Medical and Seniors Buildings

Senior Citizens Homes 

Low-Cost Housing for Senior Citizens in the 1960s

Traditionally, young people have left Prince Edward Island for further studies or work opportunities, leaving a high percentage of seniors in our population. Many of these seniors had low incomes and were living in basement or attic apartments, or in a single room of a family farmhouse.  

In the 1960s the Honorable Henry Wedge, then Minister of Welfare in Premier Walter R. Shaw’s government, championed the need for a housing program for seniors on PEI. He visited Manitoba to study their approach, then put together a proposal for the Island. As a result, in 1962 the PEI legislature formed a new nonprofit, the Senior Citizens Housing Corporation, to plan, secure and administer low-rental housing for Island seniors. Their objective was to provide 200 housing units throughout the province at a cost of $2,000,000. Financed by a provincial grant and a 40-year mortgage with a low interest rate from the federal government (Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation), the program also involved the commitment of the local community. The town, village or community provided land in a central location so that seniors could have easy access to churches, stores and medical facilities. The property also had to be large enough for future expansion.

As they prepared the designs for this new venture, Keith and his team carefully considered the needs of seniors. The building contained four units with everything on one level for ease of movement and every inch of space was put to maximum use. They gave thoughtful account to the physical needs of seniors without sacrificing the essential ingredients of human nature – independence and privacy. Each unit had a living room, kitchen with stove and fridge, bedroom, and bathroom and measured approximately 500 square feet. Although small in today’s standards, many bungalows were built with less than 1300 square feet. The space contained everything an aging couple would need to be self-sufficient, while remaining independent. They would be well-built with lots of natural light and insulation and designed to provide comfortable accommodations at a rental the seniors could afford.

The project began in October 1962 with a four-unit pilot in Souris, where the St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Parish donated two acres of land on Chapel Avenue. Imagine the excitement of the first four couples who moved into their new homes in May 1963!  They were seniors with a new outlook on the future. They packed up their furniture and personal belongings and settled into their attractive surroundings. When the citizens saw the type of housing that could be available, more couples began to make requests. As early as November 17, 1964 tenders were awarded to George Cheverie of South Lake to build an additional four units in Souris.

The Housing Corporation surveyed towns across the province to assess the demand for this type of housing. The results showed a dire need. On December 7, 1962 The Guardian reported that at least 15 communities were prepared to participate and suitable sites were being investigated throughout the province, subject to approval by the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Keith worked out the details of design and required building materials with his draftsman and engineer. By October 1964, Keith had drawings and plans prepared and advertised the tenders for units in eight communities: Wellington, Miscouche, Summerside, Kensington, Crapaud, Montague, Souris, and St. Peter’s. From west to east, the concept had already spread to over 17 towns and villages across the Island. It would continue to grow and expand to even more communities, and was a welcome relief to the population of seniors it was serving. 

Keith also designed Charlottetown’s senior citizens home, known as Charlotte Court, on North River Road which was built by Fitzgerald and Snow. It was front-page news for The Guardian when the Federal Minister of Labor, John R. Nicholson, came to PEI to officially open the 45-unit building on November 8, 1966. In his remarks, he extended sincere wishes for good health and happiness to all the residents and commended the Island for its foresight in providing for seniors.

“The provision of dwellings or homes for the elderly, at a rental fee that is within their financial capabilities, represents a major step towards sustaining a true dignity of life for those whose earning power dwindles as they grow older. This accomplishment should also represent a real and satisfying experience for the responsible provincial officials.”

Hon. J. R. Nicholson, Federal Minister of Labor, The Guardian, November 9, 1966

Across the Island, the senior citizens housing program provided great comfort and security for PEI’s  oldest citizens. The units were targeted to couples over 65 with a minimum income of $130, and the monthly rent in April 1964 was $50. This amount was about half the rate charged by private citizens or firms. Many couples depended on income from the Old Age Security payments and in the early 1960s this amount was $75 per month.  

The impact of the housing program was that it gave independence, dignity and privacy to couples in attractive surroundings. They were able to live in communities close to where they spent most of their lives. The homes were located where the seniors would have easy access to churches, stores and medical facilities and they could continue to be involved and take part in activities.

Sources: The Guardian September 26, 1962, October 30, 1962, December 7, 1962, February 27, 1963, April 30, 1964, October 21, 1964, November 17, 1964, November 9, 1966. The Journal Pioneer September 27, 1961

Nursing Homes 

In 1985 Keith was invited to be a member of a Working Group on Facilities for the Elderly - Design Guidelines. In particular, the Continuing Care Living Accommodations. A three-volume publication entitled Living Accomodations for Seniors was published in 1988 (ISBN 0-662-16749-X) by Health and Welfare Canada. In Keith's letter of June 10, 1985 to Dr. Norman Blackey, Executive Director, Canadian Association of Gerontology, we have these details of his experience and practice: 

...On all the projects I have been involved with, I always worked from the beginning with the group to establish the program and develop the plan of the building as a natural second step or continuation of the program through the various phases of drawings through contracts to completion of the building including landscaping and furnishing.

In nearly every instance I was involved in the initial site selection.

I have designed a 125 bed nursing home, 2-50 bed homes, a 75-bed home and now have under construction a 132 bed nursing home. As you can see, the 50 to 125 bed nursing home is the area I am most familiar with.

Each project had its specific requirements and covers a span of twenty-five years. Each group one works with have their own individual ideas as to layout and use of space, also, I always try to make provision for change as new staff always have their own requirements.

The smaller ones are more difficult to plan than the larger homes; more spaces have to have multi use functions and it is necessary to provide facilities in the smaller home (50 beds) in which the deaf, the blind, those confined to wheel chairs, the senile and those who have no major disability are sharing the same spaces, eating in common dining rooms, etc. 

There are many details which the programmer and designer have to be aware of and should be given as a checklist in the guidelines.

Finishes, colors, layouts, accessibility, staff facilities, housekeeping, storage should always be considered as it is the total project good for the residents, the staff and visitors which makes a successful project.

I always like to take any manual and look at it as a specification: Does it give the contractor the information he needs to produce the kind of building you want.

I look forward to meeting with our group and compiling what I would consider a document containing the necessary elements to assist in planning and building facilities to meet the present needs, keeping in mind, any anticipated changes in the future.