PJ Wade

The growing trend towards "communities building communities" has enveloped yet another aspect of society that has not traditionally been associated with seniors.

Sex and related lifestyle issues are usually considered topics of interest only to the pre-pre-retirement segment of the population. Until recently, few would acknowledge that sex and relationships are as much part of a fulfilling later life as they are in the widely publicized teen and young-adult era

Hopefully, we're moving past the retirement-housing stereotype where sex and relationships are something to be discouraged or ignored. Gone are the days when "dirty old men" were considered an aberration by management and residents had to "sneak around." Canadians deserve housing that adapts to their needs and does not force them to readjust their lifestyles to management edicts.

One new development still in the "what-if" stage acknowledges that those who live within the gay and lesbian community want to continue this lifestyle without interruption should they decide that a retirement facility is an ideal move for them.

The Vivat Group, a Canadian gay-owned and -operated company, has launched an initiative that will encourage the development of a gay and lesbian retirement community in Ontario. This for-profit venture will rely heavily on the goodwill and support of the gay and lesbian community for its success.

"The reality is that by 2021, 40 per cent of our country's population will be 50 years or older," says Gordon F. Davies, co-founder and principal of Vivat, who is familiar with the unique challenges faced by this community. "The need for Canada's gay and lesbian population to start thinking about retirement living is not an eventuality.

"Research has shown that on average, only 20 per cent of elderly gays and lesbians have a life partner, and only 10 per cent have children. By contrast, almost half of the general population enjoys retirement with a spouse, and 80 per cent have children - the primary caretakers in elder care."

Vivat is bringing together members of the gay and lesbian community who are 45 years or older to explore the feasibility of a gay and lesbian retirement community. Davies expects discussions to identify the desired development size, location, pricing considerations and scope of amenities. Vivat has retained a Toronto-based real-estate consulting firm, N. Barry Lyon Consultants (NBLC), to facilitate a series of design workshops.

Davies used print ads in Xtra and Now Magazine, online ads on GayGuideToronto.com and information distribution through grassroots initiatives within Ontario's gay-lesbian community to reach potential residents.

Davies was advised by NBLC that a response of at least 50 people was necessary to consider the development a viable idea and worth exploring further. He was delighted to receive that response and more before the first round of meetings was even complete.

At this stage, Davies says the development's style and location are undecided. Whether it's rental or condominium, city-based or built elsewhere in Ontario is up for discussion. Since this is an unserved market in Canada, the emphasis is on listening to what consumers want for their future homes.

"There is a general awareness of planning for retirement that seeps into our daily life through media and advertising messaging," Davies says. "While statistics abound regarding the general population, there is surprisingly little consumer research available regarding the gay market in Canada. And when it comes to the older gay population segment, virtually none exists in this country.

"In reality, we don't know how much retirement-planning consideration gay men and lesbians give to their lives. We don't know what kind of financial consideration they have given their retirement years. We don't know what their needs are for creating a community environment in which they can thrive and simply be comfortable.

"We do know that retirement doesn't mean what it used to, but we need to know how that translates to the gay and lesbian population."

Davies, a former Catholic priest, reports that they have received enthusiastic responses to their retirement concept. Initial responses indicate that men and women want to live together. Many are eager to move even before they retire and are interested in amenities that best nurture a sense of community and "a kind of easy shared independence."

Davies plans to gather the information, then partner with an established developer that can help meets the needs of their community.

Since this project is an alternative to current mainstream-housing choices, Vivat is adamant that they will not discriminate or restrict sales to gays and lesbians. Friends of this community will be as welcome as the target group.

"Research done by the Canadian Press with Leger Marketing [in 2001] shows that while attitudes and tolerance to homosexuality in general are rapidly improving, those who hold the most negative attitudes towards homosexuals and homosexuality are aged 65 and older, and retirees," explained Davies. "One unfortunate result has been documented cases of elderly gays being shunned in general-population retirement communities."

Nowhere in Canada today is there the quantity or range of housing necessary to serve everyone. Unless diverse groups take up the development gauntlet, many Canadians may find it difficult to preserve their chosen lifestyles if a move is necessary or desired.

PJ Wade is Forever Young's National Housing Consultant and a speaker on topics of interest to boomers and their parents. She may be reached through TheCatalyst.com.