Old, but not cold

Glenda Anderson, Staff Reporter

AT AGE 74 Roy Thomas has big plans for the weekend.

The spunky senior's voice expressed excitement as he talked about one of his new passions ­ photography ­ and a competition he planned to enter. But that is just one of the many pursuits which keep him active. And he has a perfect explanation for not slowing down.

"If the mind dies, the body dies," he said.

Working up a weekly routine that would make a robust man cringe, he has added new meaning to the word "senior" and possibly extra years to his life. Might as well, as more Jamaicans are joining him in the category of senior citizens, and many want to be active too.

According to the 1991 Population Census, persons over 60 years made up 10 per cent of the Jamaican population in 1991, and figures from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) show that the number of senior citizens increased steadily between 1982 and 1991.

While the 1991 census showed that the 60-years-old-and-over category increased by 11 per cent, estimates last year showed a significant increase in numbers among the elderly, even in the range 75 years and over.

This seemingly longer life-span for seniors does not surprise Dr. Denise Eldemire-Shearer, chairperson of the National Council on Senior Citizens. She contends that, "the growth started from the early 1980s" and is directly related to several reasons: the reduction in fertility rates, where we were having seven or eight children to now only two; a reduction in mortality rates, especially due to improvements in public health; and the fact that people are becoming more aware and are making healthy lifestyle changes.

Secret

This seems to be Mr. Thomas's secret. His simple technique includes daily cycling, occasional marathon cycling meets and a plain diet.

"Now and then I'll have a balanced meal, but invariably it is things like patties, rice and callaloo, macaroni and cheese and Muesli cereals when I can afford it," he explained.

He eats mainly brown bread, sardines, yoghurt, vegetables, and an occasional Supligen. He takes care of himself, staying away from the doctor unless there's a serious problem.

"I just don't trust them because you go to them with pain and the first thing they do is give you a painkiller," he said. "If there's a pain I want to know the cause and have it removed."

But while Mr. Thomas does not believe in regular doctors's visits, Norma Davis, researcher and nutritionist at the Institute of Social and Economic Studies (ISES), said that technological, medical and nutritional improvements have contributed to the longer life-span for elderly Jamaicans.

"There is now greater access to food, people don't work as hard as they use to and some of the diseases to which people succumbed in early childhood, like smallpox, tuberculosis, gastro-enteritis, have for the most part been conquered," she said.

But although he qualifies as a vibrant, radical senior, Mr Thomas does not see his routine as a special regimen.

"I wouldn't say that I am doing anything differently," he told The Sunday Gleaner. "I cycle to work every day from Hope Pastures (St. Andrew), and while the going down is easy, coming back up is what gives me the exercise. Most of the local long distance running I am there. I don't usually win anything but I like to run and in my age group its me alone."

In other areas Mr. Thomas has much support, as the elderly population now numbers 250,000 in Jamaica with the highest figure (13.4 per cent) in Portland. St. Catherine records the lowest (7.7 per cent), but showed the highest rate of growth. With the growth in numbers has come more active involvement. Some parishes like St. Thomas have 35 clubs for seniors, with 1,200 active members.

Older persons have traditionally been active in their own way, whether as family caregivers, matriarchal or community leaders. However, they are now more visible in service or senior citizens clubs. Each parish has its quota of clubs with Kingston numbering 45.

The clubs have become highly influential in getting seniors to become active. Winnifred Kelly at age 88 still attends club meetings every Wednesday at the Salvation Army Centre on Prince of Wales Street in Allman Town, Kingston. It's strictly work from the first minute as the group makes craft items, and does sewing and embroidery. Some of their work have been entered in local competitions.

Motivation

According to Beverly Edwards, National Senior Citizens' Council (NSCC) parish organiser for Kingston and St. Thomas, the elderly are now more aware and motivated to be involved as there are more options for seniors in Jamaica.

"Yes living longer has its benefits because we have many programmes in which older persons can participate and there is now more help available to them," she said.

Several programmes and services exist through the NSCC, including education, where the elderly learn new skills or pass on their skills to younger persons, income generating plans, and community programmes through service clubs.

St. Thomas has a vibrant income-generating arm with leathercraft, chicken, vegetable, and egg farming and pastry projects. Other groups target communities where citizens are encouraged to explore other talents and interests.

One of the most well known is the New Unity Senior Citizens Club and Salvation Army Senior Citizens Club (SASCC) in Allman Town. Club members participate in national projects such as the Independence and Emancipation celebrations where they present cultural items. They are also popular with yearly entries in Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) culinary competitions. The club's activities also include regular fun trips overseas. The latest was to Panama last year.

The SASCC has also been voted the best senior citizens club in Jamaica.

Clementina Davy-Hamilton, founder of the SASCC, said the activities of the group provide good therapy.

"We have a meeting every week and for me, it is two times for the week," she said. "You find that as you grow older, loneliness is the first thing that sets in, so we meet as friends and check up on each other. We are always going out and we learn a lot of things because everybody comes with their own ideas and skills."

She also believes there is a new approach to caring for seniors.

"I have no problem at all, but I believe that it also has to do with how you lived when you were young," Mrs. Davy-Hamilton said. "There are certain things that you do in your younger days that is preparation for the older days."

However, officials agree that there are a few challenges.

"Older people are going to need medical, social and recreational services and planners need to begin to be more aware of this," said Dr. Eldermire. "It is not a handout but a decision about how we go about making investments for the future."

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