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Council on Aging discusses narrow dining space, rollator access and reasonable accommodations
Summary
Members raised safety and accessibility concerns about the senior center's dining area where narrow aisles and growing attendance make it hard for some patrons using rollators or wheelchairs to move safely; staff discussed staggering access and offering assistance while emphasizing independence.
Smitty, a regular attendee, told the council he has observed increasingly narrow space in the dining area and said he was bumping into people when retrieving meals. "People are bumping into each other," Smitty said, and urged the center to consider serving or spacing changes to accommodate rollators and wheelchairs.
Megan acknowledged the constraint and proposed operational changes such as calling people with rollators up one at a time so they can get through the space safely while preserving as much independence as possible. "Let people utilize their mobility that they have because they're able to get to the center," Megan said, while also offering to carry beverages or provide assistance where needed.
Council members asked where reasonable accommodations would fit. Megan said she had not formally checked state reasonable‑accommodation procedures with staff, and she contrasted the center's services with adult‑day programs that provide a higher level of care: "If people are able to get themselves into the building, they should be able to get themselves to get their food," she said, but added staff would offer assistance when required.
Discussion only: no policy or procedural changes were adopted at the meeting. Staff said they will consider staggered call‑ups and explore overflow seating or other accommodations to improve safety and egress.
