African American women want a Mayor who will commit to improving the quality of life for senior citizens.  One third of the senior citizens living in poverty are African American women. With the high cost of prescription drugs, affordable health care, and lack of access to “normal life” services, these statistics will continue to rise.  The Mayor must maintain and expand access to prescription drugs; create a senior citizen commission, to establish senior services sites throughout the city; organize and monitor the delivery of senior services at these sites; and assign a police representative to each site. 

Priority Issues for Senior Citizens: Facts

• One third of senior citizens living in poverty are African American women.

This poverty critically reduces the ability of older citizens to purchase costly prescription drugs, and to afford long-term health care. 

• In addition, the recently passed State Budget cuts senior transportation, meals on wheels, and adversely affects the health and quality of life of our seniors.

Establish a Senior Citizen Commission comprised of seven commissioners, at least 60% of who are aged 55 or over, and 60% of who are women. 

The commission should be charged with:

• Maintaining and expanding Cleveland’s prescription drug plan for senior citizens.

• Organizing and monitoring the decentralization of senior services by establishing service sites throughout Cleveland, including the Central, Fairfax, West Park, and Tremont neighborhoods.

• Ensuring, through decentralized sites, the provision of:

1. Assistance with paperwork such as insurance forms;

2. Technology assistance such as basic computer familiarization and liaison with Para-transit services;

3. A City of Cleveland website link to the Ohio Department of Aging site at www.ohio.gov/age;

4. Assistance with service access; and,

5. Personal and community advocacy training.

• Assuring direct communication to seniors about all senior issues and activities through newsletters, regular columns in the Call and Post and Plain Dealer; and quarterly public meetings of the Commission held at different locations.

• Ensuring direct access to, and communication with, police officials by housing a police representative in each senior site.