Posted on 06/02/2004 9:52:03 AM PDT by Phantom Lord
Project aims to identify needs of growing elderly population
Lillian Lee of East Point learned the hard way that going without needed home improvements is risky for the elderly.
Not long ago, the 79-year-old widow found herself stuck inside her bathtub for two hours when she was unable to pull herself out. If she'd had a safety bar installed the potentially dangerous incident could have been avoided.
"I turned this way and that way," Lee said. "I finally got out."
Lee's story is the kind the Atlanta Regional Commission wants to hear. ARC is gathering experiences from senior citizens like Lee to set up programs to help the elderly with home improvement and transportation needs.
The metro agency mostly known for its sermons against suburban sprawl has launched a four-year campaign on the needs of the elderly, particularly in East Point and the Toco Hill neighborhood of DeKalb County. The areas were chosen because of their large elderly populations.
In East Point, volunteers are conducting surveys and disseminating information on free public services available to seniors.
Armed with pink fact sheets, the yellow shirt-wearing senior volunteers want to know how seniors are getting around, what inconveniences them the most and what services they need to stay in their area.
The survey portion of the $2 million ARC project will end this month. The results will be used to develop a long-range plan to help seniors in other parts of metro Atlanta.
"The main goal is to reach people who are not connected to the system and find isolated seniors and get them engaged in any way we can," said Kathryn Lawler, project director of ARC's Aging Atlanta.
Senior citizens are good for the local economy, according to ARC. They have assets and tend to be stable homeowners. Few have school-age children, so they do not burden the school system. They tend to stay in one area for a long time and are home during the day, looking out for communities in an era of two breadwinners. The elderly also tend to volunteer more than other age groups.
ARC already has identified a couple of big issues: getting around and home repairs. By 2025, more than 1 million residents of metro Atlanta will be over age 65, the ARC estimates. Nearly 100,000 of them face difficulties in getting health care because they do not drive, the agency said.
One possible solution is a trial program that gives poor senior citizens an allowance of $100 to $200 a month. Their modes of transportation then will be analyzed.
"They can hire their daughter, they can hire their neighbor, they can take a taxi, they can use their MARTA card, and they can do whatever they want, and we'll be watching how they get around," said Lawler, of the Aging Atlanta project.
Such an effort is crucial, said Professor Frank Whittington, a sociology professor and director of the Gerontology Institute at Georgia State University. Whittington was a consultant to the ARC on the aging project.
"We are going to have to plan better than we have done for the future because our senior population is on the verge of exploding," Whittington said. "Where the funds are going to come from is uncertain."
Census data show 13 percent of East Point's senior citizens, who make up 8 percent of the city's 40,000 residents, live below the poverty level.
After paying for gas, phone, electricity, cable bills and groceries, Lillian Lee said she has little left each month from her Social Security check.
Lee, who has lived in East Point nearly all her life, said she can no longer afford to live in her home. "I don't have enough money to take care of everything."
Farther north in Toco Hill, life is more affluent, but the demographics on the elderly are similar: 16 percent of the population is 65 or older. Many are Jewish and live in old neighborhoods of 1950s ranch-style homes.
ARC has reached out to the Jewish Family & Career Services and the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, plus the DeKalb County government, in trying to create a place for seniors to meet during the day. The agency also has created "Safe Homes for Seniors," a home repair program that provides minor repairs for seniors at no cost.
Denise Solomon, a 70-year-old widow who lives in a small three-bedroom ranch off Briarcliff Road, cited two instances where she felt she was cheated when it came to repairs: $500 to upgrade the ceiling lights in a bathroom and $1,000 to fix a hole in the crawl-in basement.
Her elderly friend, Gloria Kersh, summed up the feeling.
"This is not a good city if you're old," the grandmother of four said. "If you get older, you need contact with people of your own age. To me it's important to sit and talk, to connect."
Exactly. Churches, civic groups . . . anyone but government.
When government "helps," it mandates what citizens must do in order to avoid criminal charges. A friend of mine has a horse barn. He was recently informed that he now needs a "special use" permit. In order to obtain this permit, he has to install a handicapped parking space, fully paved and marked, with proper "signage." At a horse barn!
If my friend doesn't comply, he leaves himself open to fines and eventual property seizure by (guess who?) the ever-helpful government.
I love my relatives, but there's no way I could vote for or endorse government programs to "help" them.
"And, since everyone's really my neighbor,...
