SLCNA Report February 2020 - Report - Page 14
3. What do you feel should be done to improve the health of the seniors in the south central
Pennsylvania community?
• A suggestion was offered to provide more access to nutritious food and encourage merchants to
provide fresh foods to low income areas.
• Certain group members felt that some municipalities should have more sidewalks for walkability
or bikeability; bike lanes, better lighting, paths, etc.
• Increase the palliative care conversations and talk with patients and families about advance
directives and living wills within the community before a crisis situation.
• Stakeholders felt that tapping into meaningful ways to communicate to the “middle generation”
(the adult child/sandwich generation) would benefit the older generation. Engage people to think
about this prior to needing care; be proactive in thinking about future needs.
• Improve the education, promotion, and access to free programs and services that are underutilized;
and remove barriers and “red tape” to tap into these services.
• Funds need to be (re)allocated to the appropriate setting – i.e. advocating for Medicaid coverage
in Assisted Living.
• Stakeholders agreed, as industry leaders, we must have a collective voice for seniors, their needs
and services, and what the impact is on seniors.
• Start as a society to think early about future transportation needs, not at the point of immediate
need.
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