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Great turnout for Seniors Advocate's visit

Isobel Mackenzie provides great information, assurances and hope
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Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie attracted a large crowd of seniors at a meeting in 100 Mile House to discuss seniors' issues and concerns on June 20.

More than 130 area senior citizens crowded into a very hot Creekside Seniors Activity Centre in 100 Mile House on June 20.

They were there to hear the rising star of the greying generation – British Columbia's Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie – talk about the Office of the Seniors Advocate, which monitors and analyzes the province's seniors' services and issues they and their families face on a daily basis.

Mackenzie noted she wanted to hear the group's concerns and comments, so she can analyze them and come up with some recommendations for the provincial government to consider.

She started her presentation by noting all seniors are different, so there isn't a cookie-cutter version of care and assistance that works for everyone.

Mackenzie also debunked the hysteria about seniors draining all of the resources of future generations to take care of them. She noted 93% of seniors more than 65 years live independently and so do 74% of the seniors 85 years and older.

Her studies also debunked the dementia issue – 95% of seniors older than 65 years and 80% more than 85 years are living without a diagnosis of dementia.

Mackenzie also talked about home support caregivers – 97% are unpaid spouses or children; the kinds of support available for caregivers; and the tension between family members/care system and seniors who want to live at risk.

She also talked about the question of whether caregivers are medicating for compliance, and the current status of seniors' services.

The most common issue that came up during the question-and-answer session was the cost of drugs seniors pay for and the large chunk it takes out of their monthly income sources.

Seniors were especially peeved about the pharmacy dispensary charges and the physician surcharges on their prescriptions.

Mackenzie urged the audience members to go to her website at www.seniorsadvocatebc.ca or call toll free at 1-877-952-3183 to get answers for specific questions.

Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett said folks can come to her office at 7-530 on Horse Lake Road. (Uptown Plaza), or call 1-250-395-3916 for assistance.

(All of these issue will be discussed in future articles.)