a By CRIS LEYKAUF » EMOGRAPHICS indicate our popu- im lation is aging, Seniors now make up over 12 per cent of the provincial population, but in Terrace that num- S ber is just under 6 per cent. : ~- However, Terrace may be calching up to the ~"test of the province, as more seniors choose to -. = 8lay here, says geriatric psychiatrist Gillian “Hodge, She thinks more and more seniors are os Tetiring in Terrace, Father than moving south, oe By the year 2020, she said, seniors are ex- _ - pected to total 20 per cent of B, C.'s population. oo And if Terrace seniors continue to stay in the “oy. area, that means Terrace and other northwestern ~. communities will see an even bigger real in- “Test of the province, ~ ‘Ts what we call an enhanced trend,”’ says Hodge. - Currently Hodge i is the only doctor who prac- .. .itlees geriatrics medicine full time in the entire “northwest. She is based at the Skecna Health -//;Unit in. Terrace and travels throughout the -»inorthwest, diagnosing clients with possible oS omental health problems, such as depression, “memory loss or dementia. - However, Hodgé only diagnoses seniors — she does not treat them, Currently there are no full time specialists who treat seniors for either “mental or physical health problems in the north- west, -Tustead, Hodge says, seniors go to general ~/ crease in numbers of seniors, as compared to the - SENIORS | Aging population brings ‘tion brings strength ar and challenges practitioners, They doa good job, she is quick to say, but she feels there will likely be more specialty in the area of seniors’ medicine i in the future, Not only will there be more-seniors in Ter- race, she says, they will also be living longer. “The average lifespan is still growing,’’ she says. ‘It’s not clear when that trend will stop. That means we'll have more elderly people that will need looking after.’’ “The average fifespan Is still growing. It’s not clear when that trend will stop. That means we'll have more elderly people that will need looking after.” Since old age 4s partially defined by an in- ‘creased risk of having a number of illnesses, she thinks there will have to be significant adjust- menis made to the way medical services. are delivered. “For example, residential care beds in the -area Will have to be increased,’’ says Hodge. More community services for seniors will voIseRE . Support groups, and adult day care centres. ‘Tange of graduated support housing for seniors - have to be provided to ep. ‘them at home longer, she predicts. : ‘Therefore, that leads to an increase i in home support worker services, such as physiotherapy, and even volunteer agencies such as the helping handyman service. More adult children will also find themselves taking care of their ailing parents. "That mean we'll need enhanced help for the caregivers of the elderly,’’ she says. And caregiver burnout will become an increasing problem. That will lead to a rise in caregiver ‘Hospitals will also find more seniors taking up acute care beds, as their numbers increase. But one of the most important changes will be a rise in the numbers and types of housing for seniors. | “Right now we have residential care and in- dependent living — and not much in between,’ says Hodge. She thinks there will need to be-a in the future. This could mean anything. from seniors living together in a retirement complex, with a nurse on call, to more and more supportive housing, ending with institutions like Terraceview. And where will the money for all these added services come from, when the medical services . plan is already under attack? ‘We'll have to spend more on health care, or else shift more money to community based care . services from acute care,"’ says Hodge. assist seniors _ By AILEEN FRANK Frank — in Terrace. with problems or concerns. Counsellors can DO YOU KNOW ‘hat almost every community - throughout British Columbia has a seniors’ counsellor? There are about 150 Seniors’ counsellors around the province. In the northwest, there’s Jim Stutt in Prince Rupert, Maxwell Cheyne in Kitimat, and-me — Aileen Seniors’ counsellors are voluntary helpers appolnted by the Minister of social services to aid senior citizens Counsellors are senior citizens themselves and therefore understand senior's needs. Counsellors ate By KEN VELDMAN has continued to increase. Seniors’ stability braces our economy | OVER THE last 10 years, the proportion of seniors (65 years and up) in Greater Terrace The last official population count, the | 1991 Census, placed the number of seniors in Terrace at 1,000, or 5.4 % of the popula- tion, In. 1986, the number of seniors num- bered only 735, or 4.2 % of the population. The advantages of seniors” contribution to the social fabric of a community go without saying, However, seniors are also very im- portant to the local community from an The Happy Gang Centre on Kalum St.isthe = | place where local seniors . congregate to talk, play cards, and plan events, and help each other, Many local seniors pride themselves on their self- ‘Sufficiency and ability to band together to look” after each other. shown that they exhibit more loyalty in: their shopping patterns. As a result, the money that is Spent tends to circulate through the community more limes, creating more local jobs (the “multiplier effect’’). - More and more communities have be- come aware of the significant effect that seniors can have on the economic develop- ment of @ town or city. As a result, the at- traction of the retirement community has . become an important part of the develop- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 1, 1995 - AS , a 1 - CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD " provincialism aired'on a news broadcast last week knowledgeable about services and resources for seniors. They may not always know the answer for problems, but they can put you in touch with other people or-agencies who can help you. Counsellors can help you complete application forms for your Old Age Pension, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, spouse’s allowance, Canada Pension Plan, B.C.’s GAIN for Seniors, and the SAFER Program (Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters). Counsellors can inform you about various programs and benefits for seniors such as: B.C, Medical Care, Pharmacare, bus passes, hearing aid clinics, long term care, seniors housing. Counsellors can advise you on such matters as consumer affairs, nutrition, debt, making a will, discounts for seniors, and senior citizens’ activities. As the seniors’ counsellor for Terrace and District, I attended a training and information session for counsellors in Kelowna arranged by the Minister of : social services, Many current topics concerning seniors were: discussed to keep counsellors in touch with the changing times, sich as: new directions in health care, communications skills and more. . ; Terrace Seniors Counsellor Aileen Franke can be reached at the Heppy Gang Centre, effects of aging on health, elder abuse, seniors m= housing, economic viewpoint. ment suatesy of many communities, Nanaimo, for example, has* The income of most seniors — is based ona fixed amount that comes from’ retirement savings, pension plans, or government social programs. While these amounts certain- ly vary among individual. senior, they ‘are basically recession-proof. ° Compare this to the forest Seniors’ fixed | incomes are a. recession-proof ‘part of the local - economy, =— been able to build ‘on the ~ strengths of their location . and climate, and has a. ‘seniors population that com- prises about.17 % of their population. It has been a crit- |. ical- element’ of building a |- stable economic base for a ~ ~ papidly developing com-". “munity, ~ industry, where: the ‘next downturn in prices.could | lead to job fosses, and # substantial loss of income flowing through the city’ 8 econo- my. Seniors, on the othet hand, arc able to boast -a- consistent, relatively ‘risk-free stream of income, Furthermore, it is income that largely comes from outside of the local economy. In other. words, it is. ‘new’? money that circulates through the city. Moreover, seniors tend to spend more of thelr income focally. Hence, the local econ- | omy Is less’ susceptible to “leakages”: Not >: - [only are seniors less likely.to trivel outside « I af the community as much, but studies have : .pared to Terrace’s 5.4 %, "ie growth that Terrace can offer seem to be’. _ As our image and reputation in the pro- . “Terrace: has a long way to. ‘go before it can be called a. retirement haven. After. all, seniors con- stitute 12.9 % of BC’s population as com- a However, the lower housing costs, in: ‘creased services, mild climate and econom-. convincing more of our seniors to remain in o Terrace after retirement: “es vince continue to Brow, that, trend should . vontinue. . 