By Jeff Labine

Senior supports needed: advocacy group

Mar 6, 2017 | 12:15 PM

A volunteer-based advocacy group is warning more needs to be done to support the growing number of seniors in Prince Albert.

John Fryters, director of the Prince Albert Seniors Advocacy Centre, said by 2035, the country’s population will mostly be seniors. He foresees problems, as more seniors are becoming isolated and lonely.

“There’s going to be major problems down the road if we don’t care for them, if we don’t start developing programs and services that deal with those issues,” he said. “We’re now talking about developing programs to actually deal with isolation,” he said. “We’re doing circles here [at Plaza 88] once a month for First Nations seniors to kind of pull [them] out of their shell.”

Fryters explained Prince Albert’s advocacy centre is the only one in the province that works with seniors on an individual basis as opposed to organizations that take a broader approach. The centre offers a variety of advice on everything from how to cut toenails to filling out income taxes.

“I don’t think people understand that we are on the verge of some major things,” he said. “We’re not working on a plan, for instance, on dental care. We’re going to look at a whole number of different things.”

Missing pet

'She means the world to our family': Woman seeks help in finding missing pet parrot

6h ago

BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS

Semi flips outside P.A.; one of dozens of incidents on Sask. roads due to winter weather

6h ago

NO GO FOR BUSES

School bus routes outside P.A. canceled due to spring snowstorm

11h ago

He added the group is looking to setup a 1-800 number seniors can call simply to chat with someone.

Mayor Greg Dionne said the city is providing help to seniors but there’s always room to do more.

One of the ways the city has tried to help is by lowering transit fares. Earlier this week, monthly transit fares for seniors, post-secondary students and children dropped from $52.50 to $25.

Dionne said council is also looking at creating a tax referral program for seniors.

“The key is with seniors, especially in our case, we want them to stay in their homes longer,” he said. “We know how much it costs to take care of them once they leave that home. I do believe seniors do better and feel better when they are in their own homes.”

Jeff.Labine@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @labinereporter