II El
cict4 lllTin
collegian
ealities of old age confront local senior
By DOUG BELL
Daily Collegian Staff Writer
. Age is the most universal of concepts
Day by day, year by year, each of us is
changed by the passing of time. And one
day, signaled perhaps by the wrinkling
of skin, the graying of hair or the stiff
ness of gait, we will come to be known as
"elderly."
Yet few people realize what it means
to he elderly. Few know what it means to
live on a fixed income when inflation
makes every dollar worth less and less.
Few know the frustration of having
chronic health problems and being
unable to meet rising health care costs.
Few know the exasperation of needing to
get somewhere and being unable to drive
a caror find public transportation.
But for many of our elderly, both in
Centre County and throughout the
United States, this is an accurate pic
ture. Sunny pictures of retirement com
munities filled with lazy hours on front
porch swings have lulled us into believ
ing that old age is a time of rest and
leisurely reflection -- when, in reality,
many of our elderly are involved in a
daily battle to survive.
About 11,000 elderly people defined
as anyone older than 60 live in Centre
County. That figure represents approx
imately 11' percent of the county's
population.
According to Joseph Britton,,a Univer
sity professor of human deveipment and
the chairman of the State College Senior
Citizens Commission, Centre County is
"farther along than many others in its
care of the elderly." •
Britton attributed this to "good leader
ship, alertness to resources, knowledge
of possibilities and a belief that we can
better the conditions of living."
But Britton, along with many others,
agreed that the elderly in Centre County
still have problems. •Transportation,
housing, health care, finances and
loneliness head the list.
Lillian Husted, a State College resi
dent who was appointed by Gov. Dick
Thornburgh to a state regional council
on the elderly, does not think the elderly
in Centre County are as well off as some
might believe.
Husted said a lack of funds for care of
the elderly makes it difficult to provide
help to the elderlywho need it most.
."We are not reaching the people who
need to be reached," she said. "As long
aswe don't have the money, we can't go
out and actively solicit."
Cynthia Edvar, the director of Centre
Ney
By WALT De TREUX
Daily Collegian Staff Writer
As president of the State College
Senior Citizens Club, 82-year-old Amos
E. Neyhart has a close-up view of senior
citizens and their most pressing
problems.
"One of the big problems is limited in
come," Neyhart said. "The health pro
the cost of medication and
medical services also ' plague the
elderly."
Neyhart, originator of driver educa
tion in the United States and consultant
to the American Automobile Association
for 44 years, cited transportation as
another obstacle for senior citizens.
Getting to the doctor, going to the
grocery store and getting .to church all
pose difficulties for the elderly, he said.
State College Senior Citizens Club President Amos Neyhart checks the winning
card at a Tuesday afternoon bingo game.
Club
president fights problems of aging
These elderly men at Mt. Nittany Residences in State College spend an 'afternoon building Jigsaw puzzles:playing cards or talking
County's Area Agency on Aging, said the
agency's main goal is to serve the elder
ly with the greatest need. Among the
services provided by the AAA either
directly or through sub-contracts are
transportation to and from community
facilities, home-delivered meals and
homemaker services.
In addition, the AAA operates five
senior citizens centers and two meal
sites around the county, provides infor
mation about various services available,
employs counselors and caseworkers,
and provides a friendly visitor service to
county elderly.
Edvar said one of the biggest pro
blems of the elderly in Centre County is
transportation, and slightly more than,l4
percent, of the AAA'q,5599,000 budget in
1979 was spent in that area.
Edvar said tranportation is a•problem
because many of the county's elderly
live in rural areas.
"You can't receive services if you
can't get to them," Edvar said. "State
"For our meetings, we have a van,"
Neyhart said, "but we cannot provide a
taxi service. . . .The transportation
system (in State College) is very
reliable. Ladies tell me they only have to
walk half a block or a block to get a bus.
"The Secretary of the Department of
Aging in Harrisburg is aware of the pro
blem," Neyhart said, "so are our
representatives in Washington. Reagan
has promised to do more in the transpor
tation field." •
In addition to having transportation
difficulties, senior citizens are also af
fected by boredom and loneliness, he
said.
