Budget cuts have limited PrimeLife Enrichment’s transportation service to primarily medical reasons.
“We had funding cuts from corporate sources we had relied on year after year,” PrimeLife Executive Director Sheri Oor said. “With the funding cuts, grocery trips were one of those things we determined we could no longer do, along with hair appointments, going to the bank or library or visiting an attorney.”
The transportation cuts were effective July 16.
Oor said PrimeLife will maintain transportation to physicians, physical therapy, dialysis, lab tests, rehab, prescription pick-ups and Roudabush VA Medical Center visits.
“We’ll still bring clients for fitness at our center in Carmel,” Oor said.
PrimeLife provides services throughout Hamilton County for people 50 and older. For those who are 60 and older, the trips are free, with occasional exceptions. For those who are 50 to 59, the trip fee varies between $5 to $8 per one-way trip.
“When we do make budget cuts, (for) anybody it affects it’s going to feel significant to them,” Oor said. “We try to focus on what is vital to their needs. We try to affect the fewest number of people. When we cut those, we only cut 25 percent of the rides we had been doing the last six months. This affects 20 people, but it’s important to them. The board wanted to make sure we offered clients alternatives.”
Oor said a list of grocery stores that deliver or would be ready for pick-up was sent to clients along with some transportation alternatives, such as Hamilton County Express.
Westfield resident Marilyn Frey, 74, was concerned about the news that grocery trips were discontinued.
“I was devastated,” Frey said when she learned of the transportation cuts.
Frey, who describes herself on a low fixed income, was able to get help by contacting the Central Indiana Council on Aging so she can get to grocery stores twice a month.
“I’m so thankful,” Frey said.
Effective Aug. 1, PrimeLife will trim seven fitness classes to save some instructors’ fees.
“We chose the classes that were the least attended,” Oor said.
PrimeLife fitness center holds grand re-opening
PrimeLife Enrichment, 1078 3rd Ave. SW, Carmel, will hold a grand re-opening of its fitness center from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 25. The public is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony and presentation of all new Keiser and Matrix circuit and cardio fitness equipment at the PrimeLife Enrichment Center. The ribbon cutting will be followed by lunch, provided by Second Helpings.
PrimeLife executive director Sheri Oor said generous donations from Carmel St. Vincent Hospital, Trilogy Health Services and Clay Township allowed the purchase of the new equipment. The new equipment features the latest options for safe, senior-friendly usage. It replaced equipment originally purchased for PrimeLife by Carmel St. Vincent Hospital in 2007. The fitness center primarily serves those 50 and older but is open to any adult. For more, visitprimelifeenrichment.org.
