As reported in an earlier column, the Olds Institute's Age-Friendly committee surveyed 200 people in our community.
Outdoor spaces and buildings is the first issue for which we gathered information. The importance of our outdoor spaces concerns everyone, not just seniors.
However, walking is recognized as an increasingly important form of physical activity for many seniors. Besides exercise, walking is necessary to meet personal and social needs, particularly once they no longer drive.
Following are some other observations from the survey:
Sidewalks, pathways and trails: a large majority (77 per cent) find our sidewalks are accessible. However, some concerns were: uneven sidewalks -- a concern for both parents with toddlers and strollers as well as for seniors.
Some seniors develop poorer eyesight or become unsteady over time. Falls can result in a broken bone with more serious consequences than in younger years. Some hedges and other obstacles impede sidewalk use when using strollers, walkers or wheelchairs.
Some active seniors report pathways and trails may be "incomplete." Olds has an excellent map of our trails, but those with poorer vision find it hard to read.
While most find sidewalks well cleared of snow, scraping sidewalks can make them icy. Icy ramps are unusable for wheelchairs and walkers. Shady areas -- especially in parks -- are often icy.
Public restrooms and rest areas: over 50 per cent of responses indicated there is a lack of public restrooms and fewer that accommodate people with a variety of disabilities.
Washrooms are not always clearly identified and people do not know where they are. Comments state a lack of suitable washrooms on walkways or in parks, even the larger parks, or the washrooms are closed when people want to use them.
Fifty-four per cent of responses reported there are accessible benches along sidewalks, particularly in parks, although some found them to still be far apart or not available along walkways. The increased number of benches in recent years was recognized.
Public buildings: 73 per cent of people find doors easy to open, as expected of healthy people. But 57 per cent identify opening doors to be a problem.
Door openers are too far away from the door to then be able to line up the wheelchair to enter, or the openers are opposite to their needs. Many buildings don't have automatic doors, even churches.
Some public washroom doors in businesses are hard to open. Some doors are heavy for young people to open. Some public buildings do not have accessible elevators.
As noted above, those with disabilities and their caregivers identify accessible washrooms are hard to find in public buildings. A need for washrooms that accommodate opposite gender caregivers is identified.
Comments were made that people believe they need to purchase products or services before being able to use washrooms in public buildings.
Caregivers describe difficulties getting wheelchairs into downtown care buildings due to entry levels that are two to four steps higher than sidewalks.
Gutters and the accesses onto sidewalks from corners are too steep for wheelchairs in many areas. It was commented that few businesses have ramps.
One woman stated she does not take her husband anywhere where doors are hard to open, have poor ramps or inaccessible washrooms.
Comments about transportation will be reviewed in two weeks.
-- Bernice Lynn is a member of the Olds Age-Friendly committee.
"One woman stated she does not take her husband anywhere where doors are hard to open, have poor ramps or inaccessible washrooms."BERNICE LYNNOLDS AGE-FRIENDLY COMMITTEE
