OLDS — June 6-12 is Seniors’ Week in Alberta.
In advance of that week, Bernice Lynn, co-chair of the Community Lifestyle Committee, gave a presentation to town council’s policies and priorities meeting on various ideas to make life easier for seniors.
Those ideas can range from simple things like increasing the font size on documents for seniors to enabling people of all ages, from grandchildren to seniors to play music together in parks.
“Let them have fun with their grandparents and great grandparents and see how wonderful it is to be with them,” Lynn said.
She said businesses or individuals can help seniors by assisting them with phoning or reading and be understanding if they get frustrated.
“The time that you spend with them, the care, identifying resources for them can be so helpful,” Lynn said.
Another idea, she said, is to build housing that integrates young adults and families with seniors in the same building so they can enjoy each other’s company and look after each other.
Lynn said Holland and Denmark are two examples of countries that have created that type of housing.
“They can go from a shop to a shop to a shop like they would if they were still like they were 20 years before,” Lynn said.
"They’re safe there and they have people who work there and they have interaction with younger people, so if they have college and university students working in places, they can have housing at reduced rates.”
Lynn said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed several horror stories of seniors receiving very poor care in institutions that were very short-staffed and where the staff that were there received very low wages and benefits.
Coun. Heather Ryan chairs the Mountain View Seniors' Housing board. She noted she and Lynn had discussed those ideas and she planned to bring them up with the board.
She also suggested that Lynn make her presentation to the wider community, including schools.
Lynn also said her group has met with politicians “and they did make some changes, but not as many as I would like.”
"It’s not an Olds issue or an Alberta issue; it’s just absolutely everywhere,” she added.
Before the presentation, councillors were given a questionnaire on seniors and aging.
Several councillors said it was eye-opening. Some shared the information in it with family members.
“I’ve got to admit, I did very poorly on the test,” Coun. James Cummings said. “I got 66 per cent, which is one of the worst grades I’ve ever gotten in my life.
“I was quite surprised I did so poorly on it. I thought I was doing things right. So even when you think you’re doing things right, you’re not necessarily doing things right.”
Lynn thanked council members for being so receptive to her presentation.
“I really appreciate your attention and you know, when you’re at my age you appreciate it even more, because I pray I’m going to be even older and I would enjoy a healthy end of life too,” she said.