"Some senior citizens have not
developed any particular interest
area,"said Neyhart, director emeritus
of the University's Institute of Public
Safety.
a look at life
in the University community
College and now . . . Bellefonte are the
only areas that have bus service; they're
the only areas that have any public
tranportation."
Edvar was referring to thd State
College-to-Bellefonte bus route, in
stituted by the Centre Area Transporta
tion Authority last spring. In addition,
the Centre Cab Co., operated by the
State College Borough, provides public
transportation to the State College and
Bellefonte areas.
But the biggest item on the AAA's
budget is funding for the five senior
citizens centers in State . College,
Bellefonte, Philipsburg, Snow Shoe and
Millheim, and the two meal sites in
Unionville and Centre Hall.
More than 26 percent.., of the, AAA's :
yearly allotment in 1979 was spent on the'
centers and meal .- sites, which Edvar
called "the lifeline" for many of the
county's senior citizens.
The five center directors agreed that
loneliness and isolation are very serious
"It takes so little on the part of each
one of us to call someone on the
telephone and ask them how they are,"
he said. "Every opportunity weget, we
must get them out. As long as they put in
long periods alone, they will be lonely."
The senior citizens club tries to
alleviate some of these problems at its
Tuesday afternoon meetings.
"We had a girl from the YMCA come
in to exericize for 30 minutes,"he said.
"And Kay Rossi comes every Tuesday
afternoon to rehearse our choir. . . .You
have to get the people involved, get the
people active," he said. "It's difficult
getting people involved doing these
things."
The club has had a very beneficial ef
fect on the elderly, Neyhart said. He has
had members come and tell him the
meetings are "the biggest thing in my
life; it is a social affair."
Neyhart said he believes the club has
promoted fellowship among the
members.
"During refreshment period, there
they are . with people their own age, talk
ing, laughing, and joking," he said. "The
sad thing is it's only Tuesday
afternoons."
Neyhart suggested some other ways of
improving the plight of the elderly.
"Better communications. We have to
do a better job of communicating
through the radio, newspapers and
television," he said.
"We should make things more conve
nient for the elderly," he said. "Prac
tically everything on campus is at night.
They are afraid to go out at night."
In response to an election year,
Neyhart said the club tried to urge the
elderly to vote.
At their Election Day meeting,
Neyhart said, "We had a big cake and on
it, it said, 'Did you vote today?' When I
asked, every hand in that room went
up."
Neyhart, whose most noticeable
characteristic is his unflagging op
timism, said he has high hopes for the
future.
"America is the greatest country on
earth," he said. "We should not discard,
destroy, kick out all that we have; we
should take what we have and make it
better."
"I'm very optimistic," Neyhart said.
"My wife will tell you, 'ln 57 years of
marriage, never have I found him down
in the dumps.' "
problems for the elderly, and that the
centers are an important chance for the
elderly to socialize and get out of the
house.
"So many people have said to me, 'I
wonder what it was like before we had
the centers; I wonder what I did with
myself,' " said Jennett Wertz, director
of the Snow Shoe center.
The centers, which operate five days ,a
week (except for the State College
center, which is open on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday), provide a hot,
nutritious meal, various activities and,
most important, companionship for the
elderly.
"The meals are very important," said
Jenny Conway, director of the Bellefonte
.center„ . "especially for men who are
widowed and can't cook.'.'
The centers also provide different pro
grams for the elderly, ranging from lec
tures and games to field trips and even a
swimming class at the Bellefonte center.
For those elderly who cannot attend
the centers, mealg are delivered to their
homes. In State College, Meals on
Wheels provides a hot meal daily for
elderly and handicapped people.
Elsewhere around the county, meals are
prepared and delivered by the AAA to
elderly who are unable to make it to the
centers.
But the centers and the AAA have pro
blems of their own mainly a budget
that has failed to keep pace with the ris
ing need and cost of services.
The majority of the AAA's yearly
allocation comes from the federal
government. The state matches 20 per
cent of the federal share, and the rest
10 percent of the AAA's funds comes
from the county and from donations by
the elderly who use the agency's
services. " '
_Edvar said the AAA's funding in 1980
has equaled past levels, but she was not
optimistic about increases in the future.
