Sudbury seniors learn about aging well during event for retired educators

A group of seniors in Greater Sudbury gathered Thursday to learn about strategies to improve their lives as the get older.

Growing older can be difficult. It’s one of the things that Mariette Dignard-Dube, like others, deals with day-to-day.

She was just one of many who gathered Thursday morning to learn more about how to age well.

“Plan how you’re going to react to different things that are going to happen,” Dignard-Dube said.

“Especially age-wise, you are going to face certain problems or certain health needs and you have to plan ahead. So get the information.”

Planned by the Sudbury branch of the RTOERO, a non-profit group whose members are all retired educators, the event included guest speakers and a panel discussion.

Issues up for discussion included geriatrics, seniors’ issues and the environment.

“We can get all the data, all the information and all new technology, new ideas, scientific data, but what’s important is you need to feel that you have a say, that you have a voice and that you can be part of the solution,” said Evelyn Dutrisac, chair of District 4 RTOERO.

Keynote speaker Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of CanAge, told the crowd it’s important to have a positive attitude about getting older.

“The way that you think about aging is actually one of the biggest parts about how you’ll age,” Tamblyn Watts said.

“Of course, making sure that we stay socially connected and not lonely is very important. And then, of course, there’s good old eat right and exercise.”

Officials said the Sudbury event was about educating and empowering local seniors to use their voice and their talents to work together to improve the well-being of the community.