From the Guardian, August 18, 2009
SUMMERSIDE — Members of the Summerside Rotary Club are looking for
municipal support in setting up a four-year pilot project to inform
senior citizens and get them actively and productively involved in the
community.
Club members made their pitch to Summerside city council Monday night.
The group is asking the city to let the pilot project be run from
Credit Union Place and utilize the expertise of municipal staff for
advice.
“I think it really started around communication,” said Rotarian Dr.
Marvin Clark following the council meeting. “We were just amazed at the
difficulty you’d encounter if you try to find out where you would find
a certain medical appliance or if you could find an exercise program.”
He said getting information to seniors is only the first step. Next comes getting them involved.
“We see communication also as involvement. We will try to meet the
needs but we also want them to contribute — see themselves as a
positive force.”
Clark said the benefit of senior involvement is two-fold — seniors have
a wealth of experience and knowledge to pass on professionally and as
volunteers and secondly, involvement eliminates the feelings of
isolation seniors have leading to a healthier lifestyle.
“We’re not a bit concerned that once they try it, it’s not going to work. Once they try it, they’ll love it.”
The plan is to have a one-stop shopping outlet.
“If a senior needs something, he’s going to get the answer there,”
Clark said. “If he wants to give something, like volunteer or if he
wants to enter a mentoring program, he’s going to go there and they’re
going to send him away with a personal name to contact to get what he’s
after.”
Clark said Rotary has already met with federal and provincial
government officials and is hopeful the financial portion of the
project will come from those two sources. Clark said the key is that
it is being spearheaded by seniors themselves, rallying others to the
cause.
Councillors were intrigued by the idea and city staff was directed to
begin discussion with the group to determine the needs and what can be
done to help.
I’ve been looking at elder and senior care and keep coming across issues involving denture creams and neurological problems. It seems that some popular creams are involved and lawsuits are beginning to be filed. I found a site that is sponsored, I believe, by an attorney group, but that has some good health and legal information: http://www.denturecreamlawyer.com/ I hope this is of help to your readership.