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SS SS 9 [Re SEEN IS el oe TE a A Second 0 ) Section « | P°RTR PERRY . ; J ) : Vol. 109 -- PORT PERRY, ONTARIO, Wednesday, June 18, 1975 -- No. 32 *, oN % Ps Aras oD Participation is the word for Seniors Club . Treat the elderly as people.... Most important factor in the lives of the elderly, said Community Nursing Home director of Nursing Edna Goss, is that senior citizens are treated as anyone else, individually, as individual people. Dealing with seniors for over 20 years and director of Nursing at the Port Perry home for over a year, Mrs. Goss knows from experience both the myths and the truths about the aged. "If society learns to assume that the elderly lead active, full, enthusiastic lives, then they will," she said. "It's all a matter of attitude." Mrs. Goss and the staff at the Port Perry home attempt to apply that assumption. "We think of ourselves as living with these people everyday, rather than simply being employed here," she said. "We assume patients here are healthy, rather than assume they are sick. Most of all, we see each of them as individuals, rather than "patients", she said. Too quickly, she points, do the elderly slip into what society considers to be the stereotyped citizens". "It certainly isn't the way most of these people are," she said, "but if we allow them to become institu- tionalized, they they'll end up that way." Ask Mrs. Goss about what the elderly need to lead a rich and rewarding life, and she'll point to things universally accepted, by all ages, as the individual's key to happi- ness. Goals, love, accep- tance, are all things that the senior citizen needs, just as much as the young man and young woman. 'Life must be worth- while," she said. "There has to be a goal, a reason, a purpose. And that's import- ant." It is all too easy, she points out, to button up a jacket for Doing own t new for this grand lady A bouncing, bubbling, bundle of sheer love of life, is how one might describe Vera Knott. Her popularity reach- es to anyone who knows her -- probably numbering in the hundreds and her work as a 'Legion auxiliary member is a reflection of her involve- ment in the community. You might find Vera dancing up a storm at a Legion dance, or 4 the centre of attention in a small crowd. She'll tell the odd story or two that's guar- anteed to singe your side- burns and she's been known to have a drink or two. At the Port Perry Branch of the Legion, her constant good humour and enthusiasm has earned her the affectionate nickname of "mom". To Vera, being active is an understatement. You get the impression that it will take Vera another 70 years to slow down. "I don't think I try to be active," says Vera, almost embarrasingly. "It isn't exactly an-effort. I think it more or less comes natural- ly. We had love in our - family," she said. "Not much money, but love." That's one of the keys to enjoying life, she thinks. That, and an overwhelming love for people. "I love to be with people," she said. "Oh, "senior. someone with arthritic prob- lems who perhaps has a difficult time of it. It is a lot easier, but it doesn't help, she said. The hands become stiffer. "Neglectful families" who perhaps cannot find time to include the elderly in their lives are a real concern today. At the nursing home here, points out Mrs. Goss, it isn't much of a problem, probably due to a slower pace of life in the smaller com- munity. "I think most of us today do not visit our relatives and keep family ties the way we should, probably due to the fast pace of life," she said. But attitudes are changing. More and more society is allowing the aged to live meaningful and productive lives. "A large class of fingerpainting is degrad- ing," she states. "Like anyone else's activities, they must be meaningful." Senior Citizens Homes Seniors club members active, enthusiastic There are no rocking chairs at the Latcham Centre, but that has nothing todo with the large number of . seniors who turn out twice a month for the regular meet- ing of the Port Perry Senior Citizens Club or the dozens of events, courses, and pro- grams the club sponsors every year. Infact, if last week's meet- ing was an example of the way seniors do business, then not too few other organ- izations would do well to send a few representatives to see how it's done. Most proposals get motions almost immediately, and seconders to boot. There is an enthusiasm among the members that is scarcely found elsewhere: In fact, of the 170 members of the organization, well over half attend the meeting on a regular basis. In comparison to other groups and organizations, that's impressive. You'll find very few stereo- types at the meeting. "Sit home and knit?" said one elderly woman, "I just don't have the timé. There's too much to do." used to be a place "to put away Aunt Mary" when you could do nothing else with her," said Mrs. Goss. "It was either that, or an asylum." Today, there is a move to not only- build such homes with the individual in mind, but to build them "where the action is," or as close to "downtown" as possible, rather than "out of the way in the country." Still, the major emphasis today is still on youth. "That's where the money is....the purchasing power." she said. Nevertheless, there is a vast.reservoir of knowledge, enthusiasm, and an eager- ness for involvement among the senior citizens, that is toa large extent, untapped. "These people have so much to offer," said Mrs. Goss. '"'But society must allow it to come out." "All we need to do is ask." ing nothing God, what would without people!" Born in Port Perry, she worked in Toronto, Orillia and a few other places as a telephone switchboard oper- ator. She returned to Port Perry with her husband in 1955, and has lived here ever since. "I love Port Perry. There isn't a place I'd rather be." Mrs. Knott's husband died 12 years ago and there's been lonely moments in her life since. "Sure, you get lonely at times. But you can't start feeling sorry for yourself. That's about the worst thing to do!" She reads a lot. (mystery life be novels mainly) watches a bit of television, or passes a few hours playing cards when- ever she feels like it. "You know," she said, "I like playing poker. I used to belong to a card club at one time." Occasionally, she'll tell you under her breath, pre- tending secrecy, she's play- ed poker by herself, dealing the extra hands to imagined players. "And 1 don't either!" she smiles. Doing your own thing is nothing new to Vera. She's been doing it for years. "I do as I feel," she said. "I don't (continued on page 18) cheat, And considering the club's timetable, that's understand- able. Among the programs the club offers are, or plans to offer, square dancing, arts and crafts, tours, trips, dances, dinners, and much more. Another active group is the Cartwright Senior Citizens Club, and according to club officials, the hardest prob- lem is getting a good turnout at meetings not because of a lack of interest, but because senior citizens are very busy people. "We have to compete with church groups, women's groups, and other club's and organizations," said a spokesman. 'Sitting in front of a fireplace in a rocking chair just activity." The Cartwright group were one of a few to take advant- age of the New Horizons isn't the main Vera Knott: Not your stereotyped Senior Citizen. program, where worthwhile projects by senior citizens were financed by govern- ment similar to the OFY grants. Unfortunately, however, disagreement about some of the details of the project resultéd in stopping the pro- ject, and the club returned the $5,500. it was granted under the program. The club hopes to continue activities in the future in a program that will, this winter, move into the edu- cational field. Hopefully, seniors will submit to local school authorities what kind of courses or programs they would like to see started. If there is enough participation, hopes Blackstock High School principal Gordon Paisley, then perhaps an extension of the night school program can be established. agro ¥ Sv bm