Celebrate International Seniors’ Day, October 1, 2020

International Seniors’ Day, October 1, dovetails with the World Health Organization’s Decade of Healthy Ageing – 2020 to 2030 – “ten years of concerted, catalytic and collaborative action to improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live.”

Earlier this year, the Waterloo Regional Age Friendly Committee published the Celebration Project profiles of six older adults in the Region whose commitment to and involvement in the community were evidenced by their volunteer activities. That project has been enhanced now by two additional individuals, the City of Waterloo’s Senior of the Year, Janet Hoffman, and the City of Kitchener’s Senior of the Year, Sue Morgan.

All eight individuals are exemplars of how healthy ageing contributes to one’s own well-being and to that of the community – even during the pandemic.

For International Seniors’ Day, we have also added comments from an additional 12 older adults in the Region who reflect with honesty and sincerity on the benefits of volunteering and giving back to their communities.

In October, the Regional Age Friendly Committee invites all community members to read the new Celebration Project profiles and advice from older adults. Go to legacystorytelling.ca   

Read their advice for staying resilient and helpful during the pandemic, and consider what we can learn from the older adults in our community about healthy ageing.

On October 1, celebrate International Seniors’ Day by reaching out to older adults that you know. Pay them a socially distanced visit, give them a phone call, recognize their value and worth in supporting and developing our community. Honour, thank, visit a senior that you know.

For further information about the Celebration Project and International Seniors’ Day, contact:

Jocelyn Vieth
viethjocelyn@gmail.com
778-246-0654
legacystorytelling.ca

Rick Chambers
rchambers411@gmail.com
519-747-4386