Seekonk Seniors Share Concerns With Sen. Brown

Following his to Town Hall and presentation of awards to town officials, Sen. Scott Brown stopped at on Wednesday to hear concerns from local seniors.

On national issues, the chief concern among the residents was the state of health care and social security in the country.

The seniors were concerned about cuts to Medicare. Sen. Brown said that he voted against the recent health care reform bill as it made cuts to Medicare.

“We can address a lot of issues by finding the misuse and abuse,” he said of health care reform.

On a local level, residents were concerned with the continued efforts to build a new senior center.

Sen. Brown said that, while this visit was the first he had heard of the issue, he had a lot of experience helping other towns in similar situations get the funds needed.

Alvin Helgerson, a World War II veteran and a longtime Seekonk resident, often comes to the senior center with his wife, Beverly, to play cards. However, due the center's location on the second floor and his use of a walker to get around, he said it is often difficult to make the trip.

“Why can’t they fix something?” Helgerson asked. “They spend money on everything else. I’m only asking for little things.”

Maurice Trenteseaux said that the stairs are truly a big issue for many seniors and many are scared of falling or just find them too difficult to climb. He said you can see it in the difference between the number of people who show up to play cards at the center, about 10 to 15, versus when they play cards at the and 30 people show up.

“There are no facilities at all for seniors in the community,” said Beverly Helgerson.

Sen. Brown also spoke briefly about Mitt Romney’s recent victory in the New Hampshire primary and his support of him.

“We need somebody who can make tough decisions,” Brown said. “People are going to have a very clear choice this election.”