Senior Services - Point 3 of My 7-Point Plan for the First 12 Months

3) Senior Services

There is little doubt that many of our seniors are faced with mounting challenges that present significant difficulties in terms of their quality of life. Escalating costs coupled with dwindling fixed incomes have placed some of our seniors in a most vulnerable and precarious predicament. The impact of tax increases and service reductions has a much more immediate affect upon them.

Elderbus: Consider the plight of seniors who have depended upon Elderbus services to shuttle them back and forth between medical visits. Recent cuts in service over the last year have forced reductions in the number of hours and trips that Elderbus operates. In turn, this has resulted in extended day trips for seniors in order to attend a 30 minute doctor’s visit. What was once accomplished in a matter of hours has now become a full day-long trip for many who travel out of town for doctor visits.

This creates the necessity for seniors to plan a day’s worth of snacks, lunches, and medications if they need to address medical issues. For some, the logistics of such can be overwhelming and may result in failure to attend planned appointments or to simply stop making them altogether. This is unfortunate, and more importantly, it is unnecessary.

In fiscal year 2008, there were 3,818 trips utilized by Sturbridge seniors via the Elderbus. These trips consisted of medical, shopping, and work related endeavors. Some seniors, in an attempt to hedge increased costs coupled with reduced incomes, have had to return to work, often without an automobile or the ability to utilize such.

During the first 6 months of Fiscal 2008, Sturbridge seniors utilized Elderbus services for 1,879 trips. Service reductions during the same 6-month period in Fiscal 2009 has reduced that number to 1,050 trips - a reduction of 829 trips or 44%. This reduction has had a devastating affect on many Sturbridge seniors who depend upon Elderbus services.

There are 21 communities in the Elderbus service area and each of those communities shares a portion of the services associated with Elderbus. An additional $26,000 (total) would provide the revenue needed to offset the costs of a second van. This cost, if spread among the 21 communities (perhaps based upon ridership/usage), would result in minimal to zero impact upon most municipal budgets. The issue here is one of engagement.

As your selectman I will personally reach out to the selectmen and/or appropriate authorities in the 21 Elderbus service communities in an effort to engage them in dialogue on a comprehensive and unified approach to addressing this shortfall. I will initiate this outreach within the first 2 months of the election, with the hopes of providing a proposal to the town within 6 months of the election.

UPDATE: I've recently initiated an outreach effort with Elderbus Services and a number of Council on Aging Directors in an effort to formulate a plan for addressing this issue with the 21 member communities.

Senior Municipal Service Program: Each year the town sets aside $10,000 for the Senior Municipal Service Program, which enables seniors within a certain earnings level to provide volunteer services to the town, which, based upon the hours worked, are converted into credits or reductions on their tax bill. The Town Administrator’s web page indicates that up to $500 can be earned as a credit by those utilizing the program. Other figures indicate the number to be more in the range of $750.

This is an outstanding program that affords qualifying seniors with an opportunity to provide much needed assistance to the community at bargain rates, which are then conveyed to the seniors as credits on their tax bill. Sadly, this program has been underutilized for a variety of reasons, all of which can be easily addressed with willingness and minimal effort. Consider the following statistics provided relative to the use of this program as provided by the Town of Sturbridge:

In fiscal 2007, there were 2 total participants resulting in $628.75 in tax credits being issued. (Unused funds of $9,371.25 would have been returned to the general fund.)

In fiscal 2008, there were again 2 total participants resulting in $1,000 in tax credits being issued. (Unused funds of $9,000 would have been returned to the general fund.)

As of the date of this publication, there are currently 4 residents participating in the program, which will result in an approximate total of $2,000 in tax credits being issued, if no other seniors participate.

It is unfortunate that the number of seniors taking advantage of this program is so low. Each year, the town is left with a balance in this account, which is then utilized elsewhere. An effective program of this nature would - and should - result in zero funds available at the end of the fiscal year. This would indicate an effective and convincing outreach campaign relative to the merits of the program.

Recently, I shared some thoughts with the Town Administrator relative to the reasons some qualifying seniors are, and have been, reluctant to take advantage of this program. It is my hope that he will carefully consider the merits of that information and take the appropriate steps.

Within the first month of my tenure I will work closely with the Town Administrator and the Board to develop a more sensitive approach to the implementation of this program. Additionally, working with the Council on Aging Director we will work to facilitate a pragmatic outreach program mirroring one utilized by a local foundation.

STAR Co-Op: This past year, I worked with Selectman Scott Garieri to develop the Senior Tax Assessment Reduction Cooperative or STAR Co-op. The program is designed to provide access to the Senior Municipal Service Program (SMSP) to those seniors who due to illness, injury, or disability are unable to participate. Under the SMSP, seniors are eligible to participate provided they are able to physically provide services. This prevents those who are physically unable from accessing the program.

Scott and I recognized the disparity in these requirements in that those seniors who are most often in need of tax relief may be those who are physically unable to participate. The STAR Co-op allows volunteers like you and I to provide volunteer services to the town and to then have our "earnings" co-opted (credited) to a qualifying senior's tax bill.

This program establishes a true neighborhood/community approach to addressing the needs of Sturbridge seniors who have been the foundation upon which this community was built. It also provides a local solution to a local issue, facilitated by local residents, while simultaneously providing an opportunity for all of us to establish stronger connections with our senior community. The added bonus to the town is the benefit it derives through the acquisition of much needed services at budget rates.

This program has been forwarded to State Senator Brewer, who as reported by the Town Administrator is in the process of sponsoring this in the Senate. Scott and I will continue to follow this and work towards passage and implementation within the community.