Finances are a problem for in
dividuals as well as the agencies that
=ES
Photo by Janis Burger
0 000 .%-c
C
day, Dec. 11
citi ens t
serve them. Inflien has left many fixed
pensions worthi a fraction of what
they were in the ?t. Many elderly are
forced to live one
on Social Security c
benefits, which, de ite frequent cost-of
living increases, w not designed to be
a sole source of inc e,
Low incomes ine ,ably lead to other
problems for the elfrly, namely hous
ing and health caredat Casher, Centre
County Housing co inator, said 423 „
low-income housin units are now v ii
available to county eerly. But Casher
said that number is ly about half of :
what is needed.
"About three or fo
identified the need f
income elderly unit
Casher said. "We're
there "
In State College, Be
vides 18 low-income
senior citizens ; and ti
Residence complex nez
ment Store contains
units for the elderly.
Mt. Nittany Residencel
late last summer, has
Bellaire Court has five u
Obtaining adequate
another major problem
Amos Neyhart, presiden
College Senior Citizens Cl
elderly people neglect
because they can't afford
"Fear is the elderly'sl
blem," Neyhart said. "Thi,
what the future holds. A loj
ple are neglecting their he,
they fear they'll get the
something for which they
and what little they have
away from them."
Husted, who is also preside
visory council for the Ce,
AAA, believes the key to 11 4 j
preventive medicine thro
education. She also said
grandchildren of the elderly
a more active role in caril
needs.
Will Rogers was half right
oldis not a crime. But for m 1
citizens, age has become a
helped in its battle by infla
quate healthcare, sparse
tional facilities and shorta
inconie''hounng.
Many of the elderly's nee are being
met, but many still exist.Pntil those
needs are met, aging wil still be an
enemy -- instead of a natur part of the e:
life cycle.
A busy college tow
by young colleg i
poses many obst
people in their dt
from place to plaCe
n, easily na
students,
acles for
lily efforts
years ago we
about 700 low
countywide,"
bout halfway 10,
ire,Court pro-, ,
, sing units to
Mt. Nittany
Hills Depart
low-income
which opened
o vacancies;
s open.
:Ith care is ,
the elderly.
of the State
s, said many,....
eir health
oper care.
iggest pro
don't know
►f older peo
th because
elves into
an't pay
be taken
i t of the ad-
e County
a i \ t th care is ,
( nutrition
iiltn and WI
;h Id take
r their
rowing
senior
emy
inade-4
sporta
of low-
!gated ,
(often
•denly
i ► get
Student opinions on calendar gathered
By MARK GREEN
Daily Collegian Staff Writer
A final report on student opinions of
the proposed calendar change is
scheduled to be presented to the
University Council on Dec. 18, the
coordinator for the Undergraduate
Student Government project said.
The report will include results from
three workshops which informed -
students about the proposed switch to
a semester. system, said Mark Berg,,
chairman of the USG Executive
Council's Committee for Credible
Student Input.
It will also contain information
from, a telephone survey of 400
University Park students and 250
Commonwealth campus students, as
well as a section listing the problems
unique to 'each student organization,
Berg said.
The committee ran into several
minor problems in the course of its in-
Vestigation, including difficulties get
ting the survey printed and getting
volunteers to conduct the survey, he
said.
HUB presents John Lennon tribute today
• The Hetzel Union Board will present a noontime • The Twirling Club will meet at 9 tonight , in 108 Boucke. New members are invited
concert of Bob Sobol doing a memorial to John Lennon White Building
at noon today in the HUB Ballroom
• The Student Christian Involvement Program will
• The Student Health Resource Organization will hold an Advent Communion Breakfast at 7 this morn
,
• Men's basketball coach Dick Harter will be the meet at 7 tonight in 307 Boucke. ing at the Faith United Church of Christ, 300 E. College
quest on Sportstalk at 8 tonight on WDFM, 91 FM.Ave.
Student Organization will hold a counseling skills • The Undergraduate Student Government depart
present a lecture by James Bostain titled, "Read your Developm
• The Office of International Student Affairs will workshop
ent Building. at 7 tonight B
in the Living Center of Human moucke. ent of women's services will meet at 7 tonight in 306
Neighbor," at 8 tonight in 112 Kern.
