The times they are a changin'

On May 24 Bob Dylan will be 65. The hippie generation begins to take over the senior centers. These places are long overdue for change. Exercise, nutrition and the belief in self empowerment. No father knows best. That means the day of the arrogant policy planners in organizations such as JASA (Jewish Association for Services for the Aged) is ending. You are answerable to us, the people who receive services you are paid to deliver.

We had a community meeting at the V.C. senior center. The Dept. for the Aging, NYC only judges centers by the number of people who eat lunch. Other issues that have impact on the quality of the life of the elderly are hard to measure and are ignored. Once again the issue was not enough people showing up for the congregate meal, average 70, need 80 to be an adequate senior center. The executive director announced that complaints about the small quantity of food per meal were being addressed and that portions were now larger.

When it was open mike time, I suggested we have more of a relationship with the elementary school children who are upstairs in the same building. For instance, sharing our histories. Someone amended what I said to say we should encourage the youngsters and their parents to tell us about them. Good idea.

May 11, students from the Solomon Schecter School were due at 11:15 am for a Mother's Day Program. I waited until 11:45, left. I saw them arrive but continued walking. It was inconsiderate of them to be half an hour late. It interfered with serving lunch, and the center is on a tight budget, overtime pay is out of the question.

I sent this message to the NYC Dept. for the Aging from their website:

I would like to learn how meals are funded at senior centers. I belong to the Van Cortlandt Village Senior Center sponsored by JASA. I did a search with the keyword meals, and all recent references were unavailable.
May 6, no reply to my question. May 12, no reply.

Van Cortlandt Senior Center May 2006, 3880 Sedgwick Ave., Bronx NY
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
May 1 10:30 Dorianna, aerobics	9:45 Caroline, dance exercise	9:45 Jon Rigai, exercise		10 Neem, Yoga
10:30 Dorianna, aerobics		9:45 Jon Rigai, exercise 10:30 Art with Alisha		10 Neem, Yoga
10:30 Dorianna, aerobics		9:45 Jon Rigai, exercise 10:30 Art with Alisha		10 Neem, Yoga
10:30 Dorianna, aerobics	9:45 Caroline, dance exercise	9:45 Jon Rigai, exercise 10:30 Creating Joy with Alisha		10 Neem, Yoga
May 29 Center Closed	9:45 Caroline, dance exercise	9:45 Jon Rigai, exercise

The center will be open on Sunday, May 7