BERMUDA held its first national conference for seniors last month ? the idea behind it to identify problems facing that population and determine the best possible solutions to address them.

It was, by all accounts, a success ? between 275 and 300 residents attended the event. Its organisers' hope now is that legislation will be drafted to effect necessary change.

Here's a round-up of some of what was said:

Shadow Community & Cultural Affairs Minister said: "You as seniors have all lived through a world war, the Great Depression and health scares. You've also lived through many radical social changes. Now, the Fordham Report, Ageing in Bermuda, confirms that your biggest worries are how to pay bills; how to pay for rent, transportation and medical needs."

Event organiser and seniors' advocate : "By virtue of life experiences, seniors have become mentors, role models, confidants, advisers, resources, parents, grandparents, the bedrock of the community and as such, deserve respect.", who works directly with Government's Health Insurance Plan (HIP) spoke on the monthly cost of insurance ? $768 for public; $917 for semi-private and $1,101 for private.

"Government subsidises costs of some, but not all categories of persons. All persons approaching their 65th year are advised to make inquiries as to their status and (make sure they receive) a Certificate of Entitlement relating to hospital treatment."

President of the Argus Group explained that the workforce equally shares the cost of medical claims, most of which are made by older persons.

"Employed seniors therefore have their claims costs subsidised. Once unemployed, or retired, this subsidy no longer applies. This explains the sad fact that when a retired person has the biggest need for subsidy, it cannot be given."

, director of seniors' advocacy group Age Concern, said Government had been made aware of seniors' needs through a series of surveys conducted between 1978 and 2003. Additional information had also been provided by a study conducted by Fordham University this year, she added.

"These surveys identified the need for group insurance for retirees, affordable transportation, removal of land tax for the elderly, and need for long-term care for seniors."

Stating that much had been done to improve seniors' conditions, Ms Fleming said: "Care of seniors has come full circle in that once again, seniors and the elderly are cared for primarily by family and caregivers in the home."

Shadow Housing Minister spoke of the lack of affordable housing available to seniors, saying that were Bermuda's older residents allowed to become destitute it would be "an unacceptable level of social instability".

"On a practical level, if (my) Ministry, peers and colleagues fail to look after our seniors, then 30 years from now, today's youngsters would follow (that) example. Eighty-two per cent of Bermuda's seniors own their own homes, but there are more than 1,000 who rent accommodation. The median rent today is $767 per month. The median pension is $800 per month. This speaks for itself."

Housing activist described the need for caregivers as "higher than any other in Bermuda", with 6,722 seniors and only 600 beds available at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

"Morally speaking, we must care for our seniors. Traditionally, and at present, a caregiver is a female member of the family, over 50, caring for a husband and family, often working during the day, and caregiving all of her spare hours ? an overstressed and underpaid worker. Even a stipend payment would encourage more caregivers to volunteer their services."

Mr. Smith added that by the year 2010, 20 per cent of all Bermudians would be living on their own.

"The median age in Bermuda is 37 years old. Bermuda is ageing and we must develop the services to accommodate older persons.", an employee in the Ministry of Health and Financial Services, said his department ? Financial Services ? received an annual grant of $15.5 million. Sixty-five per cent of his caseload was older people, he said.

Shadow House Leader advised the importance of drawing up a will, preferably with the assistance of a lawyer.

"A straightforward will might cost $500 or less. It is legal to hand-write your own will, provided it is witnessed by someone who will not benefit (from it). "One can 'gift' away property before one's death, thereby saving on stamp duty, (however) caution is the key word here.

"Ensure that the giver retains a life interest in the property. Upon death, ownership of property and bank accounts held in joint names automatically goes to the survivor. A surviving spouse does not pay duty if (they) inherit, but children do."

Keynote speaker for the event was , the deputy state long-term care ombudsman for Oregon, who spoke on the importance of "activism".

"Research is of tremendous help. Bermuda is not short of ideas. The issue now is to act, individually, or in a group, now."

Mr. Wachter said there were four stages to effecting change ? a person must know what they want to accomplish; know who to go to, to get it done; know how to verbalise it; make the message personal.

"Whatever you set out to do, follow it up until it gets done. Timing and persistence are very important. Enjoy what you are doing, take time to remember who you are doing it for, whose lives you are influencing."

In the United States, the Association of Retired Persons wielded great influence, he said, adding that a similar association could be of benefit here.

"Their power is in their activism and their numbers. Bermuda's seniors will grow in number, so their power will be even greater. You must act now, for yourselves, for your family for the frail and the ill, for those who suffer abuse because they fear reprisals, for those too old and weak to have a voice. Your families, your children, will benefit from your activism now."

Facility-based care in Bermuda should be more strictly governed, the ombudsman added. Such regulations should see a definition of neglect and abuse added to Bermuda law so that those who abuse may be prosecuted. Also needed, laws which made the penalty for committing a crime against a senior more severe than antisocial behaviour perpetrated against the general population.

He concluded: "To make a difference, you need a love of justice, a clear knowledge of the difference between right and wrong. You need the diligence to initiate change, make a report, follow up and persist until change is effected.

"You need the ability to listen. You must never, ever give up. To quote Martin Luther King, Jr., 'In times of challenge and controversy, our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter'."