• Students interested in becoming student • The Agronomy Club will meet at 7:30 tonight in 111
Tyson
eunselors, who did not attend last night's meeting
should go to 135 Boucke to schedule an interview
• The sailing division of the Penn State Outing Club
• The Block and Bridle Club will meet at 7:30 tonight will meet at 7:30 tonight in 112 Buckhout
in 111 Animal Industries Building
-.--
1
y
~.-~
~{
~~
~~
~~
M~'
~~
~..
.~ 1
~..
$1.25/15 words
or less.
10' each '
additional
word.
41 4 .
LIGHT MY FIRE
with a per'sonal
- son's Greeting
in The Doily
Collegian
Dec. 10-17
in 126 Carnegie
Send us your worm
wishes through our
Season's Greetings
Classified Section on
Dec. 19
!_mEzz!
The investigation, which began in
September, had been scheduled for
completion on Dec. 1, but an exten
sion was granted by the administra
tion until Dec. 19. Berg said his com
mittee had not requested theNexten
sion but appreciated the extra' time.
"We knew it was going to be a long
process at the onset," Berg said, "but
we didn't go in with the knowledge
that it would take longer than the
deadline."
Fran Kenawell, president of the
Association of Residence Halls
Students, said the committee started
slowly because of confusion over the
issues.
"No one really had a good idea of
what University President John W.
Oswald meant with a semester
change," he said. "I don't even know
if now we can give a good input either
way.",
Berg agreed, "That's a big problem
they don't have the specifics."
However, even with this vagueness,
most people surveyed had an opinion
on the matter, he said.
• The Individual and Family Studies Undergraduate
• Common Cause
Berg said if the committee had
worked through term break it could
have met the original deadline.
"Had the deadline been kept at
Dec. 1, we would have had it in by the
first," he said.
Committee member Andrea Solat
said the committee is now waiting for
the organizations to turn in their
specific concerns and for the results
of the telephone survey to be run
through the computer for a double
check.
Ellie Sternberg, a student
representative on the University
Council, said that after the commit
tee's final report is presented, the
council will combine it with other in
vestigations into one major report on
non-academic reactions to the pro
posed change.
The committee will present the
report to Oswald before the new Feb.
1 deadline, Sternberg said.
James Dungan, special assistant to
the director of planning and budget,
said if Oswald decides to change to a
semester system, there will be ample
• The Student Assistance Center will hold a study
skills workshop at 3:45 this afternoon in 317 HUB.
meet at 7 tonight in 309 Study habits and test-taking skills will be featured.
130 Heister St., State College 237-0361
Never a better time, never a better place, never a better price
for roast prime rib of beef at its tender, juicy best.
All prime rib dinners include the fabulous ARENA Salad Buffet
. . .
•• • • • - • •-. •. • : - •.• •
College of Business Administration
Core Advising Program
ATTENTION: Freshmen and Sophomores
Spring Pre-Registration
Do you have questions 'a,oout courses, majors,
career resources?
Come to Rooms:
101 Chambers Tues., Dec. 9 8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m
362 Willard Wed., Dec. 10 2:20 p.m. - 3:35 p.m
101 Chambers Thurs., Dec. 11 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m
25%
the M@• 00 technical
technical
technical
DEC. 11 & 1P
'
DVERI I SE
, i§ ii,,
astlauct
room within the four-year planning of
the new system for student groups to
aid in the planning of the new
calendar.
Berg refused to comment on
whether the report will indicate that
the students are in favor of the
change or not. He said it would be un
fair to the administration if it was not
notified first.
"I think we hit the major concerns
and a lot that no one even thought of,"
he said.
The results of the telephone survey
will be made public at Thursday's
meeting of the University Student Ad
visory Board.
Berg was optimistic about the
report's effect on the administra
tion's decision.
"If the students do come out strong
ly one way or the other, , we hope the
University will look seriously at it,"
he said. Still, Berg said he doubts the
committee will ever know how much
the University relied on the report in
making its decision.
