This week we launch a new feature in the Gazette, taking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee as our cue to focus on the lives of her contemporaries in Ryedale, the unsung heroes of our communities who, far from the stereotypical ‘oldie’, are carrying out crucial work in the community, those whose lives are being enriched by that work, and what is being done locally to prevent the isolation which can blight the lives of the elderly.

VIVIENNE KNAGGS, district councillor and Ryedale’s Champion for Older People, sets the scene.

2012 will be a momentous year. Preparations for the Olympics are gathering speed, but the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is set to dominate the headlines as the monarch and the country celebrate her 60 years on the throne.

It will be especially meaningful for older people who remember watching their first royal event on television. I was one of them and remember how my parents bought their 12 inch TV for the occasion. It seemed as though half the village of Sheriff Hutton crowded into our sitting room to watch the ceremony!

Many people will look back to that less complex era with some nostalgia and count all the changes, some welcome, others regrettable, which have taken place since.

As Ryedale District Council’s Champion for Older People, I am well aware of many of these changes. The baby boom of the post-war years is now translating into major challenges for health and social care as that generation ages. By 2020, Government statistics show that in Ryedale, 27 out of every 100 people will be aged over 65 and likely to need some type of care as they age. And there will be far fewer people earning to pay for it.

New ways have to be found of meeting those needs. Across the country, health and social care professionals, councillors and voluntary groups are working together to find ways in which these vital services can be delivered more efficiently and effectively. They are looking at the needs of people from the age of 50 because future illness can often be greatly reduced by ensuring people remain fit and healthy. So preventative care is likely to play an important part in new plans.

Currently, the requirements of isolated and excluded elderly people are major issues. Loneliness can lead to depression and worse, which, over time, can give way to mental and physical illness.

This area is being given a high priority with many professionals, voluntary and social groups focusing on identifying those who need companionship and a helping hand.

There is evidence that befriending schemes, outings and simple help with tasks like shopping have transformed the lives of some individuals. Volunteers to help in this area are crucial and greatly valued.

However, this is just one side of the coin. Most older people in North Yorkshire lead happy, contented and interesting lives in a healthy environment. The wonders of modern science have enabled people to have access to treatments and operations like hip replacements which enable people quickly to resume a normal life.

Many are doing remarkable things in their retirement years and some are themselves volunteers and help others. In addition, many retired people do voluntary work which, in North Yorkshire alone adds almost £1 million to the local economy. Much of this effort is largely unacknowledged and unrecognised by the community in general.

Perhaps in this Jubilee year we could celebrate, in part, by focusing on the remarkable achievements of some of our senior citizens. I know some of them will be to the fore in helping prepare for local Jubilee events including street parties and galas etc.

Should you need help, information or wish to volunteer, please contact me and I will be only too happy to point you in the right direction.