Their age is prohibitive to seeking employment to occupy their time, and as a result, they have no alternative but to rely on their children for financial and emotional support and social involvement. The Indian Immigrant Aid Services, in trying to overcome this problem, has formed senior citizens' groups. The latest club has been formed in the Flemingdon Park area. While it serves primarily as a social and recreational outlet, its main purpose is to provide this age group with an opportunity to meet with contemporaries in a familiar cultural and linguistic atmosphere. Issues pertaining to their needs are discussed, and they are encouraged to take responsibility for organising their own activities.
Similar services are also available for youth.
One of the major problems faced by this age group is relating to a dual cultural environment - that of the home, on the one hand, and the outside world, on the other. While in the family home they are expected to pattern their lives according to the traditions and religious principles set forth by their parents, in their educational and work environment, however, they are confronted with an entirely different set of moral and social practices and codes of behaviour. The ensuing struggle between traditional-minded parents and progressively westernized youth is now occurring frequently in many households and is a major issue of concern for all parties involved. A film, presently being produced by the Indian Immigrant Aid Services, entitled Family in Transition , explores this real and difficult situation. Set in an interview format, it outlines the concerns and fears shared by parents and children alike and advocates the view that a healthy balance can be attained by selecting the best of each culture, moulding lifestyles accordingly.