聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Local seniors and community leaders put their heads together at the Saskatchewan Health Authority's 'Seniors in the Community' focus group on Friday, Jan. 26 at Carlyle's Golden Heritage Court.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Facilitators Deb Kennett Russill - occupational therapist and Chair of Seniors in the Community - and Felecia Watson - Director of Quality and Safety for the Sun Country Health Region/Saskatchewan Health Authority in this area - both stated that the event's purpose was to explore what is needed locally to support seniors' quality of life in their home communities.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he goal is to survey area communities and ultimately, to support seniors to remain in their own homes safely for as long as possible and to address their quality of life in their communities,鈥� says Kennett Russill.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e're asking: 'Where can we help?' as a health region in our different communities.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e feel really strongly that we need to hear from the seniors themselves,鈥� adds Watson. 鈥淲hat they need and what's important in their community.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Nearly 20 participants - including local seniors as well as representatives from the Town of Carlyle, the Carlyle & District Food Bank, the Carlyle Housing Authority, Friends of Moose Mountain Lodge, the Carlyle and District Lions Club and the Happy Gang Club - took part in a wide-ranging discussion after completing a confidential survey which addressed aspects of accessibility and quality of life affecting seniors in Carlyle.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The survey questions addressed issues that included: accessibility, transportation and roads, housing, respect amd social inclusion, participation and communication, employment opportunities, community supports and health services.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Participants were also asked to rank health concerns in their community. The results listed the group's top concerns as follows: Alzheimer's disease and dementia, cancer, diabetes, depression and foot care.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Resources for seniors in Carlyle that were discussed included the town's Handivan, the Happy Gang Centre and Meals on Wheels - which led Watson to conclude: 鈥淲hat I've heard here today is that there are lots of great resources in your community and in some cases, it's just a matter of harnessing them and getting the word out to people about what's available.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Watson will compile a report for the Saskatchewan Health Authority when the community visits are complete.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t's important to raise awareness and if these issues aren't discussed and addressed, then they're not acted on,鈥� says Kennett-Russill.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e've had a really great turnout today and a valuable discussion.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 For more information, visit: .听
