Elderly citizens speak up for supportive day program
Mar 30, 2016
Joann Bruno (left), Barbara Russell (center), and Rudy Gentile (right) are members of the Supportive Day Program, which "provides a safe, structured environment for seniors who are isolated, experience memory or personal loss, are recovering from personal illness or injury, or have certain physical restrictions because of age related disabilities" (The Senior Beacon, April 2016). They represented the program during Tuesday night's Board of Selectmen's meeting, and are fighting to keep the program running. BY ZARRIN TASNIM AHMED
Senior citizens needed their voices to be heard during Tuesday night's Board of Selectmen meeting.
“We the seniors have our own voice and we the seniors want to stay in Wareham,” said Barbara Russell, a Wareham resident who has attended the Supportive Day Center, hosted by Wareham's Council on Aging (COA) and Senior Social Services, for over eight years. The center is set to close on April 25.
Since budget cuts were made to the COA back in 2014, the program has suffered blows. It runs solely on grants and on a year to year basis. A recent loss of long-time staff member and director Deborah Ramos prompted the closing of the center.
According to Town Administrator Derek Sullivan, Ramos spoke to him about bringing the seniors to another center, most likely in Fairhaven, and especially to keep them all together. Sullivan said he had “relied on her for what to do for the seniors.”
Refusing to sit idly by, members of the center requested a public hearing and took a stand against Ramos' decision.
“We do need at least one more assistant,” said Joann Bruno. “We don't want to leave but we don't want to go to a strange place. We want to stay where we are.”
Bruno has lived in Wareham since 2007 and has attended the programs hosted by the Council on Aging and the Senior and Social Services Department since 2012.
The seniors found out about the program's closing last Monday.
Peter Dunlop, a member of the Council on Aging, had spoken to Sullivan earlier that day about the seniors' sentiments. Chairman Patrick Tropeano suggested that the Board of Selectmen try to reallocate some funds and take a look, to which Sullivan responded, “Let's take the time.”
“Understand that the Town Administrator relied on the department head,” said Selectman Judith Whiteside, assuring Bruno and Russell. “Certainly he is responsive to your needs.”
Sullivan's promise to make an effort rested well on anxious ears. Bruno and Russell expressed their relief and gratitude before leaving the room.
“That out there,” said Bruno about speaking in front of the Selectmen, “that was coming out of my heart.”
