Volunteers wanted: Seniors to help Summerside businesses become age-friendly

Volunteers in Summerside, P.E.I., will be working to help local businesses become more age-friendly.

The project is an initiative from a special committee dedicated to making the city more friendly to seniors.

That committee is now seeking seniors to go around to businesses and identify ways to make the space more accessible to older people.

• Summerside works to create age-friendly city

"How welcoming is the business when you walk into it? How is the signage in the business? Can you clearly see what it is you're looking for? Are items for sale displayed at a level where it's easy for seniors to access them? Those are just some very basic things," Carrie Caunce, a staff member with the age-friendly cities committee, told Mainstreet P.E.I.

Volunteers will be sent out in pairs, and will receive training and an information package on what makes a senior-friendly business.

"I'm in my mid-50s and I could go and I could present the package and the information, but I'm not someone in my 70s yet, who does maybe have a few more struggles in terms of access into buildings, or problems with my sight or problems with my hearing," said Caunce.

'Responsive to the needs of your customers'

She said the goal is to train at least 30 per cent of staff at each business, and hopes to have a variety of types of businesses with the training.

She hopes to eventually create a map and stickers that identify businesses that have received the training.

"Most businesses are very interested and very eager," she said. "The reality is that you want to be responsive to the needs of your customers."

She said the plan is to start training volunteers by the end of September.

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