27 September 2013

Celebrating International Day of Older Persons

Organisations around the South Island are celebrating International Day of Older Persons on 1 October with events and activities recognising the importance of older people in our communities, as well as their needs. The South Island Alliance, a collaboration of the five South Island DHBs, is supporting International Day of Older Persons by spreading the message about positive aging.

South Island Alliance Health of Older People Chair Dr Jenny Keightley said the International Day of Older Persons was a great opportunity for people to learn more about positive aging. “This is a chance to celebrate what is great about getting older, to appreciate the role of older people in our communities and promote ways of improving the health and well-being of older people.”

“There are so many different ways older people are involved in our communities – from exercise groups, through to looking after grandchildren, through to volunteer work – International Day of Older Persons is the time to recognise this, and encourage people to be involved if they are not already,” says Dr Keightley.

The South Island Alliance is working to ensure that older people have the support and access to services they need to stay healthy and independent. Dr Keightley says “One of the keys to remaining independent when we get older is to be active and have good support around us – through International Day of Older Persons events, people can learn more about community groups and activities that older people can be involved in.”

Tying in with this year’s theme of ‘The future we want: what older people are saying’, the South Island Alliance is focused on ensuring health services are tailored to what older people want and need. Dr Keightley says “The Alliance brings together older people and health professionals from a range of areas to look at ways we can make services work better for over 65s – listening to what the older person needs and having services and health professionals which can provide that is the ultimate goal.”

Below is a very small number of the events that are happening – contact your local Age Concern branch for more details about what else is happening in your area.

Marlborough Seniors “An afternoon at the Oscars dance”

Location: Blenheim

Date: Sunday 29 October 2013

Age Concern International Day of Older Persons Afternoon Tea

(celebrate with toe-tapping entertainment and afternoon tea)

Location: Richmond Town Hall, Richmond

Date: Tuesday 1 October 2013

Senior Services Expo

(Groups supporting seniors will be displaying their services and offering one on one support. There will also be guest speakers)

Location: NBS Theatre, Buller

Date: Tuesday 1 October 2013

Positive Ageing Expo

Location: Christchurch

Date: Monday 30 September 2013

Positive Aging Expo

(Free entry, motivational speakers, informative sessions, activities, displays by various services and agencies)

Location: Octagon Club, Dunedin

Date: Tuesday 1 October 2013

ENDS

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