Monday, October 13, marks the third time representatives from Solon Senior Support, Solon Senior Transport, Solon Senior Dining, Solon Senior News, Solon Food Pantry, and Solon Senior Advocates have met at the Solon Public Library to discuss senior needs in the community.
Solon City Council member Cole Gabriel was a special guest and gave advice to the groups on best practices when going to the council with ideas.
A survey regarding senior activity and service was sent out in August by Solon Senior Support. This group connects high school volunteers with older adults to assist with indoor and outdoor projects and other needs. The survey was sent to 236 senior newsletter subscribers and 90 mail subscribers. They received a total of 102 responses from adults 60 and older.
From this survey, they found a need in the community for a recreation or senior center.
“We’d love a space for seniors to have, to call their own, that they don’t have to move in and out of,” said Jill Weetman of Solon Senior Support.
In the meantime, the senior groups will continue to host events at the community center, the public library, and Solon United Methodist Church.
Another concern discussed was senior participation and meeting transportation needs. Solon Senior Transport is a service that provides free rides to older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans to medical appointments and their pharmacy.
According to the senior activity survey, nearly one-third of responders do not participate in activities geared towards older adults. Representatives from the senior groups listed transportation needs and safety concerns like fall risk as potential factors.
“Well, one I think is having the transportation to get there. Yes, we have transportation, but will people ask,” said long time Solon resident Karen McFarland-Miller. “How do we get to those who need to be there because they need the companionship, they need the friendships, they need just somebody to talk to?”
Some members pointed to the negative connotation around getting older.
“I think that there’s a stigma about going to stuff when you’re retired,” said Cindy Jensen from Solon Senior Transport. “A lot of people think I’m not ready for that. So there’s a whole group of newly retired people that aren’t doing anything with these programs.”
Representatives are hopeful that with more volunteers, city support, and outreach to seniors of all ages that they will be able to fulfill the needs of all seniors in the community.
“We’re needing partners to help with services, Weetman said. “That is the only way we can keep them going,”
FYI:
If you are a senior in the community interested in learning more about these services or if you are interested in partnering with any of the groups listed above, contact Solon Senior Support at 319-624-2773 or email [email protected].