A common saying is “you can’t see the forest for the trees.”  In the case of the issues and concerns raised by retirees at the LSA-sponsored Retirement Seminar, funded by Health Canada (please see the related article in this Cardinal), the problem is that gathering issues together tends to dull their impact.  (You can’t see the trees for the forest.)

Any local or provincial agency that wants to get most value from our findings should phone (519) 336-8866, for a free expanded report.  The greater detail in it provides a better foundation for study.

If your interest is only to satisfy curiosity, for example to compare your guesses to what we really found, this article will do just fine.

Sixty-five separate concerns were raised.  Of these, the ones most often mentioned were:

13%   Rising costs – specifically of taxes and utilities, but also of other named services.

12%   Living accommodation – upkeep, modification or complete change.

9%       Waiting time for health care

5%     Changed lifestyle and partnership circumstances, upon retirement.

5%     Mental health – aging, loneliness, giving purpose to life.

The Lambton Seniors Association has already addressed some of these.  The organization has worked for years to make home upkeep less onerous through the handyman/woman programme.  The LSA formed a foundation committee on which was built the successful establishment of a Community Health Centre and the expected Family Health Team.

The LSA will now turn to addressing the other issues and concerns; possibly through new programmes, more likely through encouraging the development of services by other area agencies and guiding seniors to them.

We would welcome the participation in our organization of any active senior, at the committee or executive level.  Expanding such participation was, indeed, a major outcome hoped for, when the retirement seminar was planned.

If you want to know more, phone 339-8866.  If you want to do more, phone 339-8866, too!