Safety is a
matter of
common sense

While it is true that
Seniors are not prone
to accidents any more
than any other group in
society, it is also a fact
that occasionally care
must be taken.

There are many products
on the market which aid
safety in and around the
home, and are designed not
only for seniors, but for
anyone who can benefit
from them.

For example, there are
probably as many younger
children who slip and fall in
the bathtub as so-called
‘seniors,’ so why not use one
of the products that are used
in the (ub, either on a liquid
form or ‘stick-ons’ to prevent
that particular problem?

Another set of handy
items available in many
stores are the various types
of bathtub rails and gnps as
well as different styles of
bath benches. They can be
handy for any age level.

Also convenient and
helpful for those who suffer
from handicaps are toilet

guard rails.

Seniors today cannot be
categorized as simply the
frail and elderly. To do so
would be condescending.
Many seniors today are more
active than they were during
their so-called working life.

They hike, camp, travel,
are active in cultural ac-
tivities, sports, in fact
anything that anyone else is
involved with is fair game for
today’s seniors.

Safety tips for this type of
person could range from
using good hiking or
climbing boots to looking
both ways when running
across intersections during
marathons.

Persons wishing more
specific safety information
can contact vanous seniors
organizations or local health
units.

Basically, good safety is a
matter for all persons, and
what is good sense for the
ordinary younger person is

equally as valid for the
senior.
Common sense 1s most

likely the best safety up for
all, regardless of age.

Enjoying life

Loneliness, depression
and anxiety are common at
all ages. The post-retirement
years may bring additional
stress such as leaving the
labour force, illness or the
loss fo friends and family.

Participation in active
leisure pursuits provides
renewed opportunities for
fun and social involvement.

In addition, studies have
shown moderately vigorous
activity to be more effective
than the use of tranquilizers
in the release of tension.
anger, or frustration.

Dr. Hans Selye, an inter-
nationally famous Canadian
expert on stress, has shown
that not all stress is
destructive, indeed, a
certain amount of change
and challenge is needed to
remain alert and happy.

“Successful activity.” says
Dr Selye. “provides you
with an exhilarating feeling

of youthful strength, even at
an advancing age.”

At age 73, Dr. Selye
successfully meets. the
challenge of stress with a
continuing involvement in
writing, research and
speaking engagements.

To prevent’ physical
degeneration, he sets aside
an hour a day to keep his
muscles trim by swimming or
riding a bicycle around the
McGill University Campus.

Active individuals sleep
better and relax more
readily. In addition, sport

and exercise can help reduce

physical and pyschological
tension. Hobbies and
handicrafts such as painting,
pottery. carpentry or

macrame provide an outlet
for creative expression while
helping to maintain fine
motor skills and muscle
functioning in the hands and
fingers

SENIOR CITIZENS

1 5 % discount

on all services

Hair by Reber eq

3723 Delbrook Ave
North Vancouver

987-4511

Remembering the depression

Al3 - Wedmesday, June 2, 1982 - North Shore News

THE SURVIVORS

By ELLSWORTH DICKSON

WITHIN A YEAR of the
stock market crash in Oc-
tober 1929, the relief rolls in
Vancouver had tnpled, the
unemployed raided the relief
office, there were parades
and arrests of the destitute,
and on one occasion 1,250
were counted in the bread-
line at the First United

Church. By the end of 1931,
the relief bill for Vancouver
would be $1,300,000.

And then things got worse.
The unemployed hung
around street corners and
beggars went from door to
door. Soon there were
34,000 people on relief. You
could buy property for one

tenth of its assessed value.
Thousands of transients
were sent to work camps and

for the people who had
nothing despair had set in.
What follows are the

memories of some North
Shore senior citizens who
lived through — and sur-
vived those “ten lost years.”

In comparing our current
economic problems to the
problems of the 1930s it's
clear that even today we are
stall enjoying a picnic,
relatively speaking.
Hopefully, we will overcome
our present troubles before
the horrors of half a century
ago have any opportunity to
return.

FRANK AND JESSIE WOOD

Salary cut to
$42.50 per month

“Mrs. Wood and I are

university there in 1928.
from Alberta. I started

When I graduated in 1932, it
was the worst possible time
to look for work. Although I
had a degree in micro
biology, I had to take a job
as a general hand in a dairy
plant in Calgary. Life was
pretty bad and lots of
professional prople were out
of work. I made about $100 a
month and had to work
seven days a week.

“In December 1933 Jessie
and I got married. Our
friends thought we were
crazy. Maybe we were. After
graduating and working at a
creamery for about $100 a
month, the company
transferred me to another
plant at a salary of $80 a
month.

“That Christmas I got a
letter from the company
saying my salary was being
cut to $42.50 a month.

“It was quite a shock, but

FRANK WOOD

we managed by renting a
house for $12 per month.
When Jessie wrote to the
owner, it was lowered to $9
per month. We _ survived
because we did not have to
spend much. Coal was about
$2 a ton. We bought cracked
eggs for 15¢ a dozen. We
were really fortunate in that
I was able to find work, even
if it was just as a factory
hand.

“People in the small towns
were more or less self-
sufficient. I used to see
hungry homeless men come
off the trains and ask for a
glass of buttermilk or a piece
of bread. For three years I
did not buy any clothes.
Once, when Mrs. Wood was
sick, a friend helped her
around the house and her
husband was earning one

CHARLIE TAIT

dollar a day.

“I remember you could
buy pork sausage for 10¢ per
pound. And there was no
welfare cheques, but there
were food certificates. And
of course there was no un-
employment insurance or
Canada pension.

“No matter how bad things
got, we remained optimistic
about the future. Some
farmers had it very bad. A
Danish family we knew
worried because they were
having trouble making
payments on the farm. They
more or less survived on the
$30 a month Jessie gave
them for room and board.
We also knew a= school
principal who worked as a
clerk on Saturdays. This was
quite acceptable.”

Carpets on feet

“I was associated with the
newspaper business all my
life. For my first job, I
tramped all over Vancouver
and finally landed a job at
37.50 a week. I got it

BATHTUB
SECURITY RAILS

The satest way to get
in of Out of the tub.
easy to install, recom

mended tor

the aged

and handicapped

TRI-GRIP BATH RAIL

The Trt Grip design aids in all bathing tunc

trons entering leaving and moving about in

the tub Three convenient nand gps Bright
chrome plate fraish rubber protected contact
points

& SHOWER
SAFETY BENCHES

FROM

$3498

safe bat cue tub

(Shu wer Ma veltous

or) aan, earl thers

Wise AS ava Sy lot

SLIP STOP

Here is the newest discovery
in the
bathtub and/or shower This
apace age product Can prevent
highest
SEVERE ACCIDENT area of
tubs.

to prevent = slipping

accidents in the

your home Mako
showers slip resistant

$Q98

because the boss liked the
way I shined my shoes. This
was 1929. Later I worked for
the “Vancouver Star” which
sold for 1¢.

CONTINUED ON PAGE Al4

Bathrooms Beautiful

OAKRIDGE 266-8811 and PARK ROYAL NORTH 926-5122