Seniors: So ... where's the gold at the end of our rainbow?

The way I understand it, and correct me if I am wrong, in these difficult economic times, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors has been presented a "what if" list, which would severely reduce funding of the Prince William County Senior Centers. I guess the county thinks that seniors don't merit consideration. I, for one, don't think it is fair. I have lived and paid taxes in Prince William County for 36 years and am now a full-fledged senior who after June 30, 2009, may not have any place to go to meet with my peers either educationally or socially.

Should this reduction be approved by the board in April, there will be greatly limited congregate lunches. In the case of Meals on Wheels, they will continue, but there will be no weekend, holiday or emergency meals already prepared. The weekend/holiday meals will be frozen and may result in unsafe preparation by those in receipt. The Senior Centers may still be there but the services will be severely reduced. Such things as a reduction in open hours, transportation and congregate meals as well as staff are on the list of a proposed 33 percent cutback in expenditures. All of this depends on the amount of shortage by the end of the third quarter of the county budget year.

Many seniors depend on their Senior Centers to provide their only avenue of recreation, socialization, health and wellness education, technical and safety education and or/entertainment. Doesn't sound non-essential to me! Reduction of hours and services would preclude the availability of these vital senior activities and may contribute to the isolation and depression of some seniors. Reduction of staff would seriously weaken the quality of services needed to fulfill these currently ongoing senior center programs.

The Senior Centers are my home away from home. Both my husband and I have diligently worked as volunteers to improve and expand services. We don't mind and, as a matter of fact, enjoy doing the volunteer work as long as the county supervisors maintain their share of support. But, it looks like they may reduce open hours as well as the staff as a part of their cutback. The Senior Centers are already understaffed and there is only so much that volun-teers can do without jeopardizing the safety and welfare of members. We must have the professional expertise behind us to lead us.

Seniors, we must unite to stop these proposed budget cuts before it becomes a consideration in the April 2009 Board of Supervisors budgetary meetings.

I strongly urge everyone, whether or not you are a senior or a family caregiver, to give this some thought. What will this action do to you now or in the future? This is not just a short-term senior issue, it involves the whole community. I recommend that you either prepare your own petition/ letter for presentation to your supervisor imploring him/ her to find other means to satisfy budgetary limitations or you can contact me to have your name included on our petition.

I think we have to make every effort that is humanly possible to encourage continued County financial support of services and staff for the Prince William Senior Centers on a five-day basis to include transportation for those seniors who are unable to provide their own method of travel and, further to provide cooked meals that are edible when delivered to those seniors who are no longer able and cannot safely prepare their own food.

As older Americans, we have served our country well. Don't we deserve some respect during our golden years?

Send questions, comments and column ideas to Dene Nichols at dene-bill@comcast.net.