By 2026, one in four Bermudians will be over the age of 65 (Bermuda National Seniors Strategy 2024-2030). That’s a quarter of our population navigating retirement, rising healthcare costs and the realities of ageing — often without the support they need. The critical question at this juncture is whether the island is prepared for this silver tsunami.

Ageing should not be a crisis — it should be a chapter of life filled with meaning, connection and respect. That’s why Age Concern provides practical help and advocacy to protect and empower Bermuda’s 50-plus community.

At Age Concern Bermuda, we work every day to help older adults live with dignity, independence and security. We hear from seniors struggling to afford groceries and medication, caring for partners with complex needs or feeling isolated in their communities. For many, life is marked by stress, not rest, in their golden years.

Age Concern is working to fill these gaps. As the leading non-profit serving Bermuda's 50-plus population, our mission is to promote the quality of life and advance the rights and opportunities of older adults. We do this through a range of programmes and services that offer guidance on healthcare and benefits, emergency hardship support, long-term care advocacy, education on available services and ageing-related issues, and discount membership benefits to stretch limited budgets. We collaborate with social service providers, health professionals and community organisations to create real, measurable impact.

Last year alone, we helped seniors navigate critical services, provided emergency financial assistance to 211 older adults, and supported long-term care training that benefited 258 residents in care facilities. Our workshops empowered more than 700 participants with practical knowledge on finances and caregiving. Six thousand members have access to discounts that could save them $600 per year through our affiliate benefits programme. And, perhaps most importantly, more than 40 per cent of clients have noted that they have increased their knowledge on age-related issues and say they feel more independent because of our services.

Ageing is not a crisis — it is a natural part of life, and it should be something we prepare for and embrace, not fear. Our vision is a Bermuda where ageing is met with opportunity, respect and support. A place where older adults are empowered to live with dignity, stay connected, and remain financially and socially secure.

But this vision will not happen on its own. It requires investment, collaboration and political will. We need policymakers to prioritise issues around ageing and wellbeing, community partners to align their efforts, and the public to recognise that ageing well benefits us all. Let's commit together to building a Bermuda where successful ageing is not the exception, but the norm.

• Mercedes Pringle-DeSilva is the executive director of Age Concern Bermuda, a registered charity advocating for the rights and wellbeing of older adults across the island. Learn more at ageconcern.bm or give us a call at (441) 238-7525.This op-ed is part of the Third Sector Spotlight Series, a collective media campaign co-ordinated by the Non-Profit Alliance of Bermuda. This campaign aims to raise awareness of the value, impact and contributions of Bermuda’s non-profit sector