Government is reaching out to Bermuda?s senior citizens through the National Seniors Office ? and the initiative appears to be working.

?They were so happy, they were saying they finally feel like somebody?s listening,? said National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged manager Dr. Melvin Dickinson after a meeting with seniors at the Devonshire Recreation Club on Friday.

?It was one of the most positive meetings we?ve had. We have had our downs, but these are some of the ups that keep us going.

?I didn?t expect all those seniors (to show up), I?m serious,? he added.

?It was a lot of information, a good time. You would?ve gotten a real sense of camaraderie.?

The role of the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged is to act as a co-ordinating hub, he said ? a ?one-stop-shop? directing those in need towards the services and assistance that are available for them in Bermuda, he said.

?You don?t have to be solemn and sad (when giving information),? said Dr. Dickinson. ?And you don?t have to have the solution for every problem.

?But you are obligated to look at the problem ... The only way we can facilitate change is to find out what the problems are.? Seniors asked questions about the issues of housing and pensions, he said. ?It?s the same things that come up over and over again, but with me being there it becomes more personal ? now they have a face they can talk to, to let them know what the Bermuda Government is trying to roll out.?

One of the biggest concerns of the seniors at the meeting was the change in Bermuda, he said. ?Bermuda is another world ... They talked about how Bermuda is now, compared to how Bermuda was, how people have changed so much.

?I think a lot of things springboard off that.?

Having accessible information for seniors was important, he said ? and not just for seniors, but for their families, and for locals who one day will be seniors themselves.

?I?m just hoping more organisations will say hey, look, come out and speak to us,? said Dr. Dickinson. ?It?s the wish of (Health) Minister (Patrice) Minors and permanent secretary (Marc) Telemaque that we get out there. You can?t solve a problem if you don?t know about it.

?They have a forum to speak and a person to speak to ... I will speak as hard as I can to one as to 1,000, because if it concerns one, it probably concerns 1,000.?