Title Sponsor: Dave Lowery & Associates

Senior's Housing & Lifestyle's Expo Sponsors

The 2010 Seniors Housing and Lifestyles Expo is being held at the Victoria Inn on April 16, 2010.

 Age & Opportunity is the only older adult serving organization providing Housing Information to Winnipeg and rural older adults.  We have published the Winnipeg Housing Directory for Older Adults for over 10 years.

Through our Housing Program, we have learned:

• Many older adults are waiting until a crisis occurs (medical, financial, death of a spouse or family member) to look for housing;
• Adult children are searching for housing for their parents;
• Many older adults living in Winnipeg have children living in other provinces or countries and will need more assistance from a variety of companies and sources than those with family members in Winnipeg;
• The information is overwhelming:  Independent Living, Assisted Living, Supportive Housing, Companion Care, etc.; 
• Waiting lists are long and the housing market is very competitive;
• Though there are many supports for older adults are in the community, they and their families do not know how to access them or where to find information on these services;
• Information on support services is available on a fragmented basis, but no one agency houses all the information required;
• Once the decision to move has been made, the tasks of selling property, downsizing, moving, financial planning etc. can become overwhelming.

 Therefore, the idea to present a Housing Expo was born.  Housing Expos have been held in the US for many years, but to our knowledge our 2008 project was the first of its kind in Canada!

The goal of the Housing & Lifestyles Expo is to educate Winnipeg older adults and their families on housing options and support services to help successful aging in place. The Seniors Housing & Lifestyles Expo is designed to inform and educate older adults and children of aging parents about housing options in later years.  The Expo showcases speakers knowledgeable in housing and support services for older adults.  The event will includes exhibitors representing housing facilities, care facilities, senior living communities, housing support services, financial services, moving and storage options, realtors, home safety and security and various public and non-profit agencies that provide services or assistance related to older adults.

 Project Objectives

- To help older adults and their families with information on housing options;

- To empower older adults to make informed choices to transition from their family home to a new and exciting lifestyle;

- To provide information on companies that can ease the process of this transition;

- To help older adults maintain their independence by providing information on support services that will enable them to remain in their homes and communities.

 Target Market

The expo attendance is expected to be individuals made up of Winnipeg and rural area older adults, adult children and family members, community partners and neighbourhood residence associations.