A High River seniors’ residence is looking for tenants to fill its 10 rooms.
Abbeyfield House, run by a board of volunteers, is a residence for independent seniors on a budget. It is based off of models of British nursing homes – though it is not a nursing home itself.
“It’s a home for seniors who are almost living in poverty, an affordable place for them to go,” said board member Zenie Hudson.
The cost to live at Abbeyfield House is $1,750 per month, which includes accommodations and food, she said. It makes independent living more affordable for many people, she said.
Residents have private 350 square-foot rooms where they bring their own furniture to set up house, and they share a common area, kitchen and meals. It provides a social aspect to the accommodations, she said. There are caretakers and volunteers on-site to assist residents and provide companionship, but Hudson said seniors are independent and Abbeyfield House is not a medical facility.
Once a tenant becomes ill and cannot care for him or herself, they are required to move on, she said.
Because of its strict rules around independence, there can be high turn-around for residents at Abbeyfield House. The home currently has a 50 per cent vacancy rate.
The Abbeyfield House Society raises funds to help provide meals for the residents in the home, to supplement the subsidized room and board monthly payments. When there are higher vacancy rates, the money doesn’t go as far because bills are still incurred when rooms are empty, like utility bills and maintenance fees, she said.
Rent rates are kept as low as possible to help those seniors who need some financial assistance, she said. In some cases it’s a good transition home for people who need to downsize but don’t want to be alone in small apartments and aren’t ready to move into full-care facilities, she said.
“We had a lady who was living here before and she had been living alone,” said Hudson. “Her husband died and she’d sold their farm and she lived at Abbeyfield for company and some socialization. That’s what this place can provide for people.”
For more information about Abbeyfield House visit www.abbeyfieldhighriver.ca
