of those gaps.” The services offered pro-
vide a better quality of life for seniors, like
easier access to healthcare professionals
such as physiotherapists and recreational
therapists.
Through what Landers called community
paramedicine, residents get the medical
support they need before they enter pri-
mary care with a doctor or hospital; since
the CDSSAB is in charge of ambulance ser-
vices, tenants can regularly consult with
on-site paramedics. The result is a smaller
likelihood of hospitalization and longer life
expectancy.
“We have also put a significant focus on
the socialization of the individual,” Landers
added, explaining that some tenants had
been living on their own with little social
contact prior to move-in. “One thing that
we know is that the more socially isolated
people are in a community, the lower their
health will be. So working towards creat-
ing a sense of community in the building
is important.”
Being a mandate-driven organization, the
CDSSAB’s work is far from done. Pres-
ently, the organization is working with the
Housing Services Corporation to develop a
housing bank in Canada. In the UK, hous-
ing authorities are able to access low-cost
loans and mortgages through the national
housing bank, whose mandate is to pro-
vide financial expertise and funds for hous-
ing developments throughout the country.
Accordingly, affordable housing equates
with big business over there, but here in
Canada that is not the case.
“It would be very helpful for non-profit
housing providers in Canada,” Landers
said, adding that this is something that is
already of interest to the provinces of On-
tario and British Columbia.
DECEMBER 2016
H
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