OPPOSITION MPs Louise Jackson and John Barritt are launching a fresh crusade to help struggling seniors.

And as part of the "Silver Revolution" the pair are calling on Government to fund a Seniors' Advocate to give practical help and legal advice to those in need.

In a manifesto printed in this week's , lawyer Mr. Barritt, the United Bermuda Party whip, and Mrs. Jackson, the party's spokesman on Health and Seniors, called for "a radical rethink on how we can assist and provide for those seniors in need".

Initiatives include the introduction of reverse mortgages to help seniors who are asset rich but cash poor, the building of assisted-living apartments and the introduction of a senior healthcare clinic.

Yesterday Mrs. Jackson said she and her colleague were prompted into action after being "bombarded with calls" from seniors seeking help on a range of issues. She pointed out that Mr. Barritt has since devoted hundreds of hours of his spare time providing free legal advise to seniors in distress.

"There's a crisis out there with our seniors and the whole thing is just so sad," she said.

Mrs. Jackson also blasted one Government agency ? the National Office for Seniors ? for failing to take a hands-on approach to individual queries from seniors, accusing the organisation of doing little more than referring clients to other Government departments.

Both MPs believe the creation of a Seniors' Advocate would result in individual cases being tackled more effectively.

And Mrs. Jackson also expressed concern over regulations on rest homes, claiming they failed to protect residents who were often given poor care.

Rounding on her opposite number, Mrs. Jackson said the Ministry of Health needed a Minister "with know-how and heart" who would "acknowledge that we have this problem".

"We don't need someone who's learning on the job," she said. And she also dismissed claims by Premier Alex Scott that Government was ushering in a new "age of empowerment".

"I was stunned when the Premier gave his address earlier this week about empowerment and mentioned that seniors get a tea once a year and have been given some computers," she said.

"Hello? Doesn't he realise that we've got seniors who are dying because they can't afford their medication, seniors going without food because they don't have money for electricity."