Seniors in the city meeting

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The first of several city meetings is taking place in Hamilton to talk about how to accommodate the growing population of seniors – which is expected to double in the coming years. People of all ages are being asked to weigh in on how tax dollars are spent to ensure a better future.

This is the first of six meetings. Each one will essentially be a brainstorming session where residents can share issues and suggestions for how to resolve them.

The goal is to make Hamilton a more senior-friendly city. It’s a joint effort between the city of Hamilton and the council on aging. Hamilton has several senior centres like Sackville but not everyone is being served by them and they don’t fulfill other needs like transportation. The city wants to know how it can plan for the next 20 years when our population of seniors is predicted to double. The clients I spoke with today say Hamilton is a great city to live in as an older adult, but there are some shortfalls, particularly when it comes to getting around.

“Healthcare is always a big problem once you get older. Another problem that people have is parking at hospitals — it’s very, very expensive.”

“I don’t have a transportation as long as the sidewalks are clear. There’s a lot of people around here with strollers and walkers and wheelchairs — I don’t know what they do in the winter.”

A teacher I spoke with here at Sackville says some of her students have to leave classes early or arrive late because of limited darts bussing. That’s the kind of input they’re looking for.

People of all ages are welcome at the meetings. Residents who can’t make it can fill out a survey online.