Meyerhoff Senior Center Executive Director Beth Allen Featured in CBS4 Broadcast on Senior Issues
Oct 8, 2010
Meyerhoff Center Executive Director Beth Allen was featured on the October 7, 2010 CBS4 Evening News broadcast in a story about a statistical increase in senior suicides.
In the video clip, Ms. Allen explained how facilities such as the Meyerhoff Center provide needed emotional support and interpersonal opportunities for seniors who might otherwise feel socially isolated:
“We have people who’ve made great friendships here,” said Beth Allen from the Meyerhoff Senior Center. “We’ve even had marriages come from here…and those people who were sad and lonely after losing a spouse are happy again. “
Located in Hollywood, the Meyerhoff Center is chaired by Colodny Fass Founder and Senior Partner, Mike Colodny.
The text of the CBS4 clip is reprinted below. To access the article’s Web page, click here.
Suicide Risk Among Elderly Growing
Reporting by Ted Scouten
October 7, 2010
DANIA BEACH, Fla. (CBS4) – As the holiday season nears, many are planning their celebrations with friends and family. But for some seniors, the holidays brings with it sadness, depression, and suicide. Many seniors feel it is the only way to get rid of their pain and problems.
According to the American Association of Suicidology, the elderly accounted for almost 16 percent of all suicides in 2007. There was one elderly suicide every 97 minutes. That resulted in more than 5,400 suicides among those 65 and older. Elderly white men were at the highest risk, with white men over age 85 at the greatest risk.
Dania Beach waitress Maria Gianakopoulos was heartbroken when her Wednesday regular did not show for his weekly lunch, he left a note instead. Gianakopoulos read the note, it said, “Bob Long will not be in anymore.”
Gianakopoulos found out, he committed suicide by jumping off the balcony of the skyscraper where he lived in Hollywood.
“I was ready to commit suicide,” admitted Felicia Mintcer of Hollywood. She knows what it’s like to feel hopeless and helpless in her senior years; she lost her job and her husband. She said the Meyerhoff Senior Center in Hollywood was her life saver; it’s where she met the friends of a lifetime.
“I’m here three days a week, this is my home away from home,” said Mintcer. “I stopped driving they pick me up, we go on trips.”
Experts say seniors need interaction to stay healthy. That’s more than just neighbors waving or saying hi. Senior centers are a good place to start for emotional, psychological, or economic help. And who knows where it can lead.
“We have people who’ve made great friendships here,” said Beth Allen from the Meyerhoff Sennior Center. “We’ve even had marriages come from here…and those people who were sad and lonely after losing a spouse are happy again. ”
There are programs like this are available all over South Florida. To get more information, you can call 311 in Miami-Dade and 211 in Broward or click here for Broward, or click here for Miami-Dade.