Monica Roussin has been busy sandbagging at Bird's Point, near Round Lake, Saskatchewan. Dani Mario/CBC

When Monica Roussin retired a year ago, she probably didn't think she'd spend her golden years filling sandbags.

But like many older people who live in cottage country around the lakes east of Regina, that's exactly what she's been doing since the weekend.

Roussin, 60, has been been on sandbag duty at Bird's Point since the water at Round Lake started its dramatic rise on Saturday.

She says she's hanging in there.

"Well, we're a bit older, so we're tired and sore when we go to bed," she said. "But we fall into bed, wake up, start again and it's fine."

At Crooked Lake, where dozens of people have been sandbagging and pumping water, adult children have been working alongside their aging parents.

"My dad hasn't slept in three days, so his blood pressure is a little high," said Nelson Gorchynski. "But they're doing all right, for sure. We'll get through it."

Over at Katepwa Lake, where a state of emergency has been declared, some retirees have been dealing with floating ice on the lake and nearly unprecedented water levels.

Harry Jedlic, 69, had to hire help to save his home, because there just weren't enough volunteers.

"We have no choice," Jedlic said. "We've cleaned our house out already of all the furniture in case the dikes don't work and the ice comes in and it does sustantial amount of damage."

There are about 1, 400 properties in Katepwa, but officials are most worried about the safety of about 100 seniors, some who can't sandbag their own properties.

Communities like B-Say-Tah, which declared a state of emergency earlier this week, are dealing with similar problems. The resort village is asking for volunteers to come and help out.