7: + Ken. Veldnian i is the economic devop! | ment M officer for the City off Terrace, aS ioe _ The Vail an Opposes arena vote Dear Sir: ey I write with concern about the lack of voice from anes those opposed to the Second Sheet of Ice being ap- - proved in a referendum. I oppose efforts to have all Terrace and Thombill residents forward $30 a year for the next 25 years in increased taxes to aid the minority 500 individuals (3 percent of the area population) to gain greater access to ice time. we The proside (minor and recreational hockey players, ~ sparting good stores and hotels) argue we will attract ~ more money and more jobs but I ask them to’consider Kitimat. It has two arenas and its economy is not grow- — ing. Its tax base is dependent on Alcan and Eurocan. I urge Terrace and Thornhill voters to oppose this . $2.8 million investment and convince city council to improve our road conditions with existing money z and a resources, : I have seen no legal guarantee the Second ‘Shect . — Society will meet their $750,000 commitment. fo ee Rob Ashwell, Terrace, B.C. _Another arena ‘no’ Dear Sir: Before voters make a final decision as to the Nov. 18: a second sheet of ice referendum, perhaps they haven't considered everything. ty The present arena is only used 3 per: cent of the a time, not only because the remaining 27 per cent of.the - ~ time is inconvenient but because of not enough revenue to pay attendants. Simple arithmetic dictates the two’ ‘sheets only being open 36 per cent of the time cach. .. There are simply no extra funds in the city budget for® additional manpower. Look at how many layofts there’ have been recently. : The second sheet. is a binary we can’t afford and while it may be necessary in the minds of a few hockey players, it falls very low on the wish list of mast Ter- race residents. = * - liems with far more precedence are, to begin with, a. ane "proper water system, While we have a good supply, we... _- have a woefully inadequate delivery: system and MO! ee money toupgrade. s Be Next would be Lanfear Hill which threatens. wc cave * in at any time but, because of no money, its fepain: {00 ” have been shelved.. a Moku Then there is. the general road systein, which was: eee paved in the 1960s and 1970s and now faithfully cracks - wees and heaves every spring, Once. again, due to no money, Bon Win we can bounce along these for many springs to comes: How about’ the - proposed: 911 system. It could a definitely save lives but due to no money it too will be shelved for many years to come. The second sheet proponents seem to be stuck in the mindset of the 1970s when the. whole, country bor- rowed money with no thought to mounting deficits, © The present arena was built mainly by donations, member the ‘Skate in: 68’ ‘slogans. The Skate, 2 mittee should raise then money on n their own and no pect the taxpayer to’ pay for it On Nov, 18, Tl be voting ‘no’ Dear Sir: ° This letter is in. support of the Broples It all al sional preachers ‘im town keep silent to‘ protect th popularity, the Brophies will still speak up! - Paul Bemardo believed in “freedom”. He was‘ cated’? by porn, and addicted to pom. - Lophits Do the publishers and sellers of porn really v want exists. He is a person, and we have seen him..; Don't ask if God. exists, either. We have scen too, It is our liberator. and fréedom-fighter, the Loi Jesus Christ! Follow Him, you Poor &e sex slaves}. "Res Fishing Reguiaticn Refortn Public Hearings ~ Tdon’t believe that the display’ of narrow mind cuntely reflects the opinion of northwestern A small group of avid fishermen protesting | iti ing of the country’s natural resources with fellc nadians and foreign tourists reflecis no credit'to It is fronic that the very people who would li cess to fishing are the ones that benefited: most 1 in the past. If anyone has the natural right to fish these waters and ‘complain about the sharing of résources it ls the aboriginal population. For the past 5,000 : ‘years fish has been the main staple of their diet. “hope that those assigned the task do not listen: : few selfish iridividuals who wish to limit the ‘Aishli for. their o own private plea easure or profit. eae THE: START: IS-FOR PEOPLE LEARNING Ta. READ —T he Start | “Recycle this Saturday YOU CAN help recycle this Saturday. | People. from Kitimat are coming here newspaper; Magazines, cardboard _ and Paper. Dd ®, ~ They. are from ‘Kitimat ‘Understanding. ‘th vironment (KUTE): They. will take the pa to Kitimat. Some of what they get will be recy ‘at the Eurocan pulp mill in Kitimat: . The: waste paper. will: be collected in “Mall lp king Jot on a Nav: as