Seniors breaking stereotype image By MAGGIE ANDERSON Staff Reporter More and more of us are getting out and doing more, says Dr. Betty Bright, senior service volunteer with Community Care. "We're eating better and exercis- ing more. The old stereotype of the senior sitting at home rocking is far from the truth. About 95 per cent of us are involved in something, either paid work or community work." She is concerned with the health of seniors and is very happy to see them paying more attention to health and nutrition. "Keep active. Don't sit down. Exer- cise, either walk, ride a bike or jog, but with jogging, it's important to check first with your doctor." Bright graduated from the Univer- sity of Western Ontario, London in 1938. She and her husband moved to the Campbellford area where they both practised medicine. "I was one of two female doctors practising in the area, the other woman lived in Belleville. There was never a problem of my acceptance by the inhabitants. So many of the women had never visited a male doc- tor and they were just glad to see me. It wasn't unusual in those days, to deliver three babies a night, travell- ing from home to home." Three other women graduated at the same time as she did. They have kept in touch and this year plan a reu- nion celebration in London. In the 1950s, she and her husband moved to the United States where she remained until 1983. During that time, she practised medicine and after a brief return to Ontario to obtain her public health diploma from the University of Toronto, she began extensive work with the elderly. At one point, she operated geriatric mobile clinics through six counties in New York State. "I had always worked with the elderly, they are the largest bulk of patients to visit a medical doctor. When I recieved my diploma, my in- volvement increased. It's something I enjoy and find worthwhile." When she retired at age 62 in 1976, she remained in the states until 1983. "I returned home because my brother is here and my two children live in Ontario." Her involvement with Community Care began about 18 months ago and part of her work with them is to com- pile and write the Senior Scene col- umn that appears in this newspaper. She is a strong advocate of retire- ment counselling. "It's a necessity. Not only for finan- cial planning but also for pleasure planning as well." People, she says, should have something to fall back on. Some hob- by or special interest to keep them busy. "The older generation of men often find themselves with nothing to do. If their wife is also retired, she will do three times the work at home and be better off for it. The younger genera- tion will fare better, already they share with the household chores and they have realized that work is not all to a life, time has to be taken for relaxation." A survey, funded by New Horizons, is taking up a large part of her time at the moment. She is busy compiling data from local seniors to aid in long- range planning for the elderly. "More government action will have to take place. Instead of funding nurs- ing homes, more money will have to be spent enabling the elderly to stay in their own homes." Organizations such as Meals on Wheels and the Retired Tradesman progam are two examples of services provided to help people remain at home and self-sufficient. "Things quieten down during the summer, so far our survey has deter- mined the three areas of most con- cern to seniors. They are transporta- tion, housing, and loneliness. But, during the summer, people can get around easier and they often have family and friends visiting." There are about 7,000 seniors in the city of Belleville and Bright says there is always something to keep her' busy. "This summer, I will be com- muting from the summer home I share with my brother. Every sum- mer his family and mine get together and enjoy each other. This year because of the survey I will commute, but there will be time for relaxation." .