''Senior Citizens Seminar - Saturday, 21 September''

On Saturday, 21 September 2024, the much-anticipated Senior Citizens Seminar took place at Studios 1 and 2 at Firstsite, beginning at 2 pm. The event was planned for a year, with a final reminder sent by the Chair/Trustee via the CNS Viber group, which helped kickstart administrative preparations in earnest.

The food preparations began on Friday, led by the Food Coordinator and his assistant, who shopped for food, tea, coffee, and refreshments. On Saturday morning, Jas Kumari Gurung, the Gurkha Home Area Representative, together with Chef Cham Bahadur Pun and a hardworking team, including Karna Bahadur Rana, Chin Bahadur Pun, Masana Limbu, Yal Kumari, Man Devi, Rup Maya, Rita, Dil Kumar, Dhan, Laxman, Milan, Suresh and others, handled all the cooking and setup. Everything was ready by 2 pm, just as planned.

By 2 pm, the Chair, Dr Tashi Gurung GP, and his team, Lisa Masanovic from the Alzheimer's Society, RN Rashita Bista, RN Masina Gurung, RN Amina Rai, and RN Ranjita Sherchan, were in place, ready to welcome attendees. Milan Gurung and Suresh Garbuja arranged the seating. Attendees, totalling just over 100, began arriving shortly after, and by 2:30 pm, the Chair officially opened the seminar.

The Chair began with a presentation on health and safety guidelines at Firstsite and practical advice on personal safety, road-crossing etiquette, and how individuals can project their best selves to the world. The Vice-Chair followed with a talk on personal and home safety, including online security.

Next, Lisa Masanovic discussed Alzheimer's disease and explained how it has become the leading cause of death globally. Dr. Tashi provided translation for attendees. After a ten-minute break for refreshments, Dr. Tashi gave an insightful talk on cancer, covering different types, early detection, and preventative measures, emphasizing that cancer can be curable if caught early. Although Suzanne Pearson from Essex Wellbeing Services could not attend the last-minute commitments, the seminar continued smoothly.

Following Dr. Tashi's talk, attendees were divided into five activity stands:

Stand 1: GP services with Dr. Tashi.

Stand 2: Alzheimer's Society with Lisa Masanovic

Stand 3: Height, weight, and BMI checks with RN Amina and RN Ranjita.

Stand 4: Diabetes testing with RN Masina.

Stand 5: Blood pressure checks with RN Rashita.

Each attendee was able to assess their wellbeing through these health checks.

By 6 pm, food was served, and everyone enjoyed the delicious curry supper Chef Cham Bahadur Pun had prepared. Simultaneously, the Chair announced that £3,742 had been secured from the Essex Association of Local Councils to support those on Universal Credit and Pension Credit. Local grocery stores (Dhaulagiri) were asked to deliver the grocery item packages, including rice, oil, and essential items valued at £58.75, distributed to 65 households while dinner was served.

By 7 pm, the event concluded, with the studios cleaned and left by 7:10 pm. 

The seminar was a tremendous success, leaving many smiling faces. Special thanks were extended to Dr Tashi, Lisa Masanovic and the nursing team for their time, dedication, and commitment to the community, as well as to Jas Kumari Gurung and her team and all the volunteers who made the event possible.

Well done, everyone!

Udai B Gurung MBE

Chair/Trustee

CNS