Idealism Vs Pragmatism

Some members of our group have suggested establishing a comprehensive retirement home facility for Muslim seniors, as designated under the Retirement Homes Act of the Government of Ontario, 2010. While this is a noble thought, it comes with its own challenges. The reality is that establishing such a facility for Muslim seniors in the GTA is not an easy task without the full support of the community. Additionally, we need to arrange financing for this extensive project, which could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars. This includes acquiring suitable land, obtaining permissions and permits from relevant government agencies, fulfilling zoning requirements, hiring a reputable builder with relevant experience, engaging a consulting firm for project management, and managing the facility through a professional operator experienced in managing such diverse facilities.

Moreover, it is clear that all the agencies involved in building and managing such a project aim to make money, likely a significant amount. The question is, ‘who will bear these expenses?’ Naturally, those who use these facilities will have to pay for them. It becomes apparent that realizing a Muslim community retirement home facility while minimizing building and operating costs is a formidable task. This perception is also shared by other senior members of the community who have attempted similar initiatives in the past but were unsuccessful.

Our objective is to provide such a facility to our community seniors at the minimum possible cost. This can only be achieved by reducing overhead expenses and managing the facility ourselves through a group of dedicated volunteers. The question remains, ‘what other options do we have to address this ever-growing problem?’ Our community is aging, and more people are becoming empty-nesters, living alone, and needing companionship in their old age for all the right reasons. Loneliness can lead to a host of health-related and mental issues in old age, and the only way to address this is by creating an environment conducive to their well-being in their most vulnerable years. We need to be pragmatic in setting our goals because time has proven that idealism does not get us anywhere. This is the urgent need of the hour.