Seniors parade to mark their day

We opened this senior citizens week with a visit to the Sister Cecelia Home for the elderly, but we’ll end it with our most experienced citizens kicking up some dust on Albert Street. Patrick Jones reports.

Patrick Jones, Reporting

Their steps may be a bit slower, but it did not keep senior citizens from celebrating the International Day for Older persons. Those who could make it, paraded from North Front Street to the House of Culture, where ceremonies marking the end of senior citizens week were held. Chairman of the board of Helpage Belize, Maria Elena Sylvestre, says years of advocating for older persons have yielded positive results.

Maria Elena Silvestre, Chairman, Helpage Belize

?We?ve come a long way. A long, long way to where we were twenty years ago. But we still have along way to go. We still have to realize that, yes, the young have priority, but the old also have their needs. And we need to realize that those needs are as important as anybody else?s needs.?

And that needs list is not that long. According to Olivia Fairweather, all senior citizens are asking for is a little love to help them enjoy their golden years.

Olivia Fairweather

?People should learn to treat the older people much better. Much better because sometimes you see the older people on the street and nobody try to help them or something like that. So I think everybody should come out and try to help the older people.?

Patrick Jones

?Now helping people is more than just helping them across the street, right??

Olivia Fairweather

?Yeah it?s more than that. You should give them a helping hand with what they need. Because from the Helpage there the people they go in and help the older ones that cannot help themselves, bathing themselves, or taking care of the house. Many of the girls from Helpage go in and do that for them.?

Steven Webster

?Well what I?m noticing is that the people them of today are changing. Because one time they never does treat us very good. But now-a-days through the help of Helpage, they help us very well.?

But while the assistance of paid helpers is appreciated by the residents of the different homes in the country, some are left feeling abandoned by their family. Such is the case of Francisco Manuel Espinoza. With tears in his eyes, he told News Five that after a traffic accident, he found himself alone in the Cecilia Home for the elderly, trying to get back on his feet.

Francisco Manuel Espinoza

?I have plenty family, but they don?t come to look for me there. Sometimes I told them one day I will be out of my people way. I?m going to find a corner that God gave to me to stay with other people.?

It?s a sad commentary, and the situation is repeated daily across the nation. Sylvestre says, after all that our senior citizens have done for us, we ought to be willing to do more for them.

Maria Elena Sylvestre

?Absolutely; the older persons are the repository of all the memories of our country. And we need to realize that we need to draw on their wisdom. Older people have to be given the rights that they have earned. They need to have a pension. Whether they put into Social Security or not. They need to have health care and they need to be respected.?

Patrick Jones

?Do you believe that the role of older persons is more than just caring for grand children??

Today?s march had the participation of two bands, and even some preschoolers came out of their classrooms to wave at the senior citizens as they marched by. Although the parade was not as big as anticipated, participants we spoke with say they enjoyed every moment of it.

Leotine Gillett

?Oh immensely; we had two bands. Yes, and I love band music.?

Raymond Woods

?Well I think it should be done more often because although they are old, they still active. And just sitting down not doing anything, just deteriorate the position worse.?

Patrick Jones

?So older persons should be kept more active??

Raymond Woods

?I think yes, have more programmes for them to take part in.?

And being in the company of such a wealth of experience, I sought some free advice on how to ease into old age. And what I found out is that it?s not as easy as most people think.

Leotine Gillett

?Stop complaining about aches and pains and what not. And look for tomorrow. Live for today as if it?s the last day you have on this earth and live for tomorrow. Because then by doing so, you are doing something for your children and your grand children, and your great grand.?

Francisco Manuel Espinoza

?Some people don?t like to hear nothing from the old people. They always vex with the old people they don?t like old people. But we got some old people to learn and to teach the youngest. So that they could make you happy when they are so old, I am

eighty-five years of age right now.?

Patrick Jones

?As a young man who is getting older, what would be your advice to me to live to be your age??

Francisco Manuel Espinoza

?My advice is I don?t want you to get old like me. Because then you can?t help yourself.?

Patrick Jones, for News Five.

Similar parades were in other districts today, while some chapters of Helpage will be holding activities throughout the weekend.