Help Age Canada

Meeting the Challenge Before Us

Written by Jack Panozzo Friday, 11 November 2011 14:35

For more than 35 years, HelpAge Canada has been linked with seniors in a partnership that has helped older persons and their communities to grow and move forward. HAC is a lifeline between ourselves and older persons in the developing world and here at home.

With one in ten persons now over 60 and with that rising to one in five by 2050, it’s more important than ever to do more to reach out to older persons, ‘seniors’. Many live in poverty especially in developing countries overseas. At the same time, they are also providers of primary care for vulnerable children whose parents have been lost to conflict, war or natural disaster. Most do this on less than a dollar a day!

As with so many other organizations, HelpAge Canada today faces tough economic times. We’ve had to make some difficult decisions this past year. We had to hold back on doing more. The commitment and generosity of people across the country has never been more needed.

To meet the needs overseas and here, we need to ensure that HelpAge Canada can respond swiftly and effectively to calls from our partners and groups for financial support and solidarity. We continue to provide a way for people to join with us to help some of the most vulnerable older people in Canada and overseas.

Ageism, discrimination, abuse and violence against older persons represent some of the major existing infringements of older persons’ rights today. Through its work HelpAge is actively promoting the dignity of older persons and safeguarding the basic rights and fundamental freedoms of all older persons everywhere.

HelpAge Canada has been blessed with Board members who work tirelessly as volunteers to guide the organization forward and raise the funds we need to meet the growing need. We welcomed a new group of very talented people as the newest members of our Board at our recent Annual General Meeting. Together with those already working with HelpAge Canada – and with volunteers – we will achieve our goals and remain true to the mission of HelpAge