Senior’s
Housing
“…
even to your old age I am God; even when you turn grey I will carry you.” – Is. 46: 4
Photo: Shelter Word-web by Georgi
NSPHA is a Crown corporation
and is the largest social housing provider in NS. They operate more than 11,200
public housing units, housing over 17,800 people. 71% of those housed are
seniors. The wait time to get into a Manor (there are 44 buildings in HRM) is
approximately 2 years.
Manor buildings are home to people over the age of 58. They are accessible and close to amenities. Yearly, each person living in a manor, shares their tax-return which is used to calculate the rent the tenant will pay for the coming year. Manor living is apartment living. Your neighbours are culturally diverse seniors, sometimes set in their ways, eccentric characters, or shy widow/widowers. Manors can have outdoor space for gardens, parking spaces, allowance for a pet, smoking huts, and tenant organized activities. Turn-over comes mostly from aging, people moving to places with nursing care or due to death. For the most part, manors provide not only safe and affordable housing for seniors, but a community of neighbours navigating aging together.
--in conversation with Georgi
Over the years, Pastor
Kimber has spent many pastoral care hours in long-term care facilities. The
church offers shelter through this ministry, and at Northwood’s downtown Campus
by providing worship services six times a year. Nursing Homes and residential care homes are
housing for people who have difficulty performing basic everyday tasks
(bathing, dressing, etc.) and have nursing needs beyond homecare. The province has a Single-Entry Access system where
a person undergoes a needs assessment and then is placed on a list based on the
priority of their need. Organizations and government, Department of Seniors, Long-Term
Care, Department of Health, among others work together to support or find appropriate
homes for each person.
For the first few months of
nursing home living, pastoral visits listen to a person who grieves the loss of
home. The transition into what is a final earthly shelter, is helped by family,
friends, and church communities who offer support, warm visits, and comforts of
home. Never underestimate the comfort of a visit, a card, a prayer shawl, a bag
of peppermints, or a reading of a poem.
Long-term care residents are
unique as each faces the constant change of roommates and floormates because of
death. Shelter for residents is having people who are willing to
matter-of-factly speak about death, hope in resurrection, and dream of what
heavenly or eternal home will be like.
Housing for seniors, whether
manors, long-term care, residential care homes, hospitals, or nursing homes,
takes a community of skilled professionals, passionate care givers, and a team
of support workers. Many give shelter to others through their vocations and occupations.
One of our members, Isaias, works in homecare and in nursing homes settings. He
offers this prayer for seniors:
Lord, I ask that you bless
our seniors living in their home, and nursing home. Keep them safe from harm
both physically and emotionally. Protect them from accidents, sickness, and
injury.
Lord Jesus, I ask that you
bless them with good health, safety and comfort.
In Jesus name. Amen. -- Isaias
You can learn more at these
links:
About NSPHA | Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency
A guide to moving in to long term care in Nova Scotia - Adobe cloud storage
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