Sunday, January 31, 2010
By ELISE FRANCO
Vindicator staff writer
YOUNGSTOWN — Senior citizens in the city’s high-crime neighborhoods should be smart about safety and aware of their surroundings, but not afraid, say providers of social services.
At least 10 attacks on seniors have been recorded in Youngstown in the last seven months. Some examples:
U On June 25, 2009, a 70-year-old woman was pistol-whipped by two young male robbers as she arrived at her East Ravenwood Avenue home from work at 11:45 p.m.
U On Jan. 6, a 74-year-old man was robbed of his Social Security money during a home invasion on East Boston Avenue. Youngstown police said the assailants entered the home through the unlocked front door.
U On Jan. 23, 80-year-old Angeline Fimognari was shot to death in her car in the parking lot of St. Dominic Church on the city’s South Side.
More and more seniors, particularly those in high-poverty areas, are alone in their homes, said Lisa Solley, the Area Agency on Aging 11’s chief of community relations, wellness and training. This agency is a connection to a wide range of services for seniors 60 and older in Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
Solley said seniors can live safely and without fear if they take the proper precautions.
“The challenge for them is to really be cognizant of their surroundings whether they’re going shopping at a grocery store or church,” she said. “They might fidget around in cars and not pay attention to who might be walking up.”
Solley said older people are less likely to be victimized than younger people, but seniors can be targets for robbery, car theft and purse-snatching.
Locking doors and windows and having someone to check in with regularly are ways Solley said seniors can avoid becoming a victim.
One South Side woman, who didn’t want to give her name for her own safety, said she has lived in the neighborhood near St. Dominic all of her life and attended Mass. The 76-year-old said it’s unnerving to know that someone “could be following you and watching your habits.”
“It’s almost like you have to be somewhat paranoid,” she said.
The resident said the increase in crime and blight in her neighborhood has forced her to become more aware of her surroundings.
“I use prudence in everything I do,” she said. “I have to be extremely careful.”
Though the South Side woman recognizes the decline of her neighborhood, relocating isn’t an option.
“We could all move, but we choose to stay here,” she said. “We like our neighborhood, but we don’t like what’s going on.”
Councilwoman Janet Tarpley, D-6th, said she wants to see vacant homes torn down so that neighbors don’t have to worry about blight and crime.
“They are afraid of the blight that is next door to them, but they really want to stay in their homes,” she said.
Tarpley said she doesn’t know exactly how many homes in her district need demolished, but she knows the number is high.
“We really need additional funding to get rid of the blight,” she said.
A federal Housing and Urban Development grant denied to the city this month “would have helped tremendously,” she said. “People need to feel more at ease and not worry about what’s next door and who’s going in there.”
Solley noted that the hardest thing is to convince a senior to leave his or her home.
“They’ve lived in the neighborhood for 30 or more years, and it was great, and they raised their families there,” she said. “All of a sudden there’s blight and crime, but you can’t just ask people to move after they’ve spent 45 years in that home.”
Maureen Pusch, operations manager for Celtic Health Care, said not all residents, especially those who live in high-poverty areas, know their neighbors.
Celtic is a service provider contracted through AAA11 that provides in-home meals for Mahoning County seniors who are unable to leave the house, as well as congregate meals for those who need them.
“They used to get support from their neighbors; now they’re seeing vacant homes, and they don’t know their neighbors,” Pusch said. “There is a higher fear level.”
Solley said caution doesn’t have to equal fear, however.
“Even though there are risks, don’t let the fear of crime stop you from enjoying life,” she said.
Solley explained that senior citizens commonly stay in their homes after their children and grandchildren move away to find jobs.
“The problem is that as our economy worsens, families have to move away to find work,” she said.
Pusch said family members traditionally would provide care and company when Celtic workers or others couldn’t. “There has been a change,” Pusch said. “In past years, there would be family members who were all employed. They would be able to help offset the one meal a day we were providing.”
She said recently that hasn’t been the case.
“Now we’re seeing those family members are all unemployed,” Pusch said. “So the need continues to grow.”
Celtic now serves 900 meals each day in Mahoning, and Pusch said Youngstown is one of the most widely serviced areas.
“They’re very grateful and thankful to see this person each day because they don’t get out,” she said. “These people want to stay [in their] home, and with this service they can do that safely.”
efranco@vindy.com
Seniors
Staying safe
The Area Agency on Aging 11 offers these tips to keep senior citizens safe.
SAFETY AT HOME
Keep doors and windows locked while you’re at home and away.
Check your peephole before opening your door, and ask strangers for identification.
Avoid keeping large amounts of money in the house.
Get to know your neighbors.
SAFETY ON THE STREETS
Stay alert, and walk with a friend if possible.
Avoid dark parking lots and streets.
Don’t open your car door or roll down your window for strangers.
Carry your purse close to your body, and have your keys out and ready.
Don’t resist a robber.
Don’t sit in your car. Lock the doors and leave as soon as you get in.
Source: Area Agency on Aging 11