Seek Advice Of Elderly During Crisis

CLEVELAND -- When the lights went out during the recent power crisis most people dived for their flashlights, but did anyone think about turning to our community's elders for help or advice?

NewsChannel5's Alicia Scicolone reported in "Successful Aging" that there are some great volunteer resources available.

"I would hate to think that the day would come when all the volunteers stayed home. There would be a big void in the community," said Edna Star, Fairhill Center For Aging.

"This community is going to have a large number of older persons over the next few years and we as a community have to figure out ways to use their talent both for their benefit and for our benefit," said Robert E. Eckardt, The Cleveland Foundation.

The aging of America is just as much an opportunity to be seized as it is a problem to be solved if we are only able to tap into the time, talent and civic potential of a group that is our country's only growing natural resource, NewsChannel5 reported.

"We use the time and talent of this growing population to solve problems in this community. If you really think of the value of the time seniors contribute, and can contribute with more opportunities, it's almost immeasurable," Eckardt said.