By Michael Motes

Father John Kieran, pastor of St. Joseph's parish in Dalton, has been selected as chairman of the steering committee of the newly-formed Dalton-Whitfield Senior Citizens' Council, Inc.

According to Father Kieran, the purpose of the new organization is to represent and assist the nearly 6,000 persons in Whitfield County who are over 60 years of age.

The new council will not compete in any way with other senior citizens' groups, such as the Dalton Chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Father Kieran commented, but rather will foster local groups and senior citizens clubs by representing all elderly persons.

"The need for programs for the elderly in Whitfield County is great," Fr. Kieran said. "There are 5,852 persons over 60 here, and of those over 2,000 live at or below the poverty level ($2,769 per capita income."

"Elderly low-income residents of Dalton and Whitfield County have no access to low-cost transportation, few free health education or service programs, few recreational outlets, mounting financial problems, sub-standard housing and no ongoing resources to relieve malnutrition or hunger," he points out.

Among the statistics he used to demonstrate specific needs of the elderly, were that of the total 5,852 persons and 42 percent need transportation, 69 percent need improved nutrition, 27 percent need employment, 23 percent need housing and 19 percent have unattended health needs.

In the area which Father Kieran serves, the greatest concentration of elderly people are in the town of Dalton (2,496 aged 60 and over) and the North Central (1,107) and Valley Point (1,212) communities. Other areas in the county include North Whitfield (405) and Westside (673).

"Population of the elderly is increasing throughout the state," Father Kieran said. "In the past decade, the population of Georgians over age 65 increased more than 26 percent while the total population increased only slightly above 16 percent.

"In this century, the percentage has more than doubled, from 3.1 percent in 1900 to 8 percent in 1970. The total number stands at 368,000 today with predictions that by the year 2,000 one-half of Georgia's population will be over 55."

Father Kieran pointed out that nearly one-fourth of Georgia's population over age 65 live alone and that approximately 4 percent live in nursing homes or other institutions.

In Whitfield County, he said, there are 275 patients in nursing homes and 40 elderly residents in public housing.

"Both of these facilities have long waiting lists," he said.

"Retirement, or forced unemployment, forces most elderly people into a severe change in their standard of living," Father Kieran said. "Not only are their physical and financial problems often acute, but they also suffer a reduction in involvement, a loss of identity, and depressing and painful alienation from the community.

"It will be the job of our Senior Citizens' Council to help alleviate some of these problems. That is the reason we are inviting all of the citizens of Whitfield County to become members of our group. It takes time, but we have set a membership goal of 500 for 1975."

Among the other goals Father Kieran has set of the council are (1) to pursue tentative agreements received from stores to give senior citizens discounts; (2) to secure inexpensive transportation for senior citizens and handicapped persons by the end of the year; (3) to continue negotiations with the Whitfield County Commissioners and the City of Dalton toward establishing a Senior Citizens Center; and (4) to have a Senior Citizens' Convocation in partnership with Dalton Junior College this Fall.

Serving with Father Kieran on the steering committee will be Dr. Sidney L. Sellers, vice chairman; Mrs. Judy Weiss, secretary; Mrs. Verna Mitchell, treasurer; the Rev. Wilkes Deny, chaplain; Mrs. Gussie Caldwell, membership chairman; and Mrs. Joan Morency, transportation chairman.

Mesdames Morency, Weiss, and Mitchell are parishioners of Father Kieran.