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I Business and Finance Section Two The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, September 18.1991 5 Seeing 'Through Other Eyes' - by Lorraine Manfredo k group of Bowmanville bank workers experienced first-hand last Wednesday, exactly exactly how it feels to be old. • After work, at the Royal Bank on King St., branch staff took on the physical limitations of advanced age as they participated participated in a seminar entitled 'Through Other Eyes'. • ' Tellers, clerks, and managers managers were required to wear various various devices to simulate, on their own bodies, the actual experiences experiences of the elderly. Arranged through the Ministry Ministry of Citizenship, 'Through Other Eyes' seminars are designed designed to sensitize workers to the changes that naturally occur occur in people over age 55. And with our aging population population predicted to remain active in the community late into their lives, service sector employees employees will need to cater to seniors' special needs. This program has proved helpful to doctors, nurses, retailers retailers and public transit workers workers in the past. It has been used in Japan and New Zealand. Staff at the Bowmanville Royal Bank hope to benefit as well, by gaining a clear sense of their older clients' feelings. So, with canvas weights strapped to their ankles, near- opaque swimming goggles blurring their vision, and water-wings water-wings restricting their elbow elbow movement, the group felt instantly transformed. General ;... Connie Nelson attempts to read a mortgage form ; through spotted swimming goggles. She wore the ; goggles while participating in the 'Through Other : Eyes' seminar at Bowmanville's Royal Bank, j About 20 staff from the bank participated in the pro- j gram last week. The seminar helped the bank staff ; understand the plight of elderly clients who cope ; idaily with handicaps. , fatigue, failing vision and stiffness stiffness of joints arc common ailments ailments of older people. And members of the Royal Bank staff were able to gain some insight insight into how these conditions actually feel. Wearing bright yellow earplugs,- earplugs,- and leaning on aluminum aluminum canes, this normally sensibly-dressed sensibly-dressed group of banking professionals felt anything but young. The bankers also wore two pairs of surgical gloves to experience lost sense of touch and temperature. Katita Stark, one of 30 trainers with the Ministry of Citizenship, instructed the Royal Bank group to complete a scries of rather simple work- related tasks. Equipped with the devices to simulate aging, the group stumbled, stooped and shuffled through the required required route, truly feeling the effects of their new, (or rather, old) age. Ms. Stark, in custom- selecting tasks for the bank staff to perform, deliberately chose things that they could usually perform effortlessly, if not automatically, But, outfitted outfitted as they were on Wednesday Wednesday evening, the Royal Bank personnel found even typing on the computer keyboard unusually unusually hard. Using the Automatic Automatic Teller Machine, and reading the small print on a mortgage form proved to be time-consuming stmgglcs as well. Some lost patience as they attempted even simpler actions such as descending a staircase or opening a door. Just walking around became a chore. Katita Stark believes that 'Through Other Eyes' can tear down the barriers of incorrect perceptions that seem to surround surround and isolate the elderly. She also says that impatient people make the mistake of becoming becoming overly solicitous of . seniors, unintentionally rushing rushing them. She cautions that unnecessary unnecessary assistance for capable, capable, but slow, seniors, only threatens their cherished independence. independence. A better approach is simply patience and understanding. understanding. Doris Foster, a Royal bank teller, successfully finished the 'Through Other Eyes' circuit of tasks around the bank. She estimates as many as half of her daily dealings are with seniors. seniors. "In future I'll be sure not to rush them, even though it gets busy". Foster can serve over one hundred customers a day. In this province, most seniors seniors own their own home and, of those over age 70, ninety percent arc completely debt- free. Most lend to keep a fair portion of their savings accessible accessible in the bank. Often reluctant or unable to operate the 24-hour automatic money machines, many seniors still prefer personalized service at a wicket. As a result of the program they completed last week, Royal Royal Bank staff are sure to be more understanding when they deal with senior citizens. After all, they were old once too. r Ontario Hydro to Raise Rates in 1992 Darlington G.S. Blamed for Bulk of 11.8% Increase Ontario Hydro's 1992 rate Also, the below forecast per- increase will raise the average formance of Hydro's existing monthly residential electricity nuclear stations has increased bill by about $7 starting January January 1, Hydro Chair Marc Elic- sen announced last week. More than half the increase is caused by Darlington Nuclear Nuclear Generating Station coming into service and other nuclear costs. "Darlington will cost us about $13.5 billion. As it starts to produce electricity, we have to start paying for it through our customer's rates. Darlington Darlington will represent about 30 per cent of Ontario Hydro's assets, so paying for it will naturally raise Hydro rates substantially as the units come into service." Other nuclear costs include those of