One day every year the Broad Street Mall becomes a one-stop shop for the town’s older residents, their families, and their friends.
Older Person’s Day – which takes place on Wednesday 1 October this year – is a day to focus on and highlight what information and services are out there to help people of a certain age.
It’s hard, when you are young, fit and healthy, to envisage what getting older feels like. It’s not something we like to think about when our lives are dominated by work and family life. But aging creeps up on all of us and the difficulties can be exacerbated but illness or injury.
The International Day of the Older Person is there to remind everyone that there are precautions we can all put in place now to make getting older a smoother process. Statistics now estimate 1 in 5 people today could reach 100 years old, which means more of us will spend longer period of our lives as older people. The Council’s aim is to support the life that matters to each individual and in the place they want to be, which is primarily in their own homes.
This year’s world theme of the Day of the Older Person is inclusive aging. The concept is to create environments that support people at various life stages and promote social inclusion, regardless of age.
The reason this next week’s event is particularly worthwhile is that it is something residents have helped to shape themselves, which of course makes it relevant to the right people. The Council’s Older People’s Working Group has been regularly meeting with Age UK Berkshire and Age UK Reading to ensure the right companies and services are there. My particular thanks goes to these volunteers who, with some practical and administrative support from council officers, have created an event which we now need you to support.
There are around 30 charities, organisations and services, all willing to talk to you, your family or friends on the day to help with any issues you may be encountering, or to help you find out more about planning for the future planning or about interest groups you could get involved with.
There is information on utility suppliers, learning and job finding institutions, befriending services, physical and leisure activities, organisations for specific illnesses and conditions, and free NHS health checks. There will also be performances from singers and dancers and the opportunity to get involved.
This year – as a result of requests made last year – a councillor stall will be in place throughout the whole event. So please do take some time to come and chat to colleagues about any issues.
Please tell any family members, friends and neighbours to find some time to drop into Broad Street Mall on Wednesday 1 October between 9.30am until 2pm.
By Cllr Liz Terry, leader of Reading Borough Council
