It happens to many of us: life-altering events of the kind nobody wants to plan for. The unexpected death of a spouse, serious illness or accident, or just finding, suddenly, that it’s too difficult to manage.

Alida Robertson lost her husband one-and-a-half years ago, only to make a discovery. “I had no idea there were so many of us!” Feeling isolated and lost, she started to get connected to the community — and discovered she was not alone.

Galvanized by members like Alida, not to mention the receipt of a $9000 Municipal Grant this summer, Savvy Solo Seniors, an offshoot of the Circle of Friends at St. Andrews in Picton, is organizing to seek solutions for seniors living alone in the County.

The project is managed by Karen Fuller and a 10-member steering committee, with the support of Reverend Lynne Donovan of St. Andrews.

The first project is a six-module workshop series, The Roadmap to Aging Alone Successfully, to address challenges specific to seniors living alone. It offers an opportunity for mutual support and friendship, while exploring healthy lifestyles, financial planning, housing, legal considerations, and transportation options.

Alida Robertson lost her husband one-and-a-half years ago, only to make a discovery.
“I had no idea there were so many of us!”
Feeling isolated and lost, she started to get connected to the community —
and discovered she was not alone.
Galvanized by members like Alita, not to mention the receipt of a $9000 Municipal Grant this summer, Savvy Solo Seniors
is organizing to seek solutions for seniors living alone in the County.

“We will be working at a grass roots level with the ‘solo senior’ population,” said Rev’d Donovan, “gathering them around tables month by month over the course of a year, and empowering them with the tools they need to build resilience and connection.”

Space and administrative support will come from The Andrew, a community hub at St. Andrews.

Two other initiatives concern housing. A former registered nurse, Ms. Fuller spent 17 years in long-term care. “I saw it over and over again,” she says. “Two people, a married couple, living together into old age is a house of cards.”

“Everything works until suddenly it just doesn’t. One of them falls or becomes ill — and then what happens? All of a sudden one or both need immediate, sometimes round-the-clock help.”

“Never mind when one of the couple dies. The newly bereaved have to cope with grief and loss as well as reduced finances and, often, social isolation.”

An Ontario organization called Senior Women Living Together offers a platform for possible housemates. It brings together those seeking shared living arrangements to make life both more interesting and affordable. It offers an alternative to the conventional retirement or care home.

Abbeyfield Houses

Savvy Solo Seniors is also investigating the possibility of creating what is called an Abbeyfield House in the County.

The Abbeyfield Houses Society of Canada promotes a unique form of shared housing for seniors. Abbeyfield Houses are non-profit, registered charities owned and supported by community members. 

“It’s a small, affordable retirement community. Everyone has their own room, shared living space, and communal dining,” says Ms. Fuller.

Abbeyfield started in England in 1956, when Major Carr-Gomm first founded a charity caring for lonely people in London’s East End. Today, there are hundreds of Abbeyfields both in the UK and around the world.

A typical Abbeyfield House offers about 15 private rooms, each with an ensuite bath, and a home-like atmosphere.  A live-in housekeeper prepares two nutritional meals a day for all residents.

A standard room in a long-term care facility is just over $2000 a month. To keep the cost of a room in an Abbeyfield House comparable, fundraising would be required to finance a property purchase. Mortgage or leasehold and other operational costs are financed by residents through monthly rental payments.

Steering Committee member Gail Lynch notes, “We are seeing seniors not able to afford decent housing — but there is not much going on in the community to help.” The last County Foundation Vital Signs Report, based on the 2021 Census, showed that 33 % of the County’s population — about 8600 people — is over 65.  Of those, 27% (3005) are living alone, and 1750 are widowed.

Savvy Solo Seniors is studying the feasibility of locating an Abbeyfield House in Prince Edward County. A Community Interest Survey comes out September 25. At that time, a series of public forums will gauge community interest and explore possible ownership models.