As older people are usually physically limited in their abilities to meet their basic needs, communities have to be evaluated on their capacity to help senior adults. The main needs of senior citizens correspond to the necessities of the younger population – they have to acquire food, medication, cash, visit the church, and doctors, and be able to safely walk through the streets. The recent year has introduced an additional challenge specific to the elderly – surviving social isolation (Steinman et al., 2020). Analyzing how the Crowley Park Neighborhood manages community needs is essential in ascertaining the satisfaction of senior citizens (Appendix A).
First, there is a problem with the delivery of food ingredients from the grocery. As elder people are advised against leaving their houses, they have to rely on outside help. The most effective solution is to use the delivery service. The closest grocery store has a delivery service available only to those who make online purchases. However, Internet illiteracy among the elderly population leaves many isolated individuals without food ingredients (Arcury et al., 2018). Unless these people have relatives or caretakers, who would do the shopping for them, the chances are that they are left without a sufficient supply of food ingredients. A possible solution is to enable the customers to order deliveries by phone, which is a comfortable way for elder people to communicate.
The second need of elderly people is easily accessible healthcare. Not only is a medical center necessary, but it should also be within reach of physically limited people. There are such facilities, yet both of them require the visitors to cross the Highline to reach them. It creates a potential risk for elder adults who may not be fast or flexible enough to cross the road safely. No hospitals are in proximity, yet there is Texas Primary Care Center, where clients can receive essential care. Unfortunately, it does not service clients with Medicaid coverage, thus implying higher costs for those who do not have it (Texas Primary Care Center, n.d.). Considering that Medicaid is the preferred choice for many senior adults, it is reasonable to suggest that many residents will not use the medical services as they will be too expensive. This problem can be tackled with the addition of Medicaid coverage in the existing medical centers or by building a new one, which would accept this insurance. Anyway, the lack of adequate healthcare services available for elder people is evident.
At the same time, it should be noted that residents are not entirely denied help with medical issues. For instance, the delivery problems concerning food do not extend to pharmacy supplies. Any client can purchase pharmacy products via the phone, which is convenient for senior adults (Walgreens Locator, n.d.). The pharmacy allows its customers to acquire a monthly delivery service subscription. It is a subtle yet flexible form of support because many adults may forget to replenish their medical supplies.
The third need of senior people is the opportunities to socialize and entertain themselves. Although it may not seem as critical as the availability of food and medicine, it does have a substantial influence on the quality of life. Crowley Park does not have many venues for meeting social requirements. Socialization needs for older people are represented by the availability of the Christian church. Residents can satisfy their religious inclinations and communicate with followers of the same faith. Also, Wellness Center for Older Adults offers activities and classes designed to help older people preserve their physical and brain function. However, in both cases, the restrictions on social distance, thus limiting the interaction opportunities.
The final need is safety, which manifests in the adults’ confidence that they can leave their house, walk, and communicate with strangers without the fear of being subjected to criminal abuse. It can be stated that the safety needs are met in this neighborhood. According to the FBI statistics, the crime rate in Crowley Park does not exceed 20 cases per a thousand people (Offenses Known to Law Enforcement, n.d.). The absence of a police station creates reporting problems in case of an emergency, but the neighborhood is generally safe.
Altogether, it should be evident that Crowley Park has substantial blind spots regarding the needs of the senior citizens. First, grocery stores do not consider computer illiteracy when offering delivery services on the Internet, which leaves elder adults without food ingredients. Second, the healthcare is not sufficient as there are no hospitals in the area, and the medical centers do not accept Medicaid insurance. Third, socialization and entertainment are limited to the church and wellness center. At the same time, the neighborhood produces low crime statistics, which indicates overall safety. Overall, Crowley Park meets the basic needs of elder people as long as they are familiar with the Internet and can cover their healthcare expenses. As for the secondary needs, the neighborhood is not as welcoming towards the seniors.
References
Arcury, T., Sandberg, J., Melius, K., Quandt, S., Leng, X., Latulipe, C., Miller, P., Smith, D., & Bertoni, A. (2018). Older adult internet use and eHealth literacy. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 39(2), 141-150. Web.
Offenses Known to Law Enforcement. (n.d.). Web.
Steinman, M. A., Perry, L., & Perissinotto, C. M. (2020). Meeting the care needs of older adults isolated at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Internal Medicine, 180(6), 819-820.
Texas Primary Care Center. (n.d.).
Walgreens Locator. (n.d.). Web.