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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1978-11-08, Page 3Rural Development Outreach Project UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH Percentage of population over 65 years of age in Ontario, Canada, and selected rural communities in Huron, Perth, Wellington, and Bruce Counties as com- piled by the Rural Development Outreach Project, University of Guelph. ONTARIO 8.6% CANADA 9% PERTH COUNTY Listowel . . . 16% St. Mary's 16% Mitchell 22% HURON COUNTY Goderich r 15% Clinton 16% Exeter 16% Wingham 18% Seaforth 21% WELLINGTON COUNTY Clifford 10% Mt. Forest 20%, Palmerston 21% Harriston 23% BRUCE COUNTY Kincardine 14% Walkerton 15% Teeswater 20% Lucknow 24% ••••••1,1111,1•10,•••••••••••••••••••=1:1•11.111,11, Huron, population has large percentage over 65. Figures on population trends point up the urgent need for priority on planning to meet the housing, medical, transportation and other social needs of senior citizens in small towns and villages. The indications, are, however, that the problems now being met in smaller centres will be more general within 25 years. Present efforts to meet those needs in smaller centres should help in dealing with problems that will arise in larger centres as their percentage of senior citizens increases. Towns like Exeter, Clinton, Listowel, Wingham, Mitchell, Harriston, and Luck- now have between 15 per cent and 24 per cent of their population over the age of 65. By comparison, local townships range between seven and 12 per cent senior citizens, and cities like Mississauga are as low as four per cent. In Canada as a whole, just nine per cent of the population is over the age of 65. Experts tell us that by the year 2001 the national percentage of senior citizens will be about 12 per cent, and by 2031 it is expected to reach 20 per cent. The Rural Development Outreach Pro- (R.D.O.P.) of the University of GI -tell* which is working in the local area, has met with local agency personnel who suggest that a comprehensive study of the, needs, concerns, and expectations of senior citizens should help provide immediate answers for the local community. At the same time, they expect such efforts to point the way for future planning to meet the needs of Canada's elderly. The Rural Development Outreach Pro- ject has already begun to accumulate information on the elderly in parts of Huron County, and plans to continue in the hope of providing a clearer understanding of the problems of an agingpopulation in a rural area. The facts and'topinions alre-ady gathered have confirmed the view that an emphasis on the needs and concerns of senior citizens would be an appropriate and useful way for the University of Guelph to support rural development in Huron County, and indeed throughout the pro- vince. The preliminary efforts show clearly that the problems relating to quality of life for the elderly in a rural community are many. Finding solutions will demand co-ordinated and concerted effort. Here are some of the findings to date: Retired citizens attending a workshop on the elderly, sponsored by the R.D.O.P. of the University of Guelph, identified the following difficulties facing seniors in a rural area: Changes in the rural pattern of living were seen as factors which affected all parts of society but created special problems for senior citizens who often found it difficult to change and adapt to them, Lack of communication with other seniors was observed as an alienating factor and contributed to feelings of , isolation. While improved health faCilities are available to the community, seniors felt that in some areas the lack of a "local doctor" created an uneasy situation for them. Transportation is dependent in large part on the wishes of others and at their convenience-sometimes vehicles, whether private or public are not suitable to seniors. In a survey of the Wingham and Turnberry Township area, 20 per cent of the seniors said they were not satisfied with services availab.e In the same survey, answers indicated a lack of transportation for seniors, and a lack of information about services that were available in the community. , Local agency personnel within the community have outlined a number of areas of concern to seniors. These include: Isolation, and loneliness were observed as predisposing factors to many types of chronic illnesses. No central information service "for seniors exists. Some assistance to persons with disabilities is available from various service.clubs; however, this information is not always readily available to the group in need. Insufficient financial resources, resulting in unsatisfactory housing conditions and inadequate nutritional levels were felt to be problems facine seniors. Inadequacy of services (gaps) and inefficiencies due to distance were evident. The University of Guelph, through its R.D.O.P. seeks the help and involvement of the widest possible cross section of the community. It will welcome all ideas and support from interested local citizens, Anyone who wishes to assist or ,make What special services do they need? suggestions may contact the agency by phoning Wingham 357-9911, or Guelph 824-4120. extension 3637, no, POTATO DETAIL — Peeling potatoes to feed more than 800 people id quite a job and Ruth Mahler, left and Dorothy Sholdice Were two of the workers who did it last week for the Duff's United Church Walton, fowl (Photo by Langlois) • ••••j• 4.4.•*144,041.11,1.4.14k Marie on4.11, .. ... . 4.61.01ke...*I. supper. II • HOCKEY Sticks Elbow Pads Knee Pads Gloves Face-Masks and Shields lay away now for =FIELD ARDWAR Brussels 681,685 open Friday Nights thttil 9 - . , Christma s. :•407 Don't be disappointed Watch for our Christmas flyers 114€ BRUSSELS Pon NovonisER 8, 107* 3 County turns down Vanastra grant Huron County Council re- fused to support the Vanastra Resource Centre at its Friday session when it received a request from the centre for a $5,000 grant. The executive committee of council recommended that the grant request be refused at the present time leaving the resource centre to operate on a Canada Works grant of $26,000. Executive committee chairman Ed Oddleifson told council , that Liz Warren, Chris Martin and Carol McIlveen had appeared be- fore the committee re- questing financial support. The money was to be used to publish 500 copies of a proposed services in- formation directory costing $2,500 and to pay a part-time worker to continue to provide services provided by the resource centre under the original Canada,. Works grant Smiles An elderly gentleman won $100,000 in the lottery. Since he had a bad heart, his family was concerned that the goothiewsmight bring on a heart attack. They asked the pastor to come over to break the great news to the winner. The pastor's approach was subtle. He talked for a while on sundry subjects to his Old parishioner, and then deftly slipped in this qUestion: "Tell the, Sani, what would you do if you won the lottery and got $100,000 Said Sam "Why, I'd give you and the church half of it" The pastor keeled Over, He who occupies a place in the sun must eXpect sOrrid blisters, Mr. Oddleifson said the Vanastra group was working with funds from a 1978 Canada Works grant and that four people were drawing pay out of that grant. He said the centre had received $26;000 for 1979 and that money was to pay three staff members,