Excerpted and revised by Fran Benson from the report of Flora Davis, House 5
Before the meeting formally opened, conference-goers were treated to a continuous loop of photographs called "Art and Soul, projected on a huge screen. Four CWW photographers had shot pictures of nearly 40 members who are involved in the arts - an impressive array of writers, painters, photographers, sculptors, actors and musicians.
Four issues were highlighted at the conference: Housing, Transportation, Health and Civic Engagement.
HOUSING: Keynoting the housing issue, architect J. Robert Hillier suggested that instead of building retirement communities so big they have to be sited on the community s outskirts, pockets of senior housing could be created in the middle of town where people could walk to the amenities. Hillier recommended other changes as well: new zoning that would allow four or five senior apartments on a quarter-acre of land, and incentives for developing senior housing above stores. He noted that in small cities like Princeton the amenities - restaurants, shops, museums, theaters, health care - are within walking distance.
HOUSiNG ACTION ideas: Six break-out groups met to discuss housing and Hillier s suggestions, and each group presented its recommendations during a final plenary session. Many people liked the notion of pockets of senior housing. The groups concluded that we need to shift people s thinking so they ll accept garden apartments. Other suggestions were that we encourage the development of senior apartments on Bunn Drive and try to reduce property taxes by working for tax reform at the state level.
TRANSPORTATION: Tony Nelessen s concept of a computerized local transit system appeared to be as popular with the audience as Hillier s pockets of senior housing. Nelessen is a Rutgers professor and award-winning urban planner, and he described something he called the computer commuter. Using computers, Nelessen believes, a "node to node" transportation system could be set up which would provide inexpensive, appropriate transportation for everyone in the Princeton area.
TRANSPORTATION ACTION ideas: Four transportation discussion groups presented recommendations at the final plenary session. One discussion group noted that Princeton already has a number of shuttle services and their routes overlap; it suggested that we push for coordination and expansion of those services, and that we investigate whether any of the shuttle vans are available in their off hours to carry seniors. Other suggestions were that we assemble information about local transportation options that already exist. It was noted that the CWW Interhouse Transportation Committee is doing excellent research work in this area.
HEALTH: "All of you know more about the car you drive than you do about your hospital," Barry Rabner told conference participants. Rabner is the president and CEO of the Princeton HealthCare System, which includes Princeton s hospital. He was making the point that one of the challenges in health care is how to share information. Another is how to communicate information within the system itself.
HEALTH ACTION: Six groups met to discuss health care. Several of them expressed concern about the possibility that the hospital will move out of Princeton. Beyond that, the groups concluded that patients must keep copies of their own medical records and that CWW must continue to advocate for a residential hospice. (Rabner said he was optimistic about establishing one.) They also suggested that the Princeton area needs a pharmacy that s open 24 hours a day, and that CWW should investigate drug prices locally because they vary a lot. On the subject of billing, one group noted that PSRC has staff who can help people understand their medical bills.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: Most Americans can look forward to 20 to 30 years between the time they become empty nesters and "true old age" over 80, according to keynote speaker Judy Goggins. Goggins is senior VP of Civic Ventures, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that is trying to promote a new image of seniors as a resource to be tapped. "Sometimes younger people want to know why their community should do things for seniors," she said; "the answer is that seniors do a lot for the community." She cited examples of meaningful volunteer work, including a free clinic in San Mateo, Calif., which is staffed by 120 retired health care providers. She also mentioned the Experience Corps, which has established literacy projects in 10 communities. Members work in teams of 10 to 15, and their activities recreate a sense of purpose and teamwork that many miss when they retire. Goggins suggesting putting CWW's name on what its members do for the community in order to remind people that seniors are a community resource.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACTION: Five discussion groups on civic engagement presented recommendations, including suggestions for a coordinator of volunteers for both the public schools and Habitat for Humanity, a directory of in-house volunteer skills for local groups, and information on a web site about meaningful volunteer work. Others felt that it was time for seniors to tell the community about their available skills, so that better matches could be found for senior involvement, and suggestions were made that we need more information and discussion about volunteer jobs that are meaningful.
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CWW is in the process of establishing an Interhouse Advocacy Group to encourage follow up activities in the four areas mentioned above. For further information, or to participate in follow up activities, contact Fran Benson at franbee@att.net or 609-921-8332.