Congratulations to the Crestwood community for their continuing support of their senior citizens. A senior citizens group has been meeting every Wednesday for several years and has recently moved into a space at the Crestwood Central Offices, 10880 John Edward Drive, Mantua. Their meetings will continue to be on Wednesdays in Room 114.
Their programming continues to offer SAIL classes (Stay Independent for Life). Different programs are offered each Wednesday.
For more information about their programming and how to become a member of the group, drop in any Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and talk with Lynn Lewis.
Another positive note for Portage County’s Aging population is the creation of the Senior Scoop. This is a newsletter created by the “50+ Portage Community Committee." This is the group who spearheaded the try for a Human Services Levy last May.
The initial Senior Scoop described how the group 50 Plus Committee was created, what their plans are for another try for a Human Services Levy this November, how Portage County became designated as an Age Friendly Community, what bus routes PARTA offers, the Summer Crisis Program (electric bills) offered by the Community Action Council and an article about the activities at the Streetsboro Senior Center.
The Senior Scoop will be a quarterly newsletter published by Portage County Job & Family Services. To get on their email list for this newsletter, contact AMY.HUNTING@JFS.OHIO.GOV. or call 234-233-5100. The newsletter is free.
Portage County recently gained the designation of an Age Friendly Community by meeting some of the requirements set forth by AARP and the World Health Organization. The process included a needs assessment and establishment of strategic plans based on the outcomes of the assessments.
The initial goal of Portage County was to establish a means of communication and resource calendars to make sure residents are informed.
If I had had any input into the senior needs assessment for their consideration (and I was not asked), I would have put a priority on a program to help senior citizens remain in their own homes ... not just for folks on limited incomes but on the general over age 50 population. And not just for the physical welfare of the occupants but for the upkeep of their homes … not just major projects but some things which a handyman could do.
We all know there are a number of assisted living and long term care facilities in Portage County. But, there are many of us who are aging but who want to stay in our own homes. But what happens when our spouse dies, or our physical limitations become more significant and we are unable to physically maintain our own home. Who is going to paint the wall in the kitchen where I splattered spaghetti sauce? Who is going to scrub the living room carpet where my dog peed? Who is going to fix that light in the dining room which continues to flicker, even when the switch is off? Who is going to pull the weeds in my flower bed, or rake the leaves this fall? Who is going to get on the roof of my mobile home to see how bad the leak is?
These are all minor chores which need to be done (and in many cases my neighbors would agree) but not big enough for a bank loan to fund, but they are things which will improve my happiness at home … where I want to live.
The only community I could find offering such a service is Aurora’s “Neighbor 2 Neighbor” program. Their description of the program says they offer assistance with ramps, installation and weatherization. They also offer the knowledge that these are your “neighbors,” and you can trust them.
I periodically get requests from area seniors who need these types of “handyman” services. These are not “big projects,” not really expensive projects, but are the little things that can help an individual living in their own home, and prevent little problems from becoming big problems, which could make it necessary for someone to have to leave their home.
For those of you who do not think this is a problem, did you hear about the retired nurse in Cleveland who was going to be arrested and taken to jail because her yard was a “huge mess.” Her yard was in such a condition because she was no longer physically able to do the work necessary to meet her neighborhood standards! Fortunately, a group of folks in another neighborhood heard the story and got together to do the neighborly thing … they cleaned her yard for her, and thus kept her out of jail.
Are there resources out there which I have not been able to find? If there are none ... maybe we should take a little initiative and look around to see who we can help!
Contact Sally Kelly with your senior news at 330-687-9501 or sentrip@yahoo.com.