Wednesday, March 6, 2002
|
Wednesday, March 6, 2002 |
|
FSS draws critics at annual hearing By CAROLYN
CARY
The Older Americans Act sets forth the types of programs for the country's senior citizens. Fayette Senior Services, enacted in 1978, conducted an open hearing for those citizens 60 years of age and over, so their needs and requirements could be gathered. Title III of the Older Americans Act requires a hearing to address these needs. The only citizens over the age of 60 who spoke were Bill Haithco and Joe Haggerty. Haithco said that he found fault with a comment made to him, while playing cards with a lady, who is legally blind. He said that FSS Executive Director Andy Carden passed by and asked the lady if she was letting Haithco cheat her. "Cheat is a bad word," Haithco said, "and I told Andy Carden he needed to apologize to everyone." Carden did so in the dining room. "There is not one cultural activity planned at the senior center and if I wish to take a trip with seniors, I must do so through the Fayette County Recreation Department," Haithco continued. Asked about the matter later, Carden replied that through the JOY (Just Older Youth) Club, trips are always planned. This month, the group, which is an active seniors club and is a part of FSS, offers a mix of cultural, educational and social activities. This month it is planning to go to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, and in April, it will travel to the High Museum of Art, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, the Jarrell Plantation, and attend "Once Upon A Mattress" at the Southside Theater Guild and Agatha's: A Taste of Mystery. The annual dues for membership are $20 plus the cost of the events, which can range from $8 up, according to the event. Haggerty said that last year he paid $5 a day for lunch, which is standard for Title III applicants. FSS has 14 slots open under this act. They are filled according to needs and those staying from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. pay $20 a day. Haggerty said that he left and came back, and was told he had to now pay $20 a day instead of $5 a day. Kate Calcaterra, center director, said that anytime someone leaves the program for more than three weeks, that Title III slot is given to someone else. Haggerty left the community for nearly two months and his slot was given to someone else. Also speaking, but not really eligible to do so, were several paid employees of FSS who left at one time or another of their own volition. Fran Plunkett said the center needed to have more transportation available to go to doctors and cultural events. She also felt that the center should put together volunteers who could do minor repairs to the homes of seniors. Ann Hudson, also a former employee, said that the luckiest seniors were those who were on the receiving end of Meals on Wheels. "They are met with smiling faces," she said, "and the drivers are not reprimanded for hugging someone. There are so many rules inside the center that the employee is made to seem a bad person if they step outside of them." The Fayette Senior Services is operated as a nonprofit organization and has 19 members on the board of directors. They meet each second Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the center. The organization directs Information and Referral, Case Management, In-Home Services, Meals on Wheels, Emergency Response, the Friendship Center, the Friendly Visitor program, the Wellness Program and the JOY Club. It is at 390 Lee St., Fayetteville, and can be reached at 770-461-0813. The county commissioner who serves as liaison to FSS is Chairman Greg Dunn.
|
||