Far from shops and too hot
Congregate living environments for seniors are mostly located in heat islands, far from essential businesses, public transportation and noisy environments. This is the portrait drawn by the Direction régionale de santé publique (DRSP) of Montreal.
Heat islands
Nearly three-quarters of seniors' housing in congregate settings is located in the middle of a heat island.
Seniors can be more vulnerable during heat waves. However, 73% of seniors' housing in congregate settings is located in the heat island. "Living in a heat island is an added risk for seniors, because it poses a health risk, especially if you don't have an air conditioner," explains Sophie Goudreau, co-author of the portrait conducted by Public Health. The DRSP shows that 77% of for-profit seniors' residences (RPAs) are located in the middle of a heat island, compared to 66% of low-income housing (HLM) housing.
Far from essential shops
Access to essential businesses such as groceries, pharmacies and banks can be difficult.
For seniors living in this type of housing, access to essential businesses such as groceries, pharmacies and banks can be difficult. More than half of the congregate living environments for seniors are located more than 500 m from these businesses. For the co-author of the portrait, Marie-Chantal Gélinas, this limits the social participation of seniors, even though it is essential to their health and influences life expectancy. According to her, although practical, the presence of a business within some of the homes (RPAs) only accentuates the isolation of seniors.
Poor access to public transit
Public transit service is often very poor near seniors' housing in collective settings.
Seniors often have problems with locomotion, in addition to having lost the ability to drive. Unfortunately, nearly half of the dwellings (42%) are more than 500 m away from public transit. "It's really important to have this service to meet your basic needs, to be included in society and to be able to get around," explains Sophie Goudreau. There is a time when seniors lose their driver's licenses and others have never driven [...], so it's an essential service. The lack of public transit nearby also deteriorates the social participation of seniors.
Close to highways
In total, 16% of collective seniors' housing is located less than 300 m from a highway.
These dwellings can sometimes be found near a source of nuisance, where air pollution is more important. In total, 16% of the dwellings are located less than 300 m from a motorway. "Installing new residences in places close to [noise] pollution can have an impact on health," explains Sophie Goudreau. They can even cause, over time, heart problems. She points out that environmental noise is now recognized by the World Health Organization as a nuisance that can have an impact on health.
Worse for for-profit RPPs
For-profit RPPs are the least well located of the various congregate living environments for seniors.
The PSD data highlight issues specific to for-profit RPPs. They are the least well located of the various congregate living environments for seniors. Nearly half of them are more than 500 m from public transit, and more than 60% are within a significant distance of essential businesses. Among the different types of collective housing for seniors, for-profit RPAs are also the most likely to be located in a noise pollution zone and where air pollution is more important.
Heat islands
Nearly three-quarters of seniors' housing in congregate settings is located in the middle of a heat island.
Seniors can be more vulnerable during heat waves. However, 73% of seniors' housing in congregate settings is located in the heat island. "Living in a heat island is an added risk for seniors, because it poses a health risk, especially if you don't have an air conditioner," explains Sophie Goudreau, co-author of the portrait conducted by Public Health. The DRSP shows that 77% of for-profit seniors' residences (RPAs) are located in the middle of a heat island, compared to 66% of low-income housing (HLM) housing.
Far from essential shops
Access to essential businesses such as groceries, pharmacies and banks can be difficult.
For seniors living in this type of housing, access to essential businesses such as groceries, pharmacies and banks can be difficult. More than half of the congregate living environments for seniors are located more than 500 m from these businesses. For the co-author of the portrait, Marie-Chantal Gélinas, this limits the social participation of seniors, even though it is essential to their health and influences life expectancy. According to her, although practical, the presence of a business within some of the homes (RPAs) only accentuates the isolation of seniors.
Poor access to public transit
Public transit service is often very poor near seniors' housing in collective settings.
Seniors often have problems with locomotion, in addition to having lost the ability to drive. Unfortunately, nearly half of the dwellings (42%) are more than 500 m away from public transit. "It's really important to have this service to meet your basic needs, to be included in society and to be able to get around," explains Sophie Goudreau. There is a time when seniors lose their driver's licenses and others have never driven [...], so it's an essential service. The lack of public transit nearby also deteriorates the social participation of seniors.
Close to highways
In total, 16% of collective seniors' housing is located less than 300 m from a highway.
These dwellings can sometimes be found near a source of nuisance, where air pollution is more important. In total, 16% of the dwellings are located less than 300 m from a motorway. "Installing new residences in places close to [noise] pollution can have an impact on health," explains Sophie Goudreau. They can even cause, over time, heart problems. She points out that environmental noise is now recognized by the World Health Organization as a nuisance that can have an impact on health.
Worse for for-profit RPPs
For-profit RPPs are the least well located of the various congregate living environments for seniors.
The PSD data highlight issues specific to for-profit RPPs. They are the least well located of the various congregate living environments for seniors. Nearly half of them are more than 500 m from public transit, and more than 60% are within a significant distance of essential businesses. Among the different types of collective housing for seniors, for-profit RPAs are also the most likely to be located in a noise pollution zone and where air pollution is more important.