Members of the city’s Equity, Gender, Seniors, Families and Vulnerable Populations Committee have expressed concerns over the quality of transportation options provided for our senior population. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Lexi O’Neil

Concerns are on the rise as Seniors are at the forefront of the Monday, February 3, meeting held by the Equity, Gender, Seniors, Families and Vulnerable Populations Committee. Some of the topics on the agenda varied from helping seniors deal with the grocery inflation prices to ensuring their voices are being represented and heard in council meetings and decisions.

Transportation and Accessibility Challenges

Councilor Strezo compliments the council’s efforts, especially in terms of their senior transportation, despite the competitive programs in the surrounding area. She shares a personal story of how one of the competing companies left her deaf grandmother alone in Davis Square, without aid or a ride. Strezo notes, “Sometimes it could take literally five hours to get to one medical appointment. This is their whole day. Would any of us sit through a five-hour waiting period to go sometimes a mile? That is what a lot of seniors have to deal with.”

Councilor Strezo challenged city programs again when concerns such as parking being inaccessible to seniors were dismissed. She voices how our older folks cannot walk five blocks for a funeral or church just because a program assumes them to be able-bodied, and should be more aware of the reality and respect that our seniors deserve to park near their churches, favorite restaurants, and more within the community because they, too, are valued members who deserve an equal standing in.

Recent Transportation Changes and Budget Updates

The most recent change to transportation was upped from residents being able to go grocery shopping just once a week to twice a week, thanks to the budget oversights by our council members. Members brought up struggling to find information efficiently via the council’s website, but they did promise to be working on it and are aware that their programs are evolving faster than their being able to keep up with the changes.

As long as seniors are over the age of 60, or have a permanent disability, they receive the benefit of the transportation services per the budgets offered. The hot meals and cold meal-to-go project is offered to residents multiple times a week, which helps to bridge some of the gaps in food insecurity while new budgets are being reviewed in the meantime.

Budget and Inflation Concerns

The council is working hard to ensure that there is enough funds to go around, and the program has continued to grow in recent years as they work to review new changes and

additional funding options. However, concerns related to budgets and inflation are being raised due to the current standing of our political climate.

Improving Communication and Outreach

The council is considering changes on how to better share their information in order to help their residents to get connected. They do make consistent posts on social media and ensure information is passed on to other entities, such as us here at The Somerville Times, and always working to be mindful of the older members of our community. They recently met with the Mass Senior Action Council in order to work on their outreach and future planning, and to continue collaborating with other project partners to ensure the maximum outreach and resolutions to current issues among the community.