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Seniors Speak Out about Transportation, Nutrition, Lament Closed Downtown Senior Center

Ashley Siu/WAER News

Public transport was one of many topics discussed at the Ida Benderson Seniors Action groupforum where seniors addressed their needs. Drucilla Adams has a tough time walking up hills and has been affected by a change in bus routes.

“When there’s no bus, I can’t get there unless someone picks me up.  I’m concerned because I know it’s a university section but we still are in the area and we still need some transportation on the weekends.  I don’t go anywhere on weekends; I’m like in jail.” 

Action group member Denise Nepveux acknowledges that seniors face even more challenges when mobility is compromised. Without easy transport, seniors are cut off from essential resources such as food.

“With our seniors sometimes they’ll be getting around fine for a long time and then something happens like a hip fracture and all of a sudden they have to organize how am I going to get my needs met,” said Nepveux 

Credit Ashley-Siu/WAER News
About 50 people attended a forum on senior needs held at Plymouth Church in Syracuse.

Other concerns people talked about at the forum include meal stamps and the lack of consultation on senior-related programs. Mary Lawler remembers the loss of community since the Ida Benderson Senior Center closed in 2011. She lost the interaction she needed the most.

“I need socialization.  I need a place where I can get a cup of coffee and sit down and talk over thigs that are on my mind.  I live alone, I have no one else to talk to and I depend on the center.  I hope we get another one.” 

At the forum, FOCUS Greater Syracusehad all seniors fill out a survey that reflects elderly wants and needs. Common Councilor Nader Maroun says perhaps this report will call for another senior center downtown.

Chris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. He has been the news director for WAER since 1995. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards.