Newtown's senior population is rapidly growing, with many choosing to remain in their homes or local independent housing facilities. Without family members, nurses, or aides living with them, a number of challenges can arise for seniors, making daily activities difficult.

The Newtown Bee spoke with different organizations in town to shine some light on the resources available for the aging community, as well as seniors who shared their firsthand accounts of the struggles they face each day.

Finding Transportation

For seniors, getting to medical appointments is crucial for their well-being and longevity.

When driving themselves in no longer an option and when family, friends, and neighbors are unavailable, FISH - which stands for Friends In Service Here - of Newtown, Inc, helps get individuals the assistance they need to get to the hospital, doctor's office, or other necessary medical appointments, then bring them back home.

Colleen Honan has been the president of FISH for nearly 15 years. Volunteers, such as herself, assist those in need, regardless of their age, who have no source of transportation to their medical-related appointments.

Mental health appointments also qualify. As Ms Honan explained, "Within the past five years or so we've started taking people for therapy appointments."

However, it is important to note that FISH assists only in medical transportation needs for Newtown residents; cosmetic or social appointments like to the hair dresser, nail salon, or friend's house are not what FISH is designed for.

Seniors do not have to be interviewed or referred to qualify for this service. FISH requests that people looking for a ride call 800-794-0034 by 4 pm the day before they need their ride to book a driver. Volunteers are available Monday through Thursday.

Typically, FISH receives anywhere from two to ten phone calls a day, and since many come in for the same hour in different towns there are backup drivers on call to accommodate the seniors' needs.

"We do ask for a $3 charge round trip. That covers our answering service," Ms Honan said.

FISH is always looking for more drivers. For more information on FISH and how to volunteer, contact Colleen Honan at 203-426-0714.

Seniors looking for nonmedical-related transportation can apply for HARTransit's SweetHART Dial-a-Ride, which is a door-to-door transportation service for seniors 65 years old or older or those with a mobility disability. The service lists its hours of operation for Newtown as Monday through Friday from 7 am to 4:45 pm, Saturday from 8:15 am to 4:15 pm, and is not available on Sundays. For more information call 203-744-4070 or visit hartransit.com/dial-ride.

Receiving Delivered Food

Preparing daily meals and utilizing kitchen tools can be a difficult task for some seniors living at home alone.

Fortunately, Newtown has an active Meals On Wheels program that can supply individuals with their main serving of food each weekday.

Ms Honan, who has been a member of Meals On Wheels for about 25 years, says, "It's one cooked meal that they don't have to worry about."

Guide To Newtown" describes Meals On Wheels as a nonprofit organization where "drivers pick up nutritious meals prepared at Masonicare of Newtown and deliver them to persons who are housebound (including elderly people who live alone and younger people who are temporarily incapacitated). Meals are prepared under the guidance of a dietician. In addition to regular meals, special diets (including diabetic, low sodium, and soft food) are available."The Newtown Bee's "

Recipients are given a menu with the choice between two entrees as their main hot meal, and also receive either milk or juice, and a dessert. The full meal comes to less than $4. People can sign up to get meals everyday or choose certain days each week.

As a driver and driver coordinator for Meal On Wheels, Ms Honan, and other volunteers not only donate their time, but also use their own vehicles and gas money.

She explained that since Newtown is so large, routes get scheduled beforehand so drivers can most effectively reach everyone as efficiently as possible. She estimates they currently serve 20 individuals in the community.

To be accepted for Meals On Wheels, Newtown residents must be interviewed, as it is needs based, not necessarily money based.

As a result of having the Meals On Wheels' drivers go to recipients' houses, the group also serves as a check-in for many seniors living alone. Families who may not live nearby can be assured someone has seen their loved one for that day.

Newtown resident Anna Wiedemann has been a volunteer driver for Meals On Wheels for 20 years, and explained, "It's a way of connecting with people and making sure they come to the door."

Ms Wiedemann finds that many times seniors who live alone are looking for companionship and the conversations they have with the Meals On Wheels volunteers mean a lot to them.

Not only that, but Ms Wiedemann said, "I've gone many times and they've said, 'Can you reach this for me?' or 'Can you do that for me?' It's hard when they are there by themselves."

After bringing her children to volunteer with her years ago, Ms Wiedemann now brings her grandchildren to assist her in brightening the day of her Meals On Wheels seniors.

If someone does not answer their door to receive their food, Meals On Wheels has a contact sheet to verify if the person is okay.

Ms Honan recalls a particular incident a few years ago where she went to deliver a meal and the woman did not answer her door, which was unusual. She heard a cat meowing and found the front door was unlocked.

Concerned, she opened it and the woman was sprawled out on the floor. She was responsive, but had knocked her head on the end table and was unable to reach the phone.

Another driver found a woman who had fallen outside on her lawn, broken her hip, and had been laying out there alone waiting for someone to see her and help her.

Because of Meals On Wheels drivers, these seniors living alone were found and able to receive medical treatment. Had they not had their meal scheduled, it is impossible to know just when they would have been found, and if it would have come too late.

With Meals On Wheels, Ms Honan said, "We're feeding them and know that they're okay."

To inquire about becoming a meal recipient call Meals On Wheel's member Marilyn Alexander at 203-426-6340. To become a volunteer driver call Colleen Honan 203-426-0714.

Obtaining Medical Supplies

For some seniors to safely navigate through their homes, certain medical supplies can be beneficial in preventing accidents from occurring.

The Visiting Nurse Association of Newtown's thrift shop, located in the back of the Edmond Town Hall, has a Loan Closet of in-demand items.

Ms Wiedemann, who has volunteered with the Visiting Nurse Association of Newtown for more than a decade, said, "If you live in Newtown, you can borrow a wheelchair, walker, all sorts of medical equipment. We have some of it at the Edmond Town Hall and some of it at Social Services."

This resource helps many seniors living alone, especially those on fixed incomes, by allowing them to have access to a variety of free items including wheelchairs, crutches, commodes, shower seats, and other medical equipment.

The Loan Closet is open on Wednesday afternoons, from 1 to 3 pm, and Saturday mornings, from 9 am to noon. For more information call the Visiting Nurse Association of Newtown at 203-270-4377.