'Should Seniors Stay Or Go?' West Hartford To Look At Housing

Town of West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The sometimes difficult decision to go into senior citizen housing will be addressed at a special forum for local seniors and their loved ones on Tuesday, April 16.

The program is called "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" and it will feature a panel discussion on navigating the myriad senior housing options as we age

Hosted by the West Hartford Senior Citizens Advisory Commission, the presentation and interactive discussion is at 10 a.m. at the Bishops Corner Senior Center, 15 Starkel Road.

This event is free of charge.

"The rapid expansion of the 60-year-old plus demographic sector along with greater longevity of the baby boomer generation presents ongoing challenges regarding how to plan for an enjoyable experience in the third quadrant of the life continuum," wrote the town in an announcement.

West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor said in her March 18 “state of the town” address, that the number one challenge for communities across the nation is housing availability and affordability.

She said “empty-nest boomers” are reported to own 30 percent of large homes in the U.S. and have little incentive to sell and nowhere to go.

While the state and Town of West Hartford aim to increase the diversity of housing types, challenges continue for older adult homeowners and renters regarding appropriate housing solutions.

The panel with experience in senior living solutions includes Kristen Gorski, West Hartford's economic development coordinator; Heather Zoeller, advisory director of OnePoint Partners; and Mark Garilli, chief executive officer of West Hartford Fellowship Housing.