Mme L., 91 years old, consults me on December 14 for his swollen legs.
On his forearm, a bandage stained with blood.
My patient confesses to me that she did not go to the CLSC to have her dressing changed. The reason: the lady has to cross the street in front of her residence, the RPA Ambiance, in L’Île-des-Soeurs, 100 meters from the CLSC.
She is not the only one of my patients to inform me that they did not go to the CLSC for laboratory tests or for various treatments (vaccination, injection of medication). For 10 days, four residents have expressed to me their anxiety about what may seem trivial: crossing a street.
It must be said that this simple action in itself represents a challenge for an elderly person, whose balance is more precarious, who moves more slowly using a walker, or who has visual or hearing impairment. What was apprehension for some of the residents of the RPA has turned into fear since on December 5, 2022, an educator in her thirties was fatally hit at this same intersection while getting off the bus to go to work at the daycare. , close to the CLSC.
This intersection, which is the first after the L’Île-des-Soeurs roundabout, where motorists rush at high speed, is beginning to be a subject of concern in the community. Many citizens narrowly avoided being hit by impatient or insufficiently observant motorists.
Possible solutions exist: flashing lights, moving the bus stop a little further, posters to educate motorists to be more vigilant, crossing guards, education of the general population on the importance of respectful cohabitation between pedestrians and cyclists-motorists. Tragedies resulting from car-pedestrian or cyclist collisions continue to make headlines. Should we wait for the coroner’s recommendations to act?
In the meantime, how many of these seniors will put off their exams or treatments for fear of crossing the street?