– by Shauna Dorko, Owner, Sidney SeniorCare –
I’m sure we’ve all imagined, some of us perhaps with a bit of fear or certainly trepidation, what it will be like to become a senior. Of course, quite a few of us are already there and are currently experiencing the challenges that this often complex stage of life presents.
I think we’re all very aware that seniors are the fastest-growing age group in Canada. This trend is expected to continue for the next several decades with an estimated 10.4 million seniors by 2036. By 2051, about one in four Canadians is expected to be 65 or over. It’s mind blowing, isn’t it? As a resident of Sidney, I am also very aware that our town boasts more than its fair share of seniors – in fact, Sidney ranks third in our country (hot on the heels of Qualicum Beach and Parksville) for the highest proportion of people over 65 according to 2012 Census data.
I am grateful that the province of B.C. seems to be finally recognizing its rapidly increasing senior population and has even deemed it worthy of an official Advocate. This position is the first of its kind in Canada, and I was happy to see Victoria’s own Isobel Mackenzie, an esteemed former colleague of mine, named as B.C.’s first Seniors’ Advocate in March of 2014.
This official acknowledgement of the unique issues that seniors face will hopefully lead to greater knowledge and understanding of our aging population; not only resulting in less marginalization and more appreciation, but helping to restore senior citizens to their rightful position in society; a position that garners respect and admiration. This new insight will perhaps even help us to make better choices for our own lives and future legacies.
With this new column, we look forward to introducing and creating dialogue around a variety of topics relating to seniors, their families and caregivers. We will explore the issues of ageism and elder abuse, mobility and transportation, home support and community care, and provincial assistance programs that are available to seniors, just to name a few…
To end this first installment, I’d like to issue a community challenge: for each and every one of you to make the time to engage in a positive, meaningful way with a senior. Whether that be a kind gesture, a helping hand, an insightful conversation, or simply comfortable companionship, let’s aim to make it a priority on a regular basis to truly appreciate the seniors in our community. We invite you to submit your stories of these meaningful engagements to us and will share excerpts from special stories; exceptionally thoughtful submissions will receive a complementary service from Sidney SeniorCare.
Until we meet again … let’s partner together in advocacy for seniors!
Written in collaboration with Sherrin Griffin. We welcome all comments, suggestions and ideas for future columns. Please email us at news@seasidemagazine.ca with ‘Seniors’ in the subject line.
