‘Weather’ Or Not,

Newtown’s Seniors Take On Winter

By Nancy K. Crevier

Newtown’s senior citizens are weathering the storm — or storms, rather — with only a bit more sense of isolation than anyone else, say many who deal regularly with the elderly of this area.

“I think the elderly are not as apt to panic over bad weather as our generation,” said Maplewood of Newtown Director Rob Newcomer, who oversees the assisted living facility on Mt Pleasant Road. “It’s interesting to sit down and talk to our residents. They seem to take this weather in stride,” he said.

Staff at Maplewood does keep residents aware of outside conditions, Mr Newcomer said, so that they can make educated decisions about going out. As weather permits, he is trying to maintain scheduled trips off-site, so that residents can get a change of venue, but Maplewood has made sure to increase the number of on-site activities this winter, too. “We’ve tried to bring in lots of entertainment, movies, and board games to keep everyone safe and occupied,” he said.

Mr Newcomer is also pleased at how the staff has stepped up to the unusual weather circumstances. Some come in early, some stay overnight, and some have done double shifts in order to make sure that services to residents are not interrupted. Knowing that their needs will be tended to gives residents a sense of safety and security when foul weather threatens, Mr Newcomer said.

“We have had a lot of inquiries this winter from seniors who are still in their own homes, and from their sons and daughters,” noted Mr Newcomer. “It’s not just not wanting to spend one more winter dealing with the snow and being alone, it’s not wanting to spend one more storm like that. They are looking for a new living situation,” he said.

Isolation is a problem for seniors this winter, Senior Center Director Marilyn Place said. “We have less members coming in. Even when they are plowed out, a lot of them don’t like to go out for fear of falling,” she said.

A great number of classes and trips have been canceled this winter at the Senior Center, Ms Place said. “We don’t want seniors out on these roads,” she said. When classes are in session, however, they are packed with members eager to socialize.

She has heard that members are making a point of calling each other, and keeping connected with their friends in that manner. The Senior Center staff has made sure this winter to call members, too, and make sure they are not in need of any necessities, or assistance. Between the Senior Center staff and Social Services, with whom Ms Place is always in touch, they are able to help anyone who needs it, she said. Seniors who need help are encouraged to call the Senior Center at 203-270-4310, Ms Place said. Someone is there to take calls, unless all town offices are closed.

Winter Diversions

“Everybody is reading a lot of books to pass the time inside,” Ms Place said. “We have been bagging up books here to be delivered to those who can’t get out. The knitters are knitting, people are doing lots of puzzles and crosswords, they tell me, and watching so much TV it is getting boring,” she added.

“My observance is that it’s not just the amount of snow that’s a problem for our elderly, it’s the cold,” said Knettie Archard, director of Golden Opportunities, an organization that assists the lonely and isolated. “They are confined to their digs this winter and it’s frustrating.”

Golden Opportunities has been making an effort, therefore, said Ms Archard, to offer more programs at the facilities they visit — when they can get out to them.

The elderly who live alone welcome a visit, suggested Ms Archard. “Call frequently in this kind of weather, and try to do something unexpected for them, anything to break the boredom. They are watching a lot of TV, and that gets tedious,” she said.

Frank Delucia is executive director at Nunnawauk Meadows, and while the residents are independent, many usually take advantage of the Community Center there for interaction. This winter, though, “A lot of our residents are staying in,” said Mr Delucia. “They are concerned about the amount of snow, and what will happen when it begins to melt, and about falling when they do go out. We would rather they not go out in inclement weather, actually,” he said.

In talking with the few who do venture over to the Community Center for lunchtime, said Mr Delucia, he is hearing a great deal of frustration. “They are getting ‘cabin fever’ from not getting out. It hasn’t even been nice enough to take a walk,” he said.

The best that Nunnawauk Meadows’ staff can do, said Mr Delucia, is to ease some of that frustration through practical methods. He has brought in big equipment to widen the roads and sidewalks, and has someone available to clear the snow and ice from residents’ cars, for a minimal fee. “We are doing what we can,” he said.

 Newtown is fortunate that the majority of those in town who take advantage of the Meals On Wheels program have family nearby or friends who can help them, said MOW coordinator Colleen Honan. The organization has had to cancel delivery of meals seven times in January, the most she can ever remember canceling. “It’s not only the roads we have to worry about for our drivers, but getting into the recipients’ homes can be a problem,” she said.

Meals On Wheels volunteers do call recipients whenever meal delivery is canceled, she said, and make sure no one is in critical need of services. New recipients are also cautioned to always keep cans of tuna or soup, or some simple to prepare food on hand for situations when MOW cannot deliver.

On days that they have been able to deliver, Ms Honan said, drivers might find that an extra few minutes is needed to visit with the client. “They are dealing with cabin fever,” she said. “They’re watching a lot of TV.”

“If you have someone you know is a shut-in, be sure to check with them every day,” she urged. “Make sure they have power, ask if they need walkways shoveled and if they have supplies, or if they need prescriptions picked up or a ride to a doctor appointment.”

All in all, said Ms Honan, she feels lucky that nearly all MOW clients can get by, with the help of friends and families.