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page 18, Whitby Free> Pres, Wecfn"sly, Apd1I 27, 1994 for seniors S...*,*.% ....w n .. Rural areas have a high proportion. of elderly residents SUSAN READ and Art Patterson were among the volunteers honoured at an appreciation night Thursday at Whftby Seniors' Activity Centre. Photo by Mlark Reesor, Whltby Free Press Seniors may need a B' boost (NO) A new study of more than 1,000 seniors aged 67 te 96 has shown that having higher blood levels of folate and vitainins can be protective against vascular disease. The study, sponsored by the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center in Boston, showed that an elevated level of these nutrients was associated with a low level of homocysteine -- an amino acid considered te be an independent risk factor for artery disease, mncluding atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. Homocysteine metabolism and excretion are dependent on the presence of folate and vitamins B12 and B6. The study found that high homocysteine levels were found mostly among those subjeets with lowfoate "ttus. However, in 67 per cent of cases, a low blood level of one of the three nutrients was associated with a high homocysteine level. More than half the subjects with low status of at least one of the vitamins . had homocysteine levels approaching the 'danger zone.! Homocysteine concentrations increase naturally with age, a factor accounted for in the study. Researchers have concluded that the elderly could benefit from a diet rich in B vitamins and that government guidelines may be insufficient te normalize homocysteine levels in this population. They discovered elevated homocysteine levels even among individuals who were consuTfing up te 280 mcgo folate per day -- a level hger than the current U.S. recommended daily allow- ances for 180 to 200 incg/day and the Canadian recommended nutrient intake of 149-205 mcglday. Tis information is prouided by the vitamin information program Of Hoffmann-LaRoche Limite&L Providing services to elderly in rural areas will become a challenge as the Canadian population ages, says Alun Joseph, a geographer at the University of Guelph. Rural Canada is well served in ternis of institutional facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes, he says, but less so in terms of services for elderly who wish te remain at home, such as Home Care and Meals on Wheels. Studies have shown a "distinctive concentration of elderly in villages and small towns across the country," says Joseph. Almost one in three elderly Canadians resides in communities outside the typical cityscape. In 1981, settiements with 1,000 te 4,999 residents had 12.9 per cent of their population aged 65 or older, compared with 9.7 per cent for the country as a whole. At the same tinie, these communities had a high proportion of people aged 80 or aIder (2.9 per cent), compared with the national figure of 1.9 per cent. Although comparable census data for 1991 are not available, these contrasts undoubtedly persist. National data on rur'al aging patterns mask important regional and local differences, says Joseph. This holds true for many Ontario communities, he. says, but a signifcant nuznber have had thir aging populations swelled by retirees, who corne from cities as well as rural areas. Rural communities attract urban elderly for a variety of reasons, says Joseph.. The quiet, small-town atomosphere, people returning to their roots anid lower hoi4sing costs may ail play a role. Communities that become known as retirement centres, may exhibit unusual emÈployment patterns and service demands, as well as distorted housing markets, he notes. This may cause some concern among local residents, but most communities appreciate the nmoney brought in by retirees. In ternis of Ontàrio's evolving long-term care policy, Joseph believes the challenge te sînail communities will'be' te juggle demands and services. To effectively meet the needs of aging residents, communities will have te do more than just identify technical ways of delivering services. Determining people's preferences will be an important component, he says. Joseph has written a number of research and planning papers on population aging and service provision, and has worked with various district health councils and Ontarlo ministries. He is a member of CARNET (Canadian Aging Research Network), a research group funded under the Network of Centres of Excellence program. The goal of Joseph's research is te improve understanding of the provision of health care and social support for the elderly. His work has been- supported by the Ministry of Health and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, DL> N D ý ENTFnE 2 * uardcn Drugs~ Mon.-Fri. 9-9, Sat. 9-6, Sunaays & moiiaays lu-o ?20 Dundas St. W. WHITBY Open 7 Days A Week ALL DRUG PLANS ACCEPTED Including: London Lie, Confederation Lie, Sunife, Cumba, etc. FULL LINE 0F DIABETIC NEEDS Health Care Needs: - Braces - Supports'- Gollars - Sports Injury Supplies -Bandages - Tapes'- Dressings- Blood Pressure Kits - Ostomy Supplies -Crutch, Cane - Sale or Rentai'- incontinence Supplies DUNDAS ST. LIHWY #2 z z N 0 HWY. 401 830àu2999' "We care about your healthP'1