that was being referenced?  this was a few years ago - haven't heard much about it lately. 

http://www.blogto.com/city/2012/04/bloor_street_church_the_focus_of_huge...

Actually - many UCCs have redeveloped and included housing for seniors and those who are marginalized - if you google United Church housing you will find many connections.  

Thanks Carolla - that's it, and it has been approved. And I'll find those resources via Google 

That's quite the picture! Happy, free-range  elders with dementia wandering about, picking flowers from people's yards etc...

Yes, the Q&A was very interesting. Lot's of enthusiasm for the topic and the room was PACKED.

Still not sure what I'm looking for - information mainly. I felt in that milleiu, low-income or working class women were quite starkly under represented. 

I think I heard about the Scandinavian country  on CBC radio a while ago.  Of course, I don't know how it really works in real life.  If I have time later I think I'll do some searching with my computer to see what info I can find!.

double post! Sorry.

I heard a creative way to prevent confused people from wandering away.

Some homes out a pretend bus stop right outside their doors. The confused person lines up and waits.

Creative

Others put the elevator buttons inside a wooden box. They don't think to open it.

that may have been an article in the Star, kay ... I think I saw something like it there - maybe in Holland?  LOL - aren't we the bunch - between us we have enough working brain cells to solve the puzzles we present to ourselves!  LOL 

As I recall the 'village' story - it's all housing for people with dementia & their caregivers - lots of those around; if people wander in to stores & take stuff, it's okay & caregivers return it later, rather than causing a scene, etc. 

There was also an interesting thing I read - either the Star or NY Times - about wonderful 'resorts' in Thailand being built by European companies - specifically as homes for those with dementia.  Thai's treat elders very kindly, cost of living is good, weather is good, lots of sunshine, swimming, walking, fresh foods - imagine finishing your days in an all inclusive like that!  Sure beats our nursing homes. The article did however make a point about the possible ethics of "elder exportation" by the European countries engaged in this - gives one pause to consider. 

One of my brothers retired to Thailand. He thinks of it as  home now. His pension goes much further there. This is in additon to the other benefits mentioned. I've seen Instagram pics of his lodgings.  It looks like a 3 star motel, but it's $250 per month. Someone comes in to clean. He doesn't need to cook much, because he can buy wonderful meals - very inexpensive  and very  little shopping, cooking etc. All services and diversions he needs are available. He's had his teeth all fixed up for a ridiculously low cost. 

My other brother is also retired and lives most of the year in Guatemala on a very low pension. He said he "lives like a king".  He also has his meals prepared and has a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice from his favourite vendor every day. His house is a simple adobe structure with a brazier for heat (the few times it's needed). It's gated with a beautiful wrought iron fence and there are beautiful antique tiles on the floor.

He fixed it up - painted it, did some repairs. The cost? $65 per month because he has to use a shared washroom and shower (both plumbed) a few steps away. The view from his place overlooks Lake Atitlan and mountains, and the garden is gorgeous. He gets about $1300 per month pension, so you can imagine he's doing ok. 

I think I'll join him there when I retire in five years. 

both sound quite amazing ninja!

I like the idea of women sharing expenses and living together as we get older. I could see myself doing this. The problem is that if it ever caught on, it becomes noticed and some businessmen will try and figure out how to monopolize the potential. This has happened with "retirement" homes in particular. Private business has taken over and now charge anywhere from $3,000 to 6,000 a month for the privilege to live there. They've figured out how to tap into the savings of people (inheritances) and use it to their advantage. On top of that there are not many alternatives. It's big business. Home care is taking a higher profile but is still in it's infancy and often requires family to be more involved.

Do these women self govern themselves or have low profit representation?

I'm wondering how this works. It's been my experience that when someone with dementia or alzheimers gets lost they become anxious and confused, sometimes violent. They seem to relate to a certain amount of cueing and tactical placements...such as where their room is, how to find food if they're hungry and bathroom arrangments. Sometimes a reassuring hug or just someone to talk to. I'm definitely for a "gentle approach" so I'm truly interested if someone could tell me how this works.

Your concern is well-founded waterfall. There's a great risk of this idea being co-opted by developers of retirement facilities. Problem is, demographically, the generation of Boomer women who have a lot of equity are sitting ducks. The stinkin' greedy speculators will do what they can to relieve them of what they have, up to and including building "cohousing" and charging exhorbitant rents. It could potentially be a big scam. No staff means no staff costs either. Charge tenants everything they have, then make them do everything themselves, just like they want.

What's not to love? 

Scumbags

I'm hoping for a more grass roots approach. My concern is for lower-income people. The ones who can afford to pool money and build a group resort are already taken care of. I'd be for working with an owner of an existing building or ranch style house - maybe get the subsidy for making a place accessible and take it from there. Apart from that, I wouldn't personally want too much government oversight, so if you keep within the allowable number of people staying in a house, no need for too much red tape.

Unless any subsidies are private, I'm not interested. No public housing please.  It would be nice if a potential owner could issue a 25 or 30 year lease in exchange for stable rent to keep the costs down. Also, the boarding house idea with arbitrarily chosen tenants doesn't sound appealing to me. I would be more comfortable within an affinity group who share similar values. Friends, family and people with whom you have a history seem to have a better chance of making it work, I think. Deep committment and a willingness to sacrifice a lot space and privacy in exchange for the reasurance of "aging in place" are crucial. It's the eye of the needle. 

Just ideas.

Is the housing project on giant chicken legs?

What a name :3

I love the idea of people living together and sharing expenses...

Baba Yaga is quite complex, isn' t she?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_Yaga

I am looking for senior's co-op housing in our area (Vernon BC) but haven't found any yet.

There is a co-housing project in Kamloops BC. They are about to move in. Rare Birds. It's mixed ie Co-ed. Adults. Empty nesters. Private bedrooms/sitting areas but shared kitchen. I'm intrigued.

http://www.rarebirdshousing.ca/ 

Love the name!!

Very interesting, Tabitha! Is there something similar, in exsistence or planned, in the Okanagan valley?

I just heard about this Arminius-Not that I know of-if you look closely at RareBirds you'll see Dr. Burgoyne and his wife are from Penticton.  I'd be interested in one here......