• Persons interested in working with the morale
committee at the Interfraternity Dance Marathon will
meet at 7 tonight in 102 Forum.
g k e ,ARE4I4
iousE OF FIN E B°"
"PRIME TIME"
every Thursday
$l.OO off any prime rib dinner
~~~
STA EDTLER
pen points
pen sets
Penn State Bookstore
On Campus
pens
Audio-visual devices
stolen, police report
• The Heritage Run Office Center,
3939 S. Atherton St., was burglarized
Tuesday, state police from the State Cor
rectional Institute at Rockview said. Of
fice and audio-visual equipment valued
at $16,088 was stolen, police said.
• Scott Fogelsanger told the State Col
lege Police Department four oriental
rugs were stolen from Balfurd Fabric
Care Services, 320 W. Beaver Ave., bet
ween early September and early
December. Police estimated the value of
the rugs at $2,000.
• A car driven by Janice Mayes, 17,
Boalsburg, was forced off the road into a
fire hydrant in an accident by an
unknown vehicle on Main Street in
Boalsburg on Tuesday, state police at
Rockview said.
Mayes was accompanied by Sharon
Mayes, who was taken to Centre County
Community Hospital, treated and
released for minor injuries, a hospital
spokesman said.
Police estimated the damage to the
Mayes car to be moderate.
• Martha Wrye, Milesburg, told state
police at Rockview two rings were stolen
from her home sometime in the past two
months. Police estimated the value of
the rings at $5OO.
• Robert D. Weaver, 711 W. Foster
Ave., told State College police two pine
trees were stolen from his property on
Sunday. Police said the original cost of
the trees was $l6O, but replacement
costs would be more.
• State College police said approx
imately $159 was stolen from the Thom
McAn shoe store at the Nittany Mall on
Nov. 26 by falsifying monetary return
slips. Police said the case is still under
investigation.
* *****************
4( I
4( • Take a Chance! *
IC come to the *
*„ Career Conference and Square Dance
- rk JR
-4( sponsored by *
4
The PSU Parks and Recreation Society 'fr . ,
)t
-in conjunction with HPEA *
\ .
* Fri., Dec.l2, 3rd Fir. HUB, regis. at door-$1.50
I t * Workshops and interviews
* Square Dance at 7:30 in Walnut Room
AK
R• 052
***********************
Your life, your words, your music
will long live in our hearts
Goodbye, John!
May you live forever
Ralf P. Southard
Christopher J. Cefaly
You were the Walrus. . .
weren't you.
Art Print Sale
• Full color reproductions of famous
works of master artists.
• Perfect for decorating your room or
apartment.
• Huge selection
ANY 3 FOR ONLY $7!
The Daily Collegian Thursday, Dee. 11, 1980-7
2 DAYS ONLY!
9AM - 6PM
HUB Browsing Gallery
presented by HUB Gallery
• Scott D. Atkinson, senior research
technician, told University Police,Ser
vices that his.car was broken into while
parked in lot Orange E on Tuesday.
Police estimated damage to the rear
hatch at $2OO.
• Bill Tomoschuk (Bth-social welfare)
told University police his car window
was broken in to and two coats were
stolen when it was parked in lot Red E on
Tuesday. Police estimated the total
damage and loss at $lBO.
Police
log
• Mark Hamstra (2nd-liberal arts)
told •University police his bicycle was
stolen from a bicycle rack at Snyder Hall
on Wednesday. Police said an officer
found the bicycle in a picnic area along
Park Avenue. Police estimated the
damage and loss at $l5O.
• Evelyn Hensel, 445 Waupelani
Drive, told State College police four hub
caps were taken from her vehicle
sometime before Saturday. Police
estimated the value of the hubcaps at
$l3O.
• Craig Hutzell (Bth-administration of
justice) told State College police tape
player and an FM converter were stolen
from his car on either Monday or Tues
day. Police estimated damage to the car
and loss of the items at $llO.
• Robert Elison, 20, South
Williamsport, was arrested for stealing
a pine tree from the State Correctional
Institute at Rockview on Tuesday, state
police at Rockview said. Police said the
value 9f the tree was $2O.
—by Becky Jones