Senior Citizens Unite for Healthy Aging and Nutrition Awareness

When we talk about aging, it’s easy to think of it as something far off, but for thousands of Belizeans, it’s their reality today. Did you know that older persons make up less than ten percent of our population? That small number means they often risk being invisible in their own communities. Well, today, that changed. Leaders from across the country came together for an event focused on nutrition and healthy aging, giving seniors a chance to raise their concerns, connect with health professionals, and get the information they need to live healthier lives.

 

Ix-Chel Poot, Executive Director, National Council on Aging

“So, our older population still makes up less than ten percent of our overall population which means that they do run a very high risk of being invisible in their communities. So, events like this which brings together older persons from across the country, specifically leaders in their own older persons organizations and networks, but it also helps them to voice concerns and questions about the things that are impacting them in their community. So, today’s event which looks at nutrition and healthy aging really gives them an opportunity to engage with health professionals, raise the challenges that they are seeing, but also receive pertinent and relevant information for their realities.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And when we say aging population, what are some of the ranges of ages that we are looking at here today?”

 

Ix-Chel Poot

“So, an older person is anybody sixty-plus. So, this event tailors specifically to that population, sixty-plus. We have a wide range, from sixty all the way into the eighties today, I believe. And coming from various organizations. The various Help Age branches from across the country, local organizations here in Belize City and then other organizations in the other districts. We have the Ministry of Health & Wellness which is the lead ministry for this particular event, and so we have different health professionals from different sectors. They’ve had a medical doctor speak to them about the biological changes, things that they might not take into consideration as they’re aging.”