Survey measures quality of eldercare in eastern Parsippany

by Johanna Ginsberg
NJJN Staff Writer

Seniors in Lake Hiawatha need exercise. They want to work. They like the free bus service but want more of it. And they’d like to have better access to the post office and more grocery delivery services.

These are some of the findings of a recent survey of the senior population in eastern Parsippany, released on June 22.

The survey is the first step in a larger project known as Parsippany Lifelong Involvement for Vital Elders, or Parsippany LIVE, examining how to continue to serve the senior population and enable them to continue to be engaged in community life. United Jewish Communities of MetroWest New Jersey applied for and secured a $196,000 federal grant from the Administration on Aging, as well as $60,000 in grants from the Wallerstein Foundation for Geriatric Life Improvement and the Grotta Fund for Senior Care of the Jewish Community Foundation, to undertake the survey with the goal of assessing existing services and implementing new ones based on the results. $70,000 of the grants is earmarked for direct delivery of services.

“The challenge is how to serve the seniors while continuing to make Parsippany a place where new families will want to move in,” Karen J. Alexander, director of eldercare services for UJC and coordinator of this project, said in her June 22 address at the Parsippany Senior Center announcing the survey findings.

Lake Hiawatha is considered one of about 40 naturally occurring retirement communities —NORCs — in the country to receive federal grant monies. These are areas with high concentrations of seniors who want to age in the towns where they raised their families.

The township, in turn, provides services to help seniors stay engaged in the community. In the targeted area of Parsippany, for example, where there are 3,600 people over age 62, services include free buses, tax return preparation, grocery delivery, and recreation centers.

Parsippany LIVE has seven founding partners: Daughters of Israel Geriatric Center in West Orange; JCC MetroWest, West Orange and Whippany; Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, Florham Park; Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest, East Orange; Volunteers of Morris County, Morristown; Morris County Division on Aging; and the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Two hundred seniors were interviewed by telephone for 25 minutes each. The questions covered four general areas: basic needs, physical and mental health and well being, maximizing independence, and promoting social and civic engagement. In addition, eight different senior groups participated in conversations about services offered, including what works, what doesn’t, and how services could be improved.

Some 40 people gathered to hear the results, including representatives from each of the partner agencies, Parsippany Mayor Mimi Letts (who served as master of ceremonies), a representative of United States Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s office, Morris County freeholder Jack Schrier, and about 30 seniors.

The survey is intended to “spark new programs” that will enhance the elder-friendliness of Parsippany, according to Alexander. Even though $70,000 of the grant money already earmarked for direct service delivery, Parsippany LIVE is already looking for further financial support, said Alexander.

In the meantime, several projects are under discussion, from installing benches on walking paths in the park to creating walking clubs, both designed to encourage more physical activity among seniors. Other clear needs that emerged from the meetings included providing postal services in the lobby area of senior housing developments and enhanced grocery delivery services.

The results of the survey are expected to offer a kind of blueprint for similar communities as they emerge around the country. “The national goal is to help people remain independent and age in place.” However, cautions Alexander, “each community is different and programs need to be tailored around the specific needs of the seniors.” She also emphasized that the partner agencies planned to “maintain an active senior voice in the process, using their wisdom and insight to move the project forward. It’s important to be doing this with seniors, not doing for seniors.”

Letts expressed her pleasure both at being selected for the project and at the results. “As long as I can remember, Parsippany has made a point of taking care of seniors,” she told NJ Jewish News. “We have two senior subsidized housing developments, even free town bus service. I’m very pleased. Parsippany will be an example for other communities.” But she acknowledged that the services provided are still not enough.

Many of the seniors present expressed some frustration with the limits of the bus service. “There would be more people here if the bus service didn’t stop at 3:30 p.m.,” said Dominic Mele. The meeting, which began at 2:30, ran just past 3:30. Others felt that those who cannot drive and who live in private homes are being neglected because the bus service stays close to designated senior services. Although Marie Vindler, 75, does not yet need many services, she found her situation left out of the survey. “I didn’t feel a lot of this pertained to me because I’m a homeowner and I don’t need a lot,” she said.

Some seniors who left Parsippany find themselves drawn back because of all the services it offers and the social connections they have. Rose and Nathan Herman, who moved to Parsippany in 1961 and stayed 27 years before moving to Caldwell to be near grown children, just moved back.

“People in Caldwell were friendly by day but there was nothing to do at night,” said Rose Herman. “Some people would go to activities at the church, but if you’re not Christian, you wouldn’t go.”

Nathan Herman, while enthusiastic about Parsippany LIVE, remains skeptical about how many services can really be offered over the long term. “It’s good to find out what seniors want, but who will give the money to pay for them? No one wants higher taxes, but everyone wants services.”

Johanna Ginsberg can be reached at jginsberg@njjewishnews.com.