2. An Age-Friendly, Memory-Supportive Riverside
Why This Matters
I want us to look at Riverside through the eyes of an older resident, a person experiencing memory changes, and the family member or caregiver supporting them. Clear wayfinding, accessible public spaces, places to sit and rest, informed community partners and less confusing public environments can make an enormous difference.
I prefer the language memory-supportive because the goal is not to label or stigmatize anyone. It is to make the community easier and safer to navigate. Many of the same improvements also help seniors generally, people with disabilities, caregivers and families.
Safe Chairs — One Practical Memory-Supportive Idea
Imagine recognizable chairs or benches at participating businesses, community facilities and other appropriate public places. Someone who becomes confused, tired or overwhelmed would know this is a safe place to sit and ask for help.
Participating staff could receive simple guidance: do not rush or embarrass the person, help them become oriented, and know what to do if they appear lost or need help contacting someone. It is a small idea, but it expresses the larger principle: design the community so people can remain included with dignity.
Illustrative concept for a proposed Blue Safety Chair pilot.
What City Hall Can Do
Within municipal facilities, streets, parks, wayfinding, accessibility and community partnerships, the City can make public environments easier and safer to navigate. It cannot diagnose or treat dementia.
Who Needs to Be Involved
Residents and caregivers, City accessibility and parks staff, libraries and community centres, Alzheimer and seniors organizations, local businesses and other willing community partners.
Cost and Funding
Many measures — staff awareness, wayfinding review, partnership programs and designated resting places — can be relatively modest. Physical changes would need to be costed and prioritized as part of normal capital or accessibility work.
Existing accessibility, parks/facilities and streetscape budgets, community grants, and voluntary business/community partnerships.
What I Will Do
Convene caregivers, seniors and accessibility partners, ask for a practical review of memory-supportive design opportunities, pilot low-cost ideas such as Safe Chairs with willing partners, and evaluate what works before expanding it.
My Action Plan
1. Convene a small working group of people living with memory change, caregivers, seniors, accessibility partners, Alzheimer/community organizations and City staff to identify practical problems in public spaces.
2. Conduct a “confusion and accessibility” walk-through of selected Ward 6 routes and facilities: signage, wayfinding, lighting, crossings, washrooms, seating, visual clutter and places where someone can safely stop and re-orient.
3. Pilot Safe Chairs or Safe Places with willing libraries, community facilities and local businesses. Participating locations would offer a recognizable place to sit and simple staff guidance on respectful assistance, orientation and contacting help when requested.
4. Encourage brief, practical awareness training for participating City-facing staff and community partners—communication, dignity, de-escalation and knowing where to refer someone for help.
5. Evaluate before expanding. Ask users and caregivers whether the pilot actually improves confidence and safety; expand only the measures that work. Fold successful design changes into future streetscape, park and facility upgrades.