Seize the day!
That’s the message Zoomer Media TV host Carmen Ruiz y Laza will be delivering to older adults when her new talk show CARPe Diem, launches on Joytv Aug. 13.
“Some people are sad to grow old,” says Ruiz y Laza. “So we’re going to show these Zoomers how to seize each day.”
CARPe Diem is produced by Zoomer Media Limited, which creates Zoomer magazine and TV shows for a baby boomer audience, in partnership with the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), the largest advocacy association for older Canadians in the country. Wanda Morris, vice-president of advocacy for CARP, will be a frequent guest.
Ruiz y Laza says the show will not only cover serious issues affecting older Canadian adults — from retirement to seniors’ poverty t o Pharmacare — but also fun topics such as travel, technology, love and fitness. Ruiz y Laza adds with the backing of CARP’s more than 300,000 members, this is also an opportunity to create “feet to the fire” campaigns, making politicians accountable for keeping election promises and to encourage them to advocate on behalf of seniors.
“Like the ‘eat or heat’ issue in Ontario when seniors had to choose between eating and paying their Hydro bills to keep warm,” says Ruiz y Laza.
Among the many issues the vivacious host also plans to explore include, what it means to be a grandparent, how important it is to plan for retirement, the right-to-die movement, frauds and scams, and sleep.
As well, Ruiz y Laza wants to use CARPe Diem to smash common stereotypes around aging.
“We need to change this dialogue that says an aging face has no place on TV,” says Ruiz y Laza, of the fact many TV broadcasters lose their jobs after a certain age, in particular women. “I began my on-air career at age 52, so I’m proof there is life after 50.”
CARPe Diem will air on Joytv Mondays and Fridays at 5 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time).
sthomas@vancourier.com
@sthomas10