It takes a Village alert."
"Nice to see you!"
And always nice to see your posts, too!
I owe nothing to your elders. You take care of yours as I take care of mine. If you can't deal with that, talk to your local churches and charities.
And keep the Big Stupid Government Parasite Middleman out of the picture entirely.
"And you know this as a godless atheist? Why would you say this if you don't believe? What a hypocrite. Why don't you use another godless atheist for your words of wisdom?"
Jesus' teachings on how to treat others are a model of wisdom. I needn't believe in the divinity of Jesus to appreciate his words, now do I?
As for being a hypocrite, I will leave that for those who judge others to determine.
Grampa Simpson was always one of my favorites. :-D
It's heartening to see most folks on this thread advocating family, church, and charity help over taxpayer-funded welfare.
Stalin also fought Hitler.
That doesn't mitigate his less admirable traits.
"When government "helps," it mandates what citizens must do in order to avoid criminal charges. A friend of mine has a horse barn. He was recently informed that he now needs a "special use" permit. In order to obtain this permit, he has to install a handicapped parking space, fully paved and marked, with proper "signage." At a horse barn!"
What does this have to do with helping some woman get a grab rail for her tub?
As for your friend, I'm assuming that he has a public stable, not a private barn. If so, then he's just going to have to put in the handicapped stuff. It's the law.
There's a public stable near me. They have three handicapped spaces and offer special programs for handicapped riders. Lots of business for them, and the handicapped kids love it.
Better yet, a Catholic. I understand what Jesus said and practice it in my private life. I think our disagreement may be over the degree of govenrment involvement. Charity is not charity unless it is voluntary.
I am also highly sensitive to non-Christians using the bible to attack the motivations of Christians.
"Stalin also fought Hitler.
That doesn't mitigate his less admirable traits."
Couldn't help noticing and am just curious...
You think it's more important to call yourself "Catholic" than "Christian"?
"Better yet, a Catholic. I understand what Jesus said and practice it in my private life. I think our disagreement may be over the degree of govenrment involvement. Charity is not charity unless it is voluntary.
I am also highly sensitive to non-Christians using the bible to attack the motivations of Christians."
We have no problem with each other then. I salute you. Keep up the open mind regarding the Bible.
Hitler's a horrible man. The German soldier is not necessarily a horrible man...just a soldier.
"I was just following orders" carried no weight at Nuremberg.
The comparison is, indeed, applicable.
Instead of these old farts causing the government to steal more money from tax payers to fix their housing problems, why don't they ever take their needs to their local church and ask for help?
I was citing this as an example of government mandated assistance.
As for your friend, I'm assuming that he has a public stable, not a private barn
You assume incorrectly. He breeds horses. It's not a riding stable. But, as you say, "it's the law." Therefore, any area that could conceivably be visited by handicapped individuals must have the government mandated adjustments made at the owner's expense.
The government does not allow an owner to solve the access problem in any way other than its prescribed mandate (signage and paving). The owner has never been visited by a handicapped individual interested in purchasing an Arabian horse, but if he was, I'm sure he would find a way accommodate that individual. You don't turn away someone who would pay five figures for a horse -- you bring the horse to them.
The government will not allow that solution to occur. It will enforce the same laws applicable to Wal-Mart on a small horse breeding establishment.
Now, let's imagine how the government could mandate the care of the elderly. As a rental property owner, you might be required to install grab bars in all your units, even if your units are rented primarily to college kids. You have to accommodate tenants you most likely will never have.
That's the problem with government mandates. One size fits all, and that one size is generally the most expensive possible solution.
Old farts, eh?
I am reminded of an epitaph written on a gravestone somewhere in Virginia:
"As you are, so once was I. As I am, you will soon be. Prepare for Death!".
It is pretty ironic for an atheist like yourself to invoke the name of Jesus in an argument. Note to MineralMan when forming an argument it is better to shut your mouth and let others think your an idiot than to open it and let all doubts be confirmeed.
"It is pretty ironic for an atheist like yourself to invoke the name of Jesus in an argument. Note to MineralMan when forming an argument it is better to shut your mouth and let others think your an idiot than to open it and let all doubts be confirmeed."
Not at all ironic. The Bible is there for anyone to read. I can quote it or reference it just as easily as can anyone else.
As for your suggestion that I "shut my mouth," I'll take it under advisement, but don't hold your breath.
The day I can't get out of the bathtub, just leave me there to prune up.
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