Letter: City needs to be responsive to seniors' needs

When commenting on the excellent new exercise facility for all older adults recently opened at Finlandia, Gerry Lougheed Jr. said that “sometimes our seniors are afterthoughts when we design community playgrounds, medical treatment centres or family support programs.”

We are pleased this new centre for fitness sets an example for other initiatives related to senior-centred care.

Children home over the holidays remarked at how many older people there were in Sudbury, and were informed that we have the highest percentage of our population in the upper age bracket of any large community in Ontario, if perhaps not the country.

While we may be large in numbers, we have not always been the most vocal or demanding group, but this is changing. It has to change. In health care alone, it is predicted that the number of seniors to visit emergency rooms, will within a few years be one in three. There will an increasing number requiring advanced care either in institutions or at home.

Facilities such as those at the new Finlandia exercise centre, which is open to the public and free of charge, will keep our aging population in better condition for a healthier and happy extended life. Our municipality must also be responsive to the needs of the aging population in providing services to make our city more livable — from better snow removal from bus stops and downtown sidewalks to recreational facilities, bike and walking paths, access to parks, safer crosswalks, etc.

Seniors want to stay in their homes and in the community as long as possible. The cost to do so continues to increase, while, for many, income levels do not. This is a concern to many who fear increased taxation will adversely affect their standard of living. Those of more advanced age have been very fiscally responsible in their own lives and expect our elected representatives to be no less so with respect to municipal funds, but fear otherwise.

The advocacy voice of local older adults is represented by Friendly to Seniors Sudbury and the Sudbury Chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons. Those interested in having their concerns represented are invited to attend the next CARP meeting in the room across from the cafeteria at Science North at 12.30 p.m. on Feb. 28.

Hugh Kruzel
Chair, CARP Sudbury Chapter
John Lindsay
Chair, Friendly to Seniors Sudbury