Dear Esteemed Council Members and Senior Staff, We’re writing to relay the thoughts and feelings of seniors that were gathered on a recent visit to the Menlo Park Senior Center. Please keep in mind that these themes are shared by a majority of the daily participants in the Senior Center program and are on the minds of the people who come regularly to use the facility for companionship, games, lunch, etc. 1. No sharing senior center space. Seniors are concerned about sharing lobby space, classroom space, pool table area space and even bathroom space with families and children. Issues of noise, safety, and discomfort from forced multi generational interaction make the seniors cherish the existing exclusively senior space. Many participants come from multigenerational living arrangements and look forward to the adult interaction - and especially the quiet- when they come to the Senior Center. 2. No public access to the kitchen and the event space. Because the seniors eat lunch at the center every weekday, they would prefer not to have their kitchen available to the public at all. 3. No interruption of service. Seniors rely on the center to have much needed positive human interaction on a daily basis. In the winter, they come to the center to stay warm, and in the summer they come to stay cool. The game room provides an important outlet for men who have a chance to bond regardless of language, the arts classes provide important social and physical therapy to many of the women. The meals the seniors eat together are sometimes their only meals. It is imperative for the physical and mental health of the seniors to have all of the same services continued during construction. 4. A commitment to regular, face to face communication. It would make sense for an outreach team to show up to the senior center for lunchtimes on a predictable day, especially on Thursdays, so they can answer questions, allay fears and engage with the participants. Knowledge of Spanish is imperative so that participants can share comfortably. Sincerely, Julie Shanson and Annielka Pérez Belle Haven Action [ https://drive.google.com/a/bellehavenaction.org/uc?id=1fHdhey1OucIvwExUhW4RMejm1MoywSOZ&export=download ] http://www.bellehavenaction.org > Received on Tue Feb 11 2020 - 15:27:05 PST
