Senior citizens frustrated at the lack of town services told the Little Compton Town Council recently that they're tired of waiting for the town to support what is its largest segment of the population. They want a senior center, they want local bus transportation, and they want to be included.

“We need a dedicated location for a senior center, a designated meeting place in the community,” said Angela Denham, who wrote a letter to the town council requesting this discussion be added to the agenda. “These seniors need to socialize, and they need connection. And we’re asking for representation to ensure we have a consistent space. Portsmouth has a senior center, Tiverton has a senior center, why not us?”

"As seniors, we make up the largest part of the population and yet we don’t have a place of our own.”

With an overall median age of 59 and 63 percent of its residents over 50 years old, a majority of year-round residents are considered to fall into the senior citizen category.

But seniors said they are being failed on several counts. First, they told council members that they are disappointed with what they believe is a lack of access to the Community Center. Between previously-scheduled programming, after-school care, and summer camp sessions, several said they are being neglected when it comes to having a place where they can gather whenever they feel like it.

Additionally, they want the town to replace its senior bus, which was sold just prior to the pandemic and still has not been replaced.

Both issues have made it hard to socialize and get around town as they once did, seniors told the council. And in the absence of a dedicated, town-supported center, they have sought out social opportunities on their own.

Last November, after the coronavirus pandemic had isolated many of the town’s elderly, a small group began having regular get-togethers and meetings. The numbers grew, they began to garner community support, and started serving meals in December. They have been meeting weekly since March, using Facebook to post their upcoming lunches and meetings.

“We started with about 14 people coming, now we have around 50,” Denham remarked. Still, she said it's not as much as the town could provide, were there the will:

"We need a dedicated space for seniors to gather and socialize daily, enjoy lunch together daily, have senior-geared activities, like card games, bingo, knitting, movies, exercise classes, senior trips, celebrate birthdays, and just to come and sit for coffee, pastries, and conversation,” said Denham. “These are all very reasonable asks. After all, what is the cost of doing nothing?”

Council response

Council chairman Robert Mushen said he was glad so many seniors came out to voice their opinions, saying that while the town is "working" to resolve the bus and buildings issue, he was happy to hear their concerns despite the at times contentious nature of the discussion.

"Let's take it to the next step, and get about four of you to say, 'I am willing to be part of an entity that represents the seniors,' so that we can deal not with a roomful of folks that are not happy with what exists," but rather a group that represents the seniors as whole.

Doing so would make it easier for the council to quickly intervene if needed, he added.

As for the community center's lack of access, "the community center should be put to the test as to whether it can supply what you're looking for," he said. "It seems to be that they're saying they can, and if they're not, then that group could come and say that it isn't working."

As for the bus situation, "we're working on a new bus."