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Commission hears repeated transportation barriers; members back satellite outreach and a June senior day
Summary
Commissioners and a public member flagged persistent transportation and communication barriers for seniors—especially in Spanish Lake—endorsed satellite outreach and a June 20 senior-day at Spanish Lake Park, and asked CORE to provide concise written updates on service metrics.
Commissioners and public participants told the St. Louis County Older Adults Commission that transportation and communication gaps continue to limit seniors’ access to services and recommended expanding outreach beyond centralized offices.
Sharon Mitchell (who asked to be called 'Miss Cookie') described problems reaching services: many seniors are not tech-savvy or lack phone service; transportation options do not always serve key community locations. "Is there a possibility... that the Clayton office will be going out to the Northwest Plaza location?" she asked, proposing satellite outreach clinics and monthly in-person events to bring tax-help, CORE information and other services closer to seniors in North County.
County staff said satellite outreach is under consideration and depends on staffing and department-level decisions, and noted plans for cross-training staff to support community visits this summer. Commissioners also reported volunteer erosion since the pandemic — a persistent constraint on transportation capacity — and requested short written CORE updates for future meetings (bullet points on programs, counts and staffing) rather than a comprehensive report during restructuring.
Commissioners encouraged organizing local events to collect short, printable testimonials from seniors who have used services, in part to support the senior tax levy outreach and to educate council members about practical, low-cost interventions that keep residents independent.
The commission also endorsed a community senior-day event planned by Commissioner Mitchell for June 20 at Spanish Lake Park to connect seniors with services, vendors and county representatives, and asked members to promote the event and provide staff support where feasible.
