Here’s a blog post I wrote about 10 years ago.

I’ve just come back from Calgary. Every time I visit that city I am always struck by the differences between the seniors’ housing market there and the seniors’ housing market here in Vancouver.  The projects all look the same, basically, –the big difference is the amount of personal care provided in most Calgary projects.  There are a few that cater only to people who require hospitality services (meals, housekeeping, laundry), but the majority provide extensive personal care services, most of which is paid for by Alberta Health Services.  Some places provide up to four hours of care per day. In Vancouver, care at this level would usually be found inside the doors of a long-term care facility.

And it’s all due to policies of the Alberta government, which is placing a very heavy emphasis on caring for frail seniors in places other than nursing homes.  In complete contrast, the BC government funds nothing other than nursing homes, although for a few years they too espoused the merits of assisted living as something of a substitution model for long term care.  But that was then and this is now.

The Alberta model is probably cheaper, at least for the government, although questions have been raised about that. From the perspective of seniors themselves, the model results in much more mixing of frail and less frail people than you would find in most Vancouver projects.  That can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your perspective.

The observations in those three paragraphs are still entirely relevant. But 10 years later, things are happening in Calgary that aren’t happening in Vancouver. Specifically, Active Adult housing is happening in Calgary and it’s not happening in Vancouver. Case in point: The Wellings of Calgary under construction in southwest Calgary near Olympic Park.

Before we get into a little more detail about the Wellings, here in general is what Active Adult housing is all about.

• Larger units, condo type finishes (unlike the typical seniors housing unit with its small square footage, bar fridge and microwave).
• No commercial kitchen or communal dining room where two or three daily meals are provided every day, year in and year out.
• A definite focus on lifestyle, not health care needs.
• Because of age restrictions, living with a peer group.
• On tap: fun, engagement, socialization, an active and healthy lifestyle.
• Safety and security are paramount.
• Services may be available to support aging in place, but always and only on an optional a la carte basis.
• Historically, most Active Adult communities in the US, eg the Sun City type developments, have been based on home ownership but many Active Adult communities built in the last decade have been rentals.

The Wellings of Calgary is one of those rental projects, which is owned and will be operated by Canada’s largest developer of Active Adult housing, the Nautical Lands Group.  From the web site:

Wellings is for independent adults 55+, who want to live their epic life without the hassle of house maintenance. We are a unique pro-age community celebrating Carefreedom Living®, connecting people who love life on their own terms.

We love fun in all forms, from TED type talks to wine testing to fitness classes, but make no mistake, your schedule is your own. Your Wellings lifestyle starts with your goals for the future, and that’s just the beginning!

There are all kinds of amenities at the Wellings, including a fine dining restaurant, a bistro and two licensed lounges, but food service is completely optional. Rental rates are not yet available but are expected to be high. The question is: will younger seniors (boomers primarily) choose to sell their houses (83% of 55+ households in Calgary are homeowners) and move to an upscale rental environment? The Wellings is a big project—the two phases will eventually include 275 units. Industry analysts are waiting with bated breath to see what happens.

There is no remotely similar project in the entire province of British Columbia.