Senior Summit draws big crowd

Tacoma's Senior Summit on December 7 drew a substantial crowd of seniors who took advantage of the opportunity to interact directly with Deputy Mayor John Hines. Hosted at the Eliseo senior living community, the event focused on critical issues facing the local senior population, particularly the upcoming closures of the Lighthouse and Beacon senior centers. Attendees expressed their apprehensions about transitioning to Metro Parks for continued services, especially concerning meal availability, which is vital for many seniors. Hines addressed these concerns by outlining a 30-day transition period during which city staff will reach out to seniors to assist in their adjustment. The summit featured representatives from various organizations, including AARP, who advocated for the significance of maintaining social connections and services within familiar environments.

Hines committed to reinforcing the seniors' feedback to the Metro Parks board to ensure service continuity. The event highlighted the growing need for community engagement in addressing the challenges faced by an aging population in Tacoma. Overall, the summit was deemed a success, with Hines considering making it an annual event to foster ongoing dialogue with seniors.