Abbeyfield Kingston Newsletter
April, 2008

John Purkis, President's Message

Your Board and its twelve members have been meeting monthly and exploring every possible lead. I am certain that we will succeed! Probably our greatest success this year has been the much increased publicity in Kingston of Abbeyfield. More and more people are hearing of our quest to establish the first house in Kingston and the increased publicity in the local press has certainly helped. All in all, their response has been very encouraging.

The Growth & Initiatives of the City of Kingston has been very helpful in exploring possible sites. Unfortunately the predesign of a possible location in Rodden Park encroached on park land and we did underestimate the reaction by the neighbourhood to this development. Abbeyfield prides itself on being a neighbourhood-friendly association and consequently we have placed a hold on this possibility while we explore other alternative locations.

Meanwhile we are reviewing financing avenues particularly as related to Life Leasing. We have also revised the Business Plan for operating such a facility and are contacting other Abbeyfields to learn from their experience.

Hopefully, by the date of our annual meeting we will be able to provide further details on a new possible location for the first Abbeyfield house. We are currently discussing with a local Parish church an informal partnership with them to promote the purchase and conversion of one of their buildings to an Abbeyfield house for 12 to 14 residents. It is our hope that they will share with us in achieving this objective.

In closing I wish to thank and acknowledge the Board members for their assistance during the year. In particular I have appreciated the knowledge and assistance of our Vice Chair, Stan Sherry. Stan will be leaving the board but will continue to stay on as consultant. Also, this is my final year as President of the Board. You must now choose a Vice Chair who would replace Stan and be available to take over from me so as to maintain a good continuity of service to the Society as our project develops.

Change is progress and good for any organization and we welcome new members and volunteers.

John Purkis

THE ABBEYFIELD CONCEPT

At our annual general meeting, on May 1, 2008, 2-4 p.m., Media Room, Seniors Centre, 56 Francis St., we will be pleased to answer your questions about the Abbeyfield House lifestyle for seniors. We will also have an Abbeyfield International Power Point presentation available for viewing that contains photos of Abbeyfield Houses in many different countries.

Several of our Board members have become acquainted with the Abbeyfield Houses in Ottawa and Durham in Ontario, as well as Houses in Victoria and Burnaby, B.C.

When Pat Hodge, one of our current board members, saw how comfortable and re-energized her Mother was at the age of 92 when she went to live in St. Margaret's of Scotland Abbeyfield House in Burnaby B.C., she decided to join the Board of Directors of Abbeyfield Houses Society of Kingston.

Discover The Many Merits of Supporting the Mission of Your Local Abbeyfield Society in Kingston.

By Stan Sherry

Vice-President, Abbeyfield Houses Society of Kingston Inc.

As some readers may already know, the first Abbeyfield Society was established in London, England fifty years ago by Mr. Richard Carr-Gomm to provide supportive housing for seniors living in East London, England.

When you support the mission of your local Abbeyfield Society you too become a community partner with a growing network of well-respected community volunteers from all walks of life. Abbeyfield volunteers are all community activists committed to helping to establish and operate on a non-profit basis, supportive, small scale, barrier-free residential housing for our local seniors who do not wish to live alone.

With our rapidly aging population, there is growing need both here in Kingston and in communities around the world for more affordable, secure and family-like residential settings for our elders to call their future home.

You can also gain more insight into the work of Abbeyfield Societies from across Canada and the world by going to the website: www.abbeyfield.ca.

Individuals who would like to learn how you too can support the mission of Abbeyfield Houses Society of Kingston are invited to contact Mr. John Purkis, President, by phone at 613-547-6445 in Kingston, Ontario, or by email at: jpurkis@cogeco.ca for more information.

Friends of Abbeyfield will have many different opportunities in the coming months and years to work with fellow community volunteers who are committed towards helping to ensure that Kingston's first Abbeyfield supportive residence for seniors is a community leader in providing respected supportive housing for seniors.

Overnight Accommodation Abbeyfield Houses

Abbeyfield International Conference, Toronto

Capt. Allan Snowie, Chairman of Abbeyfield International, gave an inspiring speech on the merits of supporting the local work of Abbeyfield Societies at the 1st International World Conference for Care of Seniors and Nursing Homes held in Berlin, Germany, in 2007, which is posted on the Abbeyfield website. Please consider becoming a Member and Supporting Friend of Abbeyfield Houses Society of Kingston Inc. Do you know of a senior who could benefit from the Abbeyfield housing lifestyle? If you do, please let our President John Purkis know.

ABBEYFIELD KINGSTON BOARD MEMBERS