Sylvan Lake residents worry they’ll never get off waitlists for a spot in seniors’ homes

Sylvan Lake seniors may live in one of the most picturesque locations in central Alberta, but some worry they might not be able to for much longer because they don’t have a suitable place to live.

Sylvan Lake Coun. Ian Oostindie knows several people who have had to move to Red Deer or other communities due to a lack of options in town.

“They're leaving their own families, their grandchildren, moving farther away to find housing solutions — not necessarily by choice,” said Oostindie. “It's just because of necessity.

“It doesn't feel good at all because I think it could happen to me.”

A lack of housing, especially homes designed for seniors, is not a new issue across Alberta, or even Canada. But a report prepared for the Sylvan Lake town council last year highlighted how the issue is playing out in the community, located about 140 kilometres south of Edmonton.

Sylvan Lake, including its seniors demographic, has seen significant population growth in recent years. Provincial data shows almost 17,500 people lived in the town in 2024, almost eight per cent growth since 2019.

As a result, more housing is coming to Sylvan Lake: housing starts in the municipality more than doubled from 2023 to 2024. That growth ranked sixth-most in the province, data shows.

Yet, seniors told CBC News that housing options for them have not kept up with population growth. Sylvan Lake’s 2024 housing needs assessment indicated there is a gap between the demand for smaller homes and the existing supply. 

People aged 65 or older made up more than 13 per cent of the town’s population last year, their proportion rising more than four percentage points since 2019, population data shows. 

Seniors said the last two subsidized seniors’ communities were built 60 years ago.

Quality aside, according to Oostindie, 38 people are waiting to get into the 59-unit Sylvan Lake Lodge, and 22 people are on the waitlist for the 12-unit Sylvan Manor.

Janet Swinden, 81, has a fixed pension income like many retirees, which can make renting in the private market difficult. But now, her issues go beyond money.

“At one point, I wanted to get in for the low rent,” Swinden said. “Now, it's medical as well, because I need a knee replacement.

“If they call me for that and I'm not in [Sylvan] Manor, I'll have to turn it down, because it's 16 stairs for me to get to my car — 11 stairs just to get to street level.”