It has been felt that many seniors cannot access health services since they do not know enough about health conditions to which they are vulnerable as they grow older. Seniors from immigrant communities are further deprived of networks and support systems they
were used to in their parent countries. In a changed environment their immediate family, itself challenged by the need to adapt to a new system, usually does not nurture them sufficiently to ensure their well being. Their limited and sometimes complete lack of English language skills inhibits them form reaching out to available resources, leaving them dis-empowered, emotionally and physically sick and alienated.

A critical need exists to enable seniors to understand their health conditions, prevent health deterioration, access available health services, and strengthen their networks and support systems enabling them to lead healthier lives.

The goal of the program is to empower seniors to ensure that they are healthier, more active, and lead fuller and happier lives and are thereby better integrated in the society. This can be achieved by:

The South Asian Family Support Services has a mandate to assist individuals and groups to integrate better in Canadian society. By addressing the health needs of seniors and empowering seniors to improve their access to health care facilities, it will address a major component of its overall mission.

Traditionally, seniors receive great respect from their immediate and extended families, friends and the community at large. Their participation in major decisions at all levels is considered important. Their consent is sought and blessings received before any major
new step in the family’s life. It has been observed however that the challenges of life at the end of the millennium are so great that all able-bodied adults in the family strive to provide for the basic necessities of life. Their prime focus is their own needs and the needs of the children. The needs of seniors receive least consideration in this changing environment. Seniors are sometimes perceived as unproductive and treated as a liability. They are confined to their homes, not encouraged to go out and explore their environment or to learn new skills. This leads to emotional and physical suffering. They feel dis-empowered and alienated from the system, which leads to neglect of their health needs, leading to physical and psychological ailments.

In view of this, South Asian Family Support Services has found it imminent to fulfil a major responsibility by providing seniors in the community with the necessary assistance they need to improve their health awareness. Seniors form 20% of the population of
Toronto. Research reveals that seniors in the community are not adequately informed about common health risks they face, and with this in mind we are providing the following health information package.

Several major ailments have been identified as significant to seniors, including Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Atherosclerosis (Coronary Artery Disease,Hypercholesterolemia), Arthritis, Asthma, Cataract and Glaucoma, Dental conditions, Dementia,Parkinson’s Disease and Osteoporosis. Information about these ailments, their prevention and treatment can be found in the information package below: