A new organization of elders has arisen from the ashes of S.O.S. (Support Our Seniors) Comox Valley.
There are many reasons for such an organization. We are elders in a society that glorifies youth.
We are admittedly aging, whereas the rest of society — aging at the very same rate – often speaks of us as “those who are aging” as if they are not.
We are accused of “taking up beds” in our acute care hospital, as if our medical needs, which of course increase with age, are of less importance than the needs of younger individuals, and as if we maliciously grab those beds when we too would be much happier to be cared for in our own homes.
We have wisdom, but not always “savvy,” and may not be able to text or twitter as fast or catch onto new technologies as quickly as younger people.
We live in a society where there are barriers to integrating, receiving adequate care, obtaining home care, getting needed respite – these barriers often seem frustratingly designed to prevent us from fully participating in society. Like the drug bottles that have smaller and smaller lettering the more likely that the users will have nearsightedness, our society seems to make our older years frustratingly more difficult than they need to be.
So, this new organization will provide a forum for elders to share concerns and strategies, a regular opportunity to invite speakers of interest to the group, and an avenue for advocating changes in the way we, as a society, interface with our elders.
We plan to meet on a monthly basis.
We will meet at the lower Native Sons Hall on Monday, Nov. 30 from 1-3 p.m. Everyone is welcome. FMI Jennifer: 250-334-2321 or Marnie: 250-338-1282.