Hello members. I have now been in my role as Grey Power Federation president for three months and, in that time, I have met with board members several times, either by email, phone, ZOOM or in person.
There is a great wealth of knowledge and expertise among those on the Grey Power board and I am looking forward to working with them all.
Our Grey Power Federation’s annual general meeting in June this year had intelligent and committed speakers focusing on seniors in New Zealand.
The Aged Care Commissioner (AGC), Carolyn Cooper, spoke passionately about the gaps in the health and welfare sectors and did not mince her words. She spoke about all areas of risk within senior communities including in-home care, dementia, residential care and dental issues, to name a few.
Grey Power has fought for years to have an AGC to walk alongside organisations which deal with our ageing population and to report to government ministers on better ways to acknowledge this cohort and their needs.
Having worked in the senior sector, I have a great deal of respect for our older generation.
Most seniors have spent their lives working for a living, bringing up children and, at many times, struggling just as this generation is doing. What many of the younger generation cannot understand is how hard many people had to work for their basic needs.
We all need to celebrate the lives of our senior society and look after each and every one of them because one day the young will become the old and no-one wants to see them living as many seniors do today.
Grey Power New Zealand’s mission is ‘to use positive advocacy to enhance the sustainable wellbeing of all older people in Aotearoa New Zealand’ and it will continue to do that for as long as it takes for governments to listen and engage.
As president, this is my mission too and I hope to serve the federation well in the coming term and beyond. We have much to do.
