We are, in Canada, very sports aware, with many people able to reel off the names of a long list of athletes, and their achievements. Could we use that ability to focus our attention to become aware of the changing demographic in our communities?
Could we change our interest in seniors to one that is broader than excitement when a ninety-year-old beats some existing sports record?
Several months ago in this column, I mentioned a woman whose husband was going into a caf茅 and making some, perhaps inappropriate, comments. The man was banned from the caf茅. He had early dementia, and after an explaining letter from his wife, all was rectified.
By 2031 in Canada approximately 25% of us will be over 65 years of age. This statistic seems to send waves of fear through us and just make us adjust our blinders, shudder and want to hide behind the 鈥渟ports statistics screen鈥�.
As a society we have our blinders securely 鈥渙n鈥� when it comes to dementia. While statistics may not always be helpful, we do need to consider that of the approximately 20.5 thousand people in the Comox Valley, we have an estimate of 1,600 living with dementia. How as a community can we better care for these people?
Japan faced the major concern of a rapidly growing older population a few years ago, realizing that with 25% of its population over 65 and 4.5 million living with dementia the existing care structure was not working. Their health system is more municipally based, so local programs became the focus of improved health services. One of the most interesting parts of the plan (the Orange Plan) was the development of local programs appropriate to the needs of, and developed by the community. Community groups were given broad latitude to develop programs to focus on what they thought was important.
How do volunteers contribute to the Japanese model? Team Orange is a volunteer led-program in Japan, where volunteers engage with those with dementia and their families. Volunteers help raise awareness about dementia, lead community support groups, provide one-on-one daily life support, create 鈥渟paces of welcome鈥� with 鈥渕eaningful interactions" and also do 鈥渨alk arounds鈥� in communities.
The 鈥渨alk around鈥� is an interesting concept that could work in downtown Courtenay, Comox or Cumberland. An area of about a 30 minute walk is the zone that two volunteers are assigned to, to keep an eye on the elderly in that area, to 鈥済et to know鈥� the residents, and to be kind and helpful with seniors they encounter on their walk around.
The Team Orange volunteers also are part of a network of those who provide the local services to seniors in the area. Everyone from the garbage collector, to the shop clerk is keeping 鈥渁n eye out鈥� for vulnerable seniors and then letting the Team Orange volunteer know if they see a problem.
While our Canadian privacy concerns might cause us some hesitancy about this form of service, perhaps it is time to prioritize care and neighbour to neighbour kindness as we recognize the vulnerable in our midst.
Want to continue the conversation? Jennifer Pass is the co-ordinator of Comox Valley Elders Take Action: 250-334-2321 (leave a message) or passj@telus.net.
