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tm fr --- PAGE 14 TERRACE BAY NEWS FEBRUARY 4, 1/1 AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL TAX PAYERS IN TERRACE BAY AND SCHREIBER The older we become the more frequent our thoughts turn to plans for our old age. Some of us look forward to moving to a balmy warm, sunny climate, 6thers think of travel, while others still think of continuing to live in the community in which they have grown up, worked, loved and developed many close friendships. Communities such as Terrace Bay end Red Rock, in which up till recently, homes were owned by the company, most people planned to retire elsewhere. In older Communities, such as Nipigon, Geraldton, Hurkett and Dorion, where people may have spent their childhood, the years in school, their working lives, all in the same area, if not the same home, retirement is thought of only in terms of con- tinuing on, among the things and friends that are familiar. The best location for Homes for the Aged then becomes a debatable point. In a recent conversation Mr. Cavanaugh, the Reeve of Terrace Bay, stated that he personally looked forwerd to retiring in the Lakehead, where he would have many more interesting things to do, than in & smaller community. He also stated that it was his feeling, and the feeling of his Council, that the elderly frequently required the care of Specialists for illnessess and that this care could not be provided within their own community. It was his hope that it would be possible to build a community of Senior Citizens residences around Pinewecod Heme for the Aged, and that this would bscome a city within itself for older people. He felt that this position of council represented the view of most of the people in Terrace Bay and Schreiber. The preference of where one retires is obviously a personal matter, and what he says sbout Terrace Bay residents mey be quite true. However in the older communities of Nipigon, Geraldton, Dorion and Hurkett, a great majority of senior citizens much prefer to be in a Home in the community itself, where they would still be among their older friends who were not living within the home itself. Tts a heart rending experience to see an older person who is #till quite alert, mentally, still enjoys life, tears in their eyes, saying good-bye to all those familiar things and friends that they have come to love down through the years in order to enter a new life in a new place. We find in our community many older people that should be, being cared for in e home for the aged, refused to go even though it may jeopardize their health, in order to remain in their life long community. The problem of medical care for the aged in & smell com- munity just does not exist. The diseases of the older person are the wearing out diseases, such as erthritis, the joints getting old, heart disease, the heart getting old and for- getfulness, the brain getting old. These conditions generally speaking do not require the constant attention of a Special- ist, but need the understanding of the doctor who mey have looked after the patient for many years, in younger and healthier days. Statistics from P.S.I. indicate that sur- prizingly, the older population are the lowest users of medical care. It is my experience that most older patients trust the doctor that has looked after them down through the years and will rely on his judgement &s to when they need to seek a specialists care. The experience in the Western provinces where they have both lerge centrally located 0ld Folks Homes and also have pursued a policy of having smell homes in each community, indicate that the original building costs of the larger homes 1s less, but that the running costs of the smaller homes is much less than the larger one, per resident. In actual fact over the period of time several smaller homes for the aged are more economical than one larger one. Thus the argument of it being cheaper in one large district home is not valid. A seventy-five bed home for the aged, employs approximately] an equal number of people, and therefore, for a smell communi- ty oan be an important industry, keeping the tax payer's money within the community itself. For all of the above reasons I feel that it is not un- reasonable for the next Home For The Aged to be built within one of the communities in the district itself. Which community is a matter for the Board of Directors to decide. However at the present time we have a Distriot Home for the Aged in the Lekehead and for those who want to retire there, they may now do so. I feel that it is only Just that the next Home for the Aged be built in the district for those that prefer to go on 1iving in the community that they have grown up in. However the present situation is as follows.There is a need for fur- ther accommodation for senior citizens in our district. The waiting period for women now to get into Pinewood Home for the Aged, is approximately six months. In order to build a new home for the aged,money by-laws must be passed by each Council suthorizing such an expenditure. The municipalities of Terrace Bay and Schreiber so far have refused to pass such a by-law. Ag an alternative the Board of Directors, for the Home for the Aged, can add on to the present Home without any authori- zation of the municipalities. In view of the refusal of Ter- race Bay and Schreiber to pass these necessary money by-laws, the only alternative to the Board of Directors is to add onto the present Home for the Aged. The reason for writing this open letter to the people of Terrace Bay and Schreiber is to plead on behalf of those of us who live in Geraldton, Nipigon, Dorion and Hurkett, for you to meke your feelings known to your Council, concerning the A building of another Old Folks Home within the district. All 4 the municipalities have contributed towards building a home } for the aged, in the Lakehead for those who want to live there. The time has now come for all the municipalities to contribute | to the building of further Homes for the Aged within the dis- b trict itself for those who prefer this option. The only way gh the Councils of Terrace Bay and Schreiber can carry out the li wish of their electorate is for the tax payer to make his TW wishes known to them. Both these Councils are quite open to { new ideas and thoughts on the development of the care of senior A oitizens, and sc I leave this matter in the hands of the people of Terrace Bay and Schreiber, with the reminder of the Golden: Rule, "To do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Signed, T.J. Harvey, M.D. SHOWER HONORS BRIDE-ELECT Miss Antoinette Desaulniers was the guest of honour at a Bridal shower on Wednesday evening, January 27+h at the home of Mrs. A. Smith. Mrs. M. Wood- ruff and Mrs. B. Payette were co-hostesses. Neighbours and friends from Terrace Bay and Schreiber presented Antoinette with a variety of beautiful gifts. Antoinette and Bill Drake of Schreiber, will be | married in Prince George, B.C. where the groom is presently employed. J The regular Schreiber Elementary Home and School Assoc. meeting will be held Thursday, Feb. 4th at 8 p.m. in Schreiber Public School, with rhe usual parent-teacher visitation trom 7:30 - 8 p.m. The principal and staff will demonstrate the new V.T.R. equipment and how it is used in the classrooms. This will be followed by a parent-teacher participation. If you wish to see yourself on "Candid Camera" you are urged to come to the meeting that evening. i