THE first in a series of free conferences dedicated to Bermuda's seniors takes place next weekend.

Sponsored by the United Bermuda Party (UBP), the conference hopes to identify problems facing the island's older residents and ? with the aid of the community ? determine the best possible solutions.

The ultimate goal of those behind the conference, however, is to see legislation enacted capable of eradicating such issues altogether.

"The focal point of the conference is how we can encourage, work with, and stand by seniors," said Keitha Lowe, a member of the UBP's senior committee. "We want to assist them in empowering themselves collectively and independently so that they are able to deal with those issues that affect them on an everyday basis.

"For too many years, seniors in Bermuda have felt they had to be silent. Very often, issues that are having a critical impact on their well-being, their quality of life, go unheard and unrecognised. They aren't dealt with.

"If we let them know that their voice is valued, that it has an impact, that it has strength, that they are entitled to all that's within our community ? then we can move forward together. There are approximately 9,000 seniors in Bermuda, many times they feel like they're standing alone. We want them to know that as a community, we will collectively stand with them."

Called The Silver Revolution, the conference will tackle a variety of topics affecting seniors.

"We have worked very hard to ensure that this event is fully sponsored without one dime coming out of the pockets of those who attend. We've worked very diligently with our corporate friends; many are assisting us in a major way with door prizes and giveaways. But our real focus is our discussion topics," Ms Lowe added.

Discussions for the day-long event will involve debate over the following issues: 'Ensuring a Secure Retirement', 'Seniors under Siege: The Impact of Bermuda's Housing Crisis and Health Care Solutions for Seniors'.

Part of the aim of sharing such information with seniors is to show them that they don't need anyone to put their case forward for them, according to committee member Hilary Soares.

"What we're hoping is people will become advocates for themselves. Hopefully, we can encourage them to start banding together and doing things for themselves."

Despite that hope, Mrs. Soares said she and other committee members were now exploring a number of options which might improve seniors' day-to-day living.

"We're looking at how we may provide monies for pensioners; if that's even possible. We're looking at generic medications, at health care insurance. What we want to do is introduce a free health care system with a geriatrician, nurse practitioners, a pharmacist and so forth; so they are able to receive health care in a clinic or at home if necessary.

"(But) we talk about all kinds of things that actively affect seniors and we're going to try and provide really sensible solutions to a lot of the problems that seniors face."

She defined seniors as people aged 50 and older, "anybody who's beginning to feel a little compromised in one way or another".

Keynote speaker for the event is Glen Wachter, the deputy state long-term care ombudsman for Oregon.

Mrs. Soares suggested the island's seniors might benefit if a similar post was established here. When asked if that role was not already filled by Age Concern chairperson Claudette Fleming ? a guest speaker at the conference ? she replied: "Claudette does a lot of work, but she is not particularly supported, I don't think, by Government initiatives. And that's the problem. We need somebody who can provide solutions for people; who can do something in an easy, cost-effective way. We need a senior ombudsman in Bermuda so that relatives of older people who are sick, or older persons with a problem, can actually go to them and work things out.

"Maybe we need to form something like the AARP in the United States ? an advocacy group for seniors. We've relegated many seniors to the status of being poor. They built this community. It's fine for somebody to say save your money, but many never received the income to be able to save. And if they retired ten, 15 years ago, the pension they received at that point would have very little value now."

Added Ms Lowe: "When I've done everything you told me to do. When I've toed the line according to the norm and at the end of the day it still wasn't enough, what am I supposed to do? This is the position our seniors find themselves in. Further to that, they don't want to speak up for fear that the little they have might be taken away from them.

"We really need to come together collectively. The Government has a (role) in the community. It needs to address these concerns and the only way to do that is if we buy into a solid plan together. It's not about debate. It's not about division. It's not about who can score enough points. It's about what's right."

Mrs. Soares admitted it had not yet been determined how such programmes would work financially, but that it was important to have a plan in place.

"We haven't gone that further step yet. We want to put some of these ideas out there so that they can be debated and talked about. The main reason for the conference is advocacy ? so that seniors understand how much power they have in their hands.

"Obviously we're not going to be able to solve all the problems. Obviously they will need to speak up for themselves ? they do need to go to the social insurance office, to go to financial assistance. It's not going to be done for them. What we're trying to say is, you have every opportunity, you need to use it. And, we want to make sure they have the information as to where they should go."

With this first conference, success would be counted not by how many people attend but by the feedback the organisers received, Mrs. Soares said.

Ironically, that is the reason she became a campaigner for the island's aged. After hearing a number of the issues the older portion of the population was trying to deal with, she was compelled to act.

"We have so many people with unanswered questions. I get calls all the time from seniors. So do many of my colleagues. We don't know what to say about it all. What we do know is that seniors are disadvantaged. Because of that our committee decided we had to be practical in our solutions ? to determine those, we had to put a conference together.

"For us, success is about (the seniors) providing solutions; having them talk to their own politicians. Having them ask questions and write in with real possibilities. We need to have a real lobbying of all politicians where they clearly state we need legislation for this and that. And for any of this to work, that legislation has to happen."

The Silver Revolution will be held on Saturday, October 23 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel. The day includes a complimentary lunch. Admission is free. Tickets, however, should be collected in advance and are available from the United Bermuda Party office on the 3rd floor of the Bermudiana Arcade. For more information, telephone 295-0729.