Ten at the Top to hold workshop focused on senior transportation needs
August 12, 2019
As part of an ongoing series addressing issues facing seniors in the Upstate, Ten at the Top will be hosting a workshop focused on transportation needs of seniors on Thursday, August 22 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. The session, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Park 37 Community Building located at 250 Executive Center Drive in Greenville. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
With the number of Upstate residents over the age of 65 projected to rise from roughly 12 percent of the total population in 2010 to more than 25 percent by 2030, the Ten at the Top Senior Issues Committee is focusing on educating and raising awareness amongst community stakeholders around important issues facing our seniors today and into the future.
The inability of seniors to get where they need to go can quickly lead to poor nutrition, diminished mental and physical health, and a general isolation from their community. Increased access to transportation services can prolong a senior’s ability to reside in their home. The workshop panelists will cover a range of topics relating to this issue.
The panel will be moderated by Dean Hybl, Executive Director of Ten at the Top. Panelists include Tim Womack, Aging Services Director, Appalachian Council of Governments; Andrea Smith, Executive Director, Senior Action; Judy McCambridge, Able Care Transportation LLC; and Lindsey Page, Discharge Planner, AnMed Health.
Tim Womack, Aging Services Director for the Appalachian Council of Governments, hopes to encourage participation in this event and stresses the importance of this issue, saying, “Nationally, the number one need of seniors trying to stay at home and in their communities is transportation. Many seniors, unable to drive or not having a support system in place, cannot run errands, grocery shop, go to the pharmacy, make it to doctor appointments, or access local food pantries. This leads to social isolation, which leads to depression and may lead to many other health problems. Social isolation has been compared by health professionals as the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes per day.”
This is the third of four senior issue workshops to be hosted by TATT in 2019. The workshop series is sponsored by Upstate Homecare Solutions and the Better Business Bureau of the Upstate.
Though there is no cost to attend the workshop, advanced registration is requested. Learn more about the workshop and register here.
About Ten at the Top
Comprised of public, private and civic leaders from across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Ten at the Top was created to connect and encourage regional collaboration through data-driven research and regular convening of leaders and citizens to address key issues facing the region. Ten at the Top works with regional partners to foster collaboration and strategic planning to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow. For more information, visit www.tenatthetop.org.
