PAGE 4, WEDNEDY, OCTOiBER7, 1981, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby ( Voice of the County Town Michael lan Burgess, Publisher Managing Editor The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whith residents for Whithy residents. Pblished every Wednesdav and Ihotography Ime. P>hone 6694-61 Il The F'ree Press Building. 131 Brock Strèet North, P.O. Box 206. Whitby, Ont. MICHAEL J. KNELL Community Editor MARJORIE A. BURGESS Advertising Manager Mailing Permit No 480 Member of the Whitby Chamber otcommerce Johns' warning should be heeded Social servi Last week, the region's commissioner of social services said that if something is 'not done to prevent it, Durham faces a "horrendous" problem In finding bed care for the elderly. Commissioner Doug Johns pointed out to Durham Regional Council that the population of senior citizens in Canada is expected to jump by at least 50 per cent in the next f ive to ten years. Many of these people will, at some point in time, require active nursing care ln a home for the aged - the operating cost of which is largely borne by the property taxpayer. This situation represents a housing crisis that will haunt both politiclans and taxpayers at ail levels for many years to come. It must be pointed out that only two per cent, according to Johns, of all senior citizens in On- tarlo currently reside in insitutions be they hospitais, private nursing homes, or homes for the aged. The remainder are living in their own homes or with relatives and are capable of looking after themselves with little or no help from publically supported agencies. However, as the population of senior citizens increases, the number requiring medical care will also increase thereby increasing the cost to the taxpayer. By the same token because the number of senior citizens has increased, it can be logically assumed that the number of taxpayers contri- buting to the system will decrease. This can only compound the financial problem even more. The problem is that the taxpayer Is already over- burdened and it would be safe to say that they cannot afford to pay much more for government services. ces priorities It is unlikely that the taxpayer can afford many new programs or new facilities for the care of our senior citizens. Yet, we all agree that it is our moral responsibility to do something for these people who built the society in which we now live. Therefore, the time has come for the politicians and the taxpayers to set their fiscal priorities, bearing in mind that if the general economy of the country does not improve, there will be an even greater demand for social services such as general welfare assistance. In his report to regional council, Johns makes it abundantly clear that there is not much time left in which to make the necessary decisions. It seems to us that it Is impossible to effect a solution to the problem of medical care for the elderly without raising taxes. Johns' report is literally a call to arms. The commissioner has said that this problem is only going to become.more complex and greater in scope as the years go by. This is a paradoxical situation. We can't afford to undertake a solution, yet most of us feel morally bound to undertake a solution. The provision of such programs as meals-on- wheels, share-a-home and other outreach services are of great benefit. They allowjhe senior citizen to remain in his own home, living his own life for a much longer period of time. However, at some point in time, he or she will need care in an institutionalized setting. The in- stitutions currently operating have littie space left to accommodate the ever-increasing demand. To build new institutions will cost millions of dollars. Private enterprise has not, for the most part, been wlling to invest in this area so the responsibility rests on the taxpayer who cannot afford it. Perhaps one of the best solutions to the problem is to create an environment where private areneeded enterprise can provide this service and give top quality care while providing a return on invest- ment. This will be an expensive proposition and the taxpayer may still have to contribute to the cost in some way. But the best solution of ail is to give a mandate to regional and provincial governments to set their priorities. Because this will become a more pressing problem in the future, care for senior citizens must become one of government's prior- ities. This publication can offer no solution to the problem, after ail, we are not experts in this field. But we can point out that the problem exists, that something must be done and done quickly and that it must be done without creating a heavier load for the taxpayer. After all, our senior citizens did their share for the community in which they live and it is our turn to repay that debt by providingthem with good care In their twilight years. Letters to the editor are most welcome Send them to: P.O. Box 206 Whitby, LIN 5S1 X.LIUJLLULLW Early in September we had one of those rare, golden, early Fall weekends that ought to be savored and then re- membered. During the day, hot sun with a light breeze. At night, just cool enough for a fire in the woodstove, so the air currents from the open window chill your face and make you grateful for the covers. Sleeping weather. I've got two rows of sweet corn that were still producing. They were retarded by a month of weeds while we were away early in the summer. We put in a variety called Big Jim for the first time this year -- and it produces as tender and sweet and even a cob of corn as I've ever consumed. A lady in Beamsville, Ontario -- who I won't embarrass by naming -- once taught me the cardinal rule about corn. In four words, its "don't waste a second". First get the water boiling and then pick the corn. Husk it quickly and get it straight into the pot. My friend says that when corn is picked, the sugar in it begins to turn to starch almost imm- ediately. So the first few minutes are critical. I can't vouch for the chemistry but I do know that corn cooked immed- iately beats any I ever tasted. The Sweet Jim this year was so good you could eat it almost without anything. All I use is a little sweet butter. It was also a productive weekend. We stripped a dresser and gave it a first coat of urethane. And I saw the pileated woodpecker again -- the inspiration for the Woody the Woodpecker of cartoon fame. I also saw a buteo hawk I couldn't identify, who ghosted over the house on ragged, silent wings, pulling up just enough to clear the maple at the foot of the hollow. I rarely see a hawk so dose. Images from the weekend, that I hoped would get me through another man-made week. That's not news, but that too is reality. M 1