Saskatchewan Seniors Association Newsletter - May 2009

The Saskatchewan Seniors Association Inc. (SSAI) has some 180 senior centers scattered across the province with a total membership of approximately 8,000. The greatest number of these senior centers by far are situated in rural Saskatchewan or as I like to say, small town Saskatchewan.
These senior centers provide a full range of recreational and social activities which in turn becomes physical and mental wellness activities for all those seniors in the area.
Seniors come together to enjoy playing cards, shuffle board, pool and a wide variety of other games and sports. They come together to enjoy pot luck suppers, birthday parties and educational information sessions. Many of these centers also act as wellness health centers by hosting foot care, blood pressure and diabetic care clinics which is done generally with no funding from Saskatchewan Health. Most importantly though, is that senior centers are places where seniors can go for companionship and genuine good fellowship. It's a place also where widows and widowers can go and feel comfortable. They are able to socialize with those who they have something in common with. Being with friends eases the pain and anguish and helps seniors to move on after losing loved ones.
The centers also provide in some small towns, a place that the community at large can use for various activities which the seniors themselves are responsible for initiating, planning and carrying out.
The cost of running a senior center has escalated over the last 10 years. The only funding coming from a membership fee that is purposely kept low so that all seniors may enjoy the center and none are excluded. The cost of energy, power and telephone alone is becoming more than those centers can handle. As a result of the escalating utility costs 107 centers across the province have had to close their doors over the last 10 years. Fund raising for people whose average age is 80 plus is really no longer feasible especially as it is not a one shot deal, it goes on month after month, year after year.
The enforced closure and absence of senior centers in rural Saskatchewan will leave many seniors feeling lonely, isolated and with a sense of being among the forgotten people of Saskatchewan. With a lack of physical and emotional stimulation seniors can easily fall victim to depression and other health related problems. This can lead to a greater demand on Long Term Care homes and possibly hospitals, which in turn places a greater financial burden upon the government.
Sask Trends Monitor stated that as of 2004 there was an estimated 147,450 seniors over the age of 65 living in Saskatchewan. Of these at least 50 per cent were between the ages of 65 and 74 and 76,925 seniors were between the ages of 75 and 90 plus. Add to those figures the natural increase in the number of seniors since that year plus the fact that seniors are the fastest growing segment of the population and we can begin to see the enormous pressures that are going to be placed on the health care system in the future.
Any measure that can lead to a reduction on those future health care costs should be seen as an important factor when budgetary matters are being considered. Funding senior centers should be seen in this context and receive a great deal of serious thought when effective cost saving issues are considered. The thought that a cent spent wisely now can lead to a dollar being saved down the road should not be too far away when discussions on this important topic takes place.
The 69th annual convention of SSAI will take place in 2009 at the Tropical Inn in North Battleford on June 9-11. Along with a noted speaker at the banquet we will be having presentations from SGI, Sask Power and Nagel Travel. Resolutions may be forwarded to myself or Tom Breckner in Colonsay but must be in by May 15th to be included in the convention booklet. Please have your registrations for convention submitted as early as possible, the cost this year is the same as 2008. All coordinators are invited to attend the board supper meeting on June 9 in the North Battleford Senior Center commencing at 4.30 p.m.
For now though keep active and stay healthy.