Penticton Herald

HowwillPen­ticton meetneedof­seniors?

- DEAR EDITOR: Elmie Saaltink Penticton

Re: “Age creeping up in South Okanagan,” (Herald, Page 1, April 29).

Prominent in the news is the report from Stats Canada about the rising number of seniors in Penticton, where residents over the age of 65 will soon make up 30% of our population.

This news leads to much speculatio­n about how we as a community are going to meet the needs of this group as they continue to age.

The Seniors Wellness Society and our Aging Well partners have been exploring this question for the past three years, and are preparing to share some of our thoughts and ideas with the community during Seniors Week on the week of June 5-11.

After two years of distancing due to COVID, we’ve all learned the importance of staying connected with others. This year we are offering the community the opportunit­y to connect — to explore ways to make new connection­s or to renew old ones: to hear from community organizati­ons offering support and services to our seniors and their caregivers, and importantl­y, to ask questions and to tell us how this community can better support us all in aging well and feeling supported.

On June 5, the B.C. Seniors’ Advocate, Isobel Mackenzie, will visit Penticton to share what she’s learned about the importance of connection through the pandemic, and also to hear from you about seniors’ — concerns.

Representa­tives of organizati­ons that serve seniors will be on site to answer your questions and hear your suggestion­s. At the end of the week, June 11, the Seniors Drop-In Centre will offer a day of festivitie­s with representa­tives of clubs and social organizati­ons on site to allow you to examine the multitude of activities our community has to offer young and old alike.

In between these events, there will be a number of speakers and activities taking place throughout the community allow us to connect, to be creative, to learn, and to be entertaine­d together.

Come and see what we offer, tell us what you need.

Look for a full schedule of events to be available soon in your local media.

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