Grants are good for families who wish that there were more assisted living facilities near their hometown so that they could stay close to loved ones who may not be as active as they once were. Although there are still millions being disbursed to help create residences to help out seniors, it may not necessarily be in the location desired by these younger Americans.
Local zoning laws can impact new construction of assisted living communities
While the senior population in America is growing at a rapid rate, and could even triple in the next 30 years, that doesn’t mean that there are enough resources for them to remain comfortable in their twilight years. The principal problem is that county and local zoning can impede the construction of any type of facility, including assisted living residences.
In New Jersey, a battle has been going on for years about the quality of water piped to major cities and the need for affordable housing. Officials in the northern and western regions of the state are required to restrict construction in areas that provide water for cities like Newark and Jersey City. At the same time, courts had mandated that each municipality construct a certain amount of housing that could be used by less affluent residents like seniors on a fixed income.
But even in other states where this issue hasn’t come to the fore, zoning regulations have sometimes made it difficult for construction concerns to try and create the larger structures that can provide cost-effective assisted living.
Many cities are offering incentives for new senior housing development
The good news is that because seniors are generally seen as quiet and helpful members of the community, many towns and cities are making efforts to provide incentives to build more facilities. In Birmingham, Alabama, the planning commission has re-drawn the zoning map to allow senior housing in more areas of the city, even if they are multi-level facilities.
Similar stories are happening all over the place as towns move to revise regulations to bring in revenue and provide services to older Americans. But it takes multi-million construction projects in some cases, or concerned citizens.
Speaking as a former journalist, it is entirely possible to help bring in assisted living projects to one’s hometown with relative ease. Most planning boards or commissions can see the value of bringing in a population that’s not likely to disrupt the community. But the public needs to get involved in order for it to happen.
If you live far away from the nearest assisted living facility, you can do your part to make it easier for facilities to be built near you. And that way, your loved ones can be a 10 or 15 minute drive not a day trip away.
Tags: activism, local assisted living, new assisted living construction, zoning
