Seniors get special treatment

Some senior citizens are over the moon after they enjoyed a day full of treats organised to celebrate them.

The Portmore Jamaica Lions Club, in collaboration with the HEART Trust, hosted its annual event for senior citizens yesterday in Edgewater, Portmore.

Ivy Bilton, 73, told THE STAR that she appreciates the club for allowing her to feel like she is part of something.

"A church brother, who is a member of the Lions Club, he told me about it. I came to do my manicure," she said flashing her hands to show off her freshly painted nails.

"I think it's very good that they are doing something for us, the seniors. I do things like gardening, and suh, but when I was younger, I did it more, but you know it burst out into fear. You know you have the fear because there are so much things on the roads now that you just feel not to go anywhere."

Senior Citizens' Week is being celebrated from September 22 to October 1 under the theme 'Older Persons: Partners in Social, Cultural and Economic Development'.

The eldest person at yesterday's treat was 80-year-old Mojeska Jarrett. She told THE STAR that she was happy for the experience as things were usually hard for her as an elder.

"These days are harder. In the older days, a lot of things were for a small amount of money. Now that you have a big amount of money, you get a smaller amount of things. So, yea, back then was better."

Sadie Durrant, member of the Lions Club committee, said that they have a special love and care for elders in Jamaica.

"Seniors are very important to us on a whole, not just to Lions Club International, but to us as individuals because they have already set the foundation. And in this Senior Citizens' Week, we the Lions just want to do our little part and say thanks to them for the foundation they have set for us as they are stalwarts in our country, and we will always remember them," she said. "We want them to know that there are persons out there who really want to acknowledge them. As our motto says, 'We serve', and we are serving them as the elders in society."