THE PUBLIC MIND: SENIOR CITIZEN TAX PROPOSAL EXPLAINED

Dear Editor:

Hopefully, this letter will clear up some of the misconceptions about the proposed 5-cent property tax levy to provide services to the elderly. The issue is on the April 2 ballot.

The Cape Girardeau Council on aging, d/b/a Cape Nutrition Center, and the Jackson Senior Center asked the Cape County Commission to submit the proposal to the voters. The Commission unanimously approved the request.

Because the proposal was initiated by the two Senior Centers does not necessarily mean the money will go to the Centers. House Bill 351 passed by the 85th General Assembly states that the money shall be used for services to persons 60 years of age or older. This means that any organization providing services to the elderly can submit an application for part of the tax money if the issue passes. Decisions on programs to be funded will rest solely with the 7 directors appointed by the County Commission. The directors would serve without pay.

The plan does call for expansion of services at the Senior Centers. First, I will say that a Nutrition Center is NOT just a place to get a nutritious noon-day meal; it is NOT a program for just the low-income persons. Besides meals, the Centers are places for ALL senior citizens seeking support and fellowship to gather. They can get their blood pressure checked, attend programs keyed to health and welfare, pass the time quilting or making other crafts, watching TV, reading, working jigsaw puzzles, playing cards or bingo, listening to music, singing, or just enjoying conversation.

Some seniors at the Cape Nutrition Center do have larger cars. But 95% of the seniors who are physically or financially able give far more to the Center than they receive in material things. They give hours of volunteer labor and, yes, dollars. The Center could not operate without volunteers.

How would services at the Center be expanded with new tax money? There is a long waiting list for home-delivered meals to shut-ins. Senior citizen volunteers now deliver these meals in snow, rain, ice and heat. We do not have enough volunteers to meet the need, partly because some seniors are physically unable.

Hopefully, with new tax money we could contract with a private carrier or university fraternity to deliver these meals. Also, we might find a way to provide meals to seniors in outlying ares of the county who are unable to come to the Centers. These meals might be frozen, but nutritious, and prepared by the Centers. Some seniors in the City say they cannot come to the Center because even with the taxi service it cost $1 to get there, $1.50 for the meal, and a $1 to get home. So more transportation is a need here.

Other things the tax money may provide for are: more transportation for medical care and shopping; more elderly persons receiving home-work services; expanded personal care services so the frail elderly can receive help with bathing, shampooing and nail-clipping; expansion of respite care to meet the need; and, more money for adult day care services.

These plans can be summed up as the definition for an effort to keep senior citizens in their own homes and out of nursing homes for as long as possible by helping meet their various needs.

Those who are not now senior citizens most likely will be. Believe me, when you reach this age you will be thankful for these programs, which the committee hopes to explain more fully before the election.

Cecelia Sonderman,

volunteer, committee member

Cape Girardeau