As I reflected on the possible topics for this month’s article, I thought about the annual and current health threats from the smoke of the hundreds of wildfires burning throughout our country right now.  I was also thinking about the fact that August 21 is World Senior Citizen’s Day.  Both topics are worthy of our conversation.  Hard choice.

But, what if I don’t have to choose?  Perhaps this presented an opportunity to consider in what ways these two events are related, offering some potentially new ways to think about familiar issues.

For many, World Senior Citizen’s Day is a chance to post a tribute, attend a community lunch, send a card, or call someone you care about. These gestures matter. They connect us.  They remind us.  They move us, and help us reflect.

But here’s a different kind of reflection.  What does honour really mean when the world outside isn’t particularly easy?  When the very air we need to survive can make us sick?

Because right now, across many parts of North America and beyond, wildfire smoke is turning the simple act of breathing into a risk of dying — especially for those over 50.

This isn’t a criticism of celebration. It’s an invitation to reconsider what celebration could look like.

When the Air Changes, So Does the Conversation

We talk a lot about resilience. But smoke doesn’t care how “strong” someone is. It doesn’t discriminate.  It aggravates asthma, strains hearts, disrupts sleep, and clouds thinking. And for some older people, it quietly chips away at their cherished independence.

It’s easy to imagine that if something were wrong, someone would say something. That if a neighbour needed help, they’d reach out. But is that always true?

What if we asked:

• Who’s quietly uncomfortable, but doesn’t want to cause trouble?
• Who has the right tools, and who’s making do with whatever they can afford?
• Who’s getting by… but just barely?

Better questions can trigger new responses. They’re chances to recalibrate our assumptions, and maybe, our actions.

Thoughtful Support Is More Than a Checklist

Yes, the advice matters. Tools like Air Quality Health Index or FireWork (https://weather.gc.ca/firework/index_e.html) offer up-to-date information. They are a starting place for being informed.  A well-fitted N95 or a HEPA purifier can be protective.

But care isn’t just technical. It’s relational. It’s the ‘art’ breathing humanity into the science of knowledge.

• It looks like checking in without being asked.
• It sounds like asking, “How are you managing this?” instead of “Are you okay?”
• It feels like knowing someone has your back, even if you haven’t said a word.

Building On Honourable Intentions

This isn’t about replacing or disregarding World Senior Citizen’s Day. It’s about layering our celebration with subtle observations.  About recognizing that even the most independent older adults still live in a world that’s shifting, often without warning, and many times outside of their control.

When the skies go grey, so do a lot of plans. The birthday hike is cancelled. The community centre closes. Suddenly, the week looks lonelier. And that’s where quiet concern can become powerful.

In 2023, Olivia, a Dene elder and environmental manager from Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, shared her experience during a wildfire evacuation. She spoke of fear and grief. She spoke of the loss of place. But underneath her words was a quieter concern for those who may not have the strength or support to respond when the fires come too close. She spoke of concern for older members in her circle. 

Her story echoes far beyond her community. (The Guardian.com)

Because many older people won’t raise their hand. They won’t mention that their chest feels tighter. They may skip buying a new air filter to save money for medication. They may avoid asking for help so they don’t seem like a burden.

You don’t need some grand plan. No need to reinvent the wheel. It’s the little things that mean the most.  The little things like remembering someone when the rest of the world moves on. It says, “Hey, I see you. You matter.” Respect shouldn’t expire when the cake’s gone. Sometimes, honour isn’t a standing ovation. Sometimes, it’s just a quiet check-in, or showing up when the party’s over. So, go ahead and celebrate. Tell the stories, laugh, eat cake. But maybe, look a little deeper this year. Notice what’s hard. Notice what’s strong. That’s where the good stuff is.

Maybe that’s what respect really looks like.  Maybe that is what celebration could look like.  Maybe that is what honour will look like.

Rhonda Latreille, MBA, CPCA
Age-Friendly Business®

p.s.  Since 2003,  Age-Friendly Business® has trained thousands of professionals and businesses committed to learning how to elevate the quality of the client, customer, and community experience.  They are called Certified Professional Consultants on Aging (CPCAs)® and Age-Friendly Businesses®. They have earned the right to ask for your business.

Body: What Smoke Really Does

Wildfire smoke carries tiny particles that travel deep into the lungs. For older adults, this can mean an increased risk of heart problems, aggravated breathing issues, interrupted sleep, and even cognitive impacts.  Furthermore, the emotional toll of staying indoors, limiting social contact, and juggling daily needs under uncertain conditions adds up. It can turn an already challenging season into something isolating and heavy.. 

Spirit: Something to Chew On

“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.” — Albert Pike