More than 30 seniors attended last Friday’s public hearing called by the Territorial Administration on Aging to gather input for the TAOA Senior Community Service Employee Program (SCSEP) State Plan modification for fiscal years 2012-2015.

In particular, TAOA wanted opinions and comments from the public, especially seniors on improvements or changes for the SCSEP plan modification.

But instead, a  majority of senior citizens again voiced their complaints and disappointments over the new policy of distributing cooked food at distribution centers, saying that they still prefer food vouchers.

However, TAOA director Tifimalae Ale again, explained that cooked food is a federal requirement and that American Samoa is the last jurisdiction to comply with such requirement.

One interesting issue raised by a senior citizen for TAOA to consider: computer classes so seniors learn how to operate such devices, which would allow many of them to communicate via the internet with their children or family members residing off island.

Another senior recommended a writing course, or writing classes because many of the territory’s seniors have a lot of source of information when it comes to Samoan history, family history, Samoan legends, and even Samoan ‘fa’agogo’ that should be shared with others.

The senior citizens say that all these stories and information should be recorded in writing for future generations of Samoan children to learn about.

Another recommendation, which came from another senior citizens is for TAOA to help them to be trained and find jobs as security guards at schools, to help keep peace and harmony especially within public schools where there has been a lot of trouble with students after