Bermuda needs to come out of denial about the problems facing its senior citizens in order to begin to solve them, says a leading seniors advocate.

"We cannot stand alone, we need the support. What we need are families and we need seniors themselves to speak out and stand with us," said Age Concern director Claudette Fleming adding that nothing new was revealed by census statistics showing that a huge chunk of Bermuda's oldest are living well below the poverty line.

"We know that people rely on their pension income," she said. "If $35,000 is the poverty line, then people are halfway below that and it's a definite concern. I would guess a good percentage of people, if not over the age of 65, over the age of 70 would rely on their pension as the major source of income."

Now at 11 percent of the total population, the 6,722 people over the age of 65 grew by 25 percent since 1991, according to the census report released last week. Forty percent are classified as poor, ten percent are "near poor", 34 percent enjoy a middle class existence and just 16 percent are "well to do". In the general population the figures are 19, 11, 42 and 27 percent respectively.

Among the over 65 year olds, 1,613 are working or seeking employment and pension incomes, which were collected separately for the first time in the history of the census, are abysmal.

Overall median pension income in Bermuda is $11,286 and gender and racial disparities, which characterise a number of socio-economic indices in the general population, are starkly evident among the elderly. With a median pension income of $13,064, men earn considerably more than the overall average, as compared to a paltry $9,866 earned by retired women. And black men earn a median income of $12, 359, as compared to $14,157 for their white counterparts. Among whites, male and female, the figure is $11,859.

But the same report classes as poor those earning less than $35,831 a year.

"We are not direct service providers," said Ms Fleming. "But this is not a surprise to those who are. They know there are a lot of people in substandard conditions. This is not a new problem to them."

People need to accept the fact that "this is the case in the third richest country in the world and to stop being in denial about it."

She noted that the average mortgage costs $4,000 a month to service and rest home care and in-home nursing care are about the same. "Who can afford that? Most families are struggling with this question as well."

Solving the crisis will involve spending public and private sector funds and a recognition that the problem exists, Ms Fleming said.

She said: "We need to dedicate money to the services that will help the seniors - bottom line." But simply doling out money to the elderly would be degrading, she offered.

Asked how she knew Bermudians were in denial, Ms Fleming said: "When was the last time you had people approach you... Are you overwhelmed with stories about poverty among the elderly? But yet you see the numbers, you don't hear anything."

Besides their financial worries, seniors are more likely to live alone and suffer various health problems and are particularly vulnerable to abuse.

Ms Fleming agreed that the elderly, by virtue of their numbers, are a potent political force, but said that they need to be empowered with that awareness.

"A lot of people think that the Government was voted in by young people. That's not the case. They are a profound political force but do they recognise that?"

Age Concern is planning a series of meetings early next year to drive home the message to seniors that they must express themselves publicly.

"We don't have a lot of clout for a small organisation but I've decided to go out to say this very thing - election year is coming and you must get out and you must speak and let people know what's going on."

Government has lived up to its campaign promise of establishing a one-stop centre for financial assistance and to address seniors' needs.

Ms Fleming said it was too soon to comment on the effectiveness of that programme which only opened in August.

"But they will be effective if they concentrate on the individuals that are approaching them and work on enforcing regulations such as elder protection laws, mandatory reporting of abuse - they can work on that."