President of the Dominica Council on ageing (DCOA), Ophelia Marie has called on young persons to spend quality time and reach out to their senior citizens.
This call came in an address from the Ophelia Marie, to commence the celebrations of the month of the elderly which runs from September 1st to October 1st, gazetted by the government 18 years ago.
This period is used to give the recognition to our seniors on island for everything they have done and still continue to do.
Marie asked that persons include seniors in their activities and to be patient as they strive to make their golden years the best that they can be.
“Look for that grandma or grandpa to reach out too. Don’t pack the aside and pass them straight as if they are not in existence. Take the time to show granny how to send a WhatsApp message, look for grandpa’s favorite music on YouTube and let it play for a little hour in the house. Let us work together until it becomes automatic to respect and love the older persons and to include them in the decisions that pertain to them.”
She said that life is short and the “boomerang you may send out, may come back to you much faster than you think”
Marie stated that because of the elderly in our midst, we have a conscience and a sense of values and on and account of them we are close to the most high God and are close to nature and its surrounding abundance.
“Because of the sense of value was that they have handed down to us we find ourselves and formulate our own character, direction and destiny. How automatic it should be for us to honor the ground on which our seniors walk.”
She further paid special attention to grandparents’ day, a vital part of the month of the elderly which will be celebrated on September 11th . This year, the United Nations and the USA encouraged to pay attention not only to the contributions that these people have made to Dominica’s development but also to resilience.
She also needed that for many of us having a grand is one of the best things in our life and are among our favorite people.
“Their hearts appear to be larger than those of our parents. Their patience, peace and tolerance are like nobody else’s. Every day our grandparents demonstrate how resilient they are. They roll and rumble with the hardships that come with life. They adjust and invent ways to keep them and ourselves nourished with whatever means available to them,” the DCOA President expressed.
“They are have limited funds, failing health to our changing environment to COVID and the loss of loved ones and as we watch them, we too appreciate and learn those coping skills.”
She asked that persons protect the elderly from the predictors who seek to steal and hurt them.
“Neglect them not, lest one day you be neglected”
