Hundreds of senior citizens took part in Sudbury’s annual Health Aging Fair to mark national Senior Citizens Day in Canada
Senior citizens in Sudbury were able to attend the city’s annual Healthy Aging Fair at the Caruso Club on Wednesday to get up-to-date information on how to stay healthy, active and well in their older years.
October 1 is National Seniors Day in Canada.
The event is put on each year by the City of Greater Sudbury’s Older Adult Advisory Panel with the participation of scores of local organizations sharing information.
Mary Michasiw, a member of the panel and one of the organizers for the fair, said seniors have a variety of concerns and are keen to speak up and speak out.
“There are many things; long term care, access to health care. Some people still don’t have doctors, those kinds of things. So we kind of try to steer them in the right direction. They need to know what’s available to them, who to contact, said Michasiw.
“A lot of times, you know, seniors face an issue that just happens to come up, and they don’t know how to get through the system. Who do you contact? Where do you start? So there’s a lot of information available here, and we try to get as much information out there as possible. People come here and they’re looking for something specific,” she said.
The issue of finding a doctor is indeed a continuing concern, said Emily McDonald, a registered nurse at the Sudbury District Nurse Practitioner Clinics (SDNPC), which set up a booth at the healthy aging event.
McDonald said there is a significant waiting list for people — not just seniors — trying to find a primary care provider. She said in some cases older residents have been in the community long enough that their doctor may have retired or moved on.
“I think if they’ve lived in Sudbury for a long time, they probably got their primary care provider when they were, like, in their 30s,” said McDonald.
“Then, you know, retirement comes. Everyone ages. It’s a reality. And so I think by the time that their provider retires, then they’re left with nothing, with no one,” she said.
McDonald said several key agencies in Sudbury are working to bring more physicians to the city because the issue is indeed a valid concern.
Social worker Mariah Dempster said the clinic also sees patients who have concerns for their mental health.
“So the nurse practitioners, registered nurse, our case manager, they will refer patients to me if there’s any concerns, maybe regarding mental health, stress, navigating life, challenges or changes,” said Dempster. “We do counseling through their primary care service that’s offered free of cost with the clinic, and that’s where I kind of step in and help to support them. Sometimes that’s through referrals to necessary community services, and sometimes that’s through one-to-one individual counseling.”
Dempster said a key concern is that many older patients sometimes experience episodes of depression and loneliness.
“Definitely, I would say isolation can be a big one, too. Loneliness, grief and loss is a concern as well,” Dempster said. “Getting out and coming to the clinic, and having a place where they can talk openly and honestly and have that support has been, from the feedback I’ve heard, (it’s) really helpful.”
It’s important for older people especially to open up and talk if they’re not feeling mentally well, said Chris Coulombe, a mental health educator at the Canadian Mental Health Association, which also had an information booth at the fair.
“Probably the No. 1 thing is the reluctance to ask for support, to ask for help,” said Coulombe.
“It might come because of being embarrassed about a situation that we’re in. Maybe it feels like we are isolating because we don’t feel anyone cares. And when you look at life circumstances and things changing you know in later life, what we need to understand is that mental health is something that we need to talk about.”
He said having old-fashioned ideas about mental health doesn’t address the issue today. Coulombe said there is a benefit to having conversations about issues that people need to talk about.
“When I’ve been told all my life that just suck it up and that, you know, this will pass; again I’m here to say that we really need supports,” said Coulombe.
“We need people. We often come to understand in our own life experience that we can’t do things on our own all the time. It’s not possible. Older adults have lived experience and have resiliency, but it doesn’t mean that they can’t access supports and services that are available.”
Improving one’s mental health is part of the reason for the existence of Sudbury’s Parkside Centre, said Charline Sabourin, the volunteer and database co-ordinator there. The centre, which is funded through the municipal Older Adult Service, was also a part of the healthy aging fair.
“We have all kinds of fun,” said Sabourin, adding that the centre at 140 Durham St. is all about entertaining and providing a social outlet for those who are aged 50-plus in Sudbury,” Sabourin said.
“Parkside, essentially, is for older adults who want to come out and get some entertainment and socialize. Isolation is a thing. Mild depression is a thing. So when you come out and you socialize, you’re getting that great feeling of life, you know, with your friends. You can always make friends, no matter how old you are, you know. Making connections. It’s a very good thing for your mind, body and soul.”
Len Gillis covers health care and mining for Sudbury.com.