reactor retubing at the older Pickering "A" station. Hydro's overall costs significantly. significantly. The plants were designated designated to operate at an average 80 per cent capacity, but last year operated at only 63 per cent. "We know the impact this increase will have on our customers customers and we've tried to be sensitive about that," said Mr. Eliesen. "We have taken the necessary steps to keep the system system reliable and to ensure that Hydro is financially sound, because because that meets the needs of our customers, both at home and at work. "Our electricity system is aging, and parts of it need to be replaced or refurbished. Reliability Reliability of the electricity system is very important to Ontario's economy. We are making the investments that arc needed to make sure we have electricity when we need it." Other new facilities to improve improve reliability include new 500 kilovolt transmission lines in southwestern and eastern Ontario. Rehabilitation work necessary to help improve reliability reliability of service includes a major overhaul of the coal- fired Lakcvicw Generating Station Station in Mississauga. The rate increase will reduce reduce Hydro's need to borrow or draw down its reserves. "We know that our customers customers don't want us to keep borrowing borrowing indefinitely against future future revenues to keep rate increases down. Hydro has dipped into its reserve two year in a row already and it is important important to get out of this practice practice as quickly as we can.. At the same time, in the current economic climate wc can't ask our customers to shoulder a rate increase which would avoid withdrawing from the reserve. reserve. "Our plans arc to achieve more moderate rate increases in about two years without having to tap our reserve." Eliesen said. The 11.8 per cent hike is an average increase. Specific increases increases to municipal utilities, large direct industrial customers customers and rural customers will be determined next month. Actual increases vary depending depending on consumption patterns, patterns, transmission delivery costs and other factors. The increase would raise the average monthly bill for 1,000 kilowatt-hours to about $78. For customers of municipal municipal utilities, the increase could be higher or lower depending on the revenue requirement of the municipal utility. The Canadian Statesman Complete coverage of all your Community events. SPORTS • LOCAL NEWS • PHOTOS •EDITORIALS-FEATURES • COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENTS • COMPREHENSIVE CLASSFED and REAL ESTATE SECTION **The Statesman - It's Your C 'am m u n U y Newspaper " • • • mCELMN* FIBERGLASS*HE fUC * MARBLE * FORMICA* APPLIANCES * CUSTOM COLORS m * WITHOUT REMOVAL | * WARRANTEED • ^dependent franchise i .yr ÏÉSÉ A local company, Worldwide Refinishing Systems, is bringing space- age technology to the Durham Region. Their product is a urethane-based glaze-coat that is a by-product of one developed for the NASA space program program to coat instrument panels. It is capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The product can be used on bath and kitchen appliances including tubs, sinks, ceramic tiles, kitchen and bath counter tops. Color changes and matches are an integral part of Worldwide Refinishing Systems. Local owner, Fern Bullock, is shown above alongside alongside her company van. For further information on this economical approach approach to redecorating, call 623-8664. NOTICE OF BOM CLOSURE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE HOLT HOAD BETWEEN HWY. 401 AND BASELINE HOAD CONTRACT NO. NW01-5 Road Closed to through traffic commencing September 16th, 1991. One lane shall remain open to local traffic at all times. Estimated contract completion date: October 25,1991. We apologize to the residents and motorists that may be Inconvenienced as a result of this construction. George Harding Construction Whitby, Ontario Telephone: 416-668-3566 xxvX-x-:-x-^tâ:-x^x*x-** - ^x-XvXvX*x PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER © Van Belle Floral Shoppes <..much more than a flower store! 14 STORES .HtymyNo.2 fd . «£*• ' 4§a . •100Dund*9LW., WMtby Tr»dmnmkt at Vm Bath Otémt LU IGA VEGETABLES. 3 •VM IRE WôWt savings • • • k 1 MAXWELL HOUSE INSTANT COFFEE Regular or Decaf., Sierra or Sanka Decaf. 150 - 200 g Jor High Tech Bathtub Refinishing Available mu CAMPBELLS CREAMS/ SOUPS \ushroom, Celery, 'Sicken or Broccoli IGA PEANUT BUTTER Smooth or Crunchy Large Size IGA PURE APPLE JUICE 48-oz. tin r IGA PLU 2622 VALUE .30 KRAFT SINGLES PROCESS CHEESE FOOD, ASSORTED VARIETIES, 24 OR 16 SLICE PACKS FEATURE PRICE WITHOUT COUPON $3.29 500 g pkg. SAVARIN POT PIES»/ d Varieties * • Frozen, Assorted or Macaroni & Cheese 200 g pkgs. McCAIN ORANGE JUICE 12.5-oz.^--^ Frozen, Concentrated, Regular or Pulp Free ROUND STEAKS OR ROAST Cut From Canada Grade A Beef, Boneless Outside Cut lb. 5.05 kg SIRLOIN STEAKS Cut From Canada Grade A Beef lb. 6.60 kg MAPLE LEAF WIENERS BLACK FOREST HAM Bittner's 1" WAX BOLOGNA Maple Leaf 44 1009 460 I** i ib. PRODUCE BANANAS From The Tropics .70 kg WHITE DREAD CRUSTY ROLLS McIntosh APPLES Product of Ontario, Canada Fancy 1.06 kg 0-lb. bag DOSC PEARS Product of Ontario, Canada Fancy 1.96 kg I - M | Irjj noos to m row imw. ■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■H ■■ 00D1 mn GRAHAM'S IGA MARKET 225 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario STORE HOURS Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday - d a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 5% Senior Citizens' Discount - Wednesday Lily