麻豆传媒AV

I have been writing the newsletters for about six years now and thanks to a large number of kind owners, publishers and editors these letters have found their way to seniors and some other readers as well. Unfortunately I believe my letter writing days are coming to an end due in no small part to failing health.

The original thought behind the newsletter was to make people other than seniors aware of some of the problems that face older people. During the course of those years we have talked about the failing health care situation, especially in isolated rural communities, we have discussed the problems with federal pensions that do not keep up with the escalating cost of living and we have mentioned the problem with the lack of affordable and accessible low cost housing for seniors. We have also talked about senior centres and the problems they face on a day-to-day basis but the one thing we never really discussed was seniors themselves.

In 1939 it became apparent to some well-intentioned people that there was a great need to have safe and secure places where older people could go and enjoy the company of each other and at the same time enjoy social and recreational activities. Nothing has changed since then either in the philosophy behind senior centres or the activities that take place in those centres, and unfortunately that has been the downfall of many of the centres.

We have collectively failed to realize changes are constantly occurring around us that affect our daily lives and because we didn't recognize those changes we have failed to attract up and coming seniors to our ranks.

I have been constantly asked at what age does a person become a senior? That was always puzzling. My initial response was always, "at whatever age they choose." Maybe the real question was, "do we have to allow these very young persons in our centres?" As I travelled around the province it was obvious that in some clubs younger people were not made welcome. Seniors generally do not like change especially when the change is for change's sake but in many cases we have deliberately gone out of our way to avoid any change whatsoever, with the words and the belief that what was good 30 years ago is still good for today.

We can hardly keep repeating that old saw especially when we have spent so much time in those last 30 years trying to change the pension programs, the health programs and also the housing programs. Maybe we were not always successful in our endeavours, but we continue trying to have those changes made.

Changes have occurred in many places across this country where the Provincial Governments via the municipalities have taken it upon themselves to update, upgrade and enhance seniors' centers within their jurisdiction. Programs for seniors have been altered, amended and even originated especially for seniors with regards to the abilities both physical and fiscal. Lunch programs have been started at reasonable costs so that seniors cannot only enjoy an active lifestyle, but can also enjoy healthy eating. Programs that assist in daily living have been planned and volunteers from the communities that surround the center have come along to assist in these well-planned activities. There are also advisory and counselling services available for a minimal charge to help seniors with problems that deal not only with health but also of personal problems that older people encounter. In Saskatchewan we have missed out on most of that kind of change simply because the majority of us have been content with the "status quo." In other words what was good yesterday is still good today and probably for tomorrow as well.

The changes that have occurred in nearly every province across Canada with the exception of Saskatchewan have been responsible in no small way for a more healthy and vibrant seniors' movement. Younger elders have come to realize the importance of the voice we carry that will enable us to have more of a say in our futures and to some extent in the futures of those people who follow in our footsteps. Structured organizations such as SSAI now have to ensure the larger organizations they are partnered with, provincially and federally use that voice in a much more effective manner than previously done.

Everyone benefits from having a healthy and active senior population - government that holds the purse strings and the communities we live in. Maybe there is a touch of the fantasy in what can be achieved with the help of our supposed "caregivers," but if they never hear from us then we can hardly blame them for their inaction.

Stay healthy and stay active and maybe we can see each other at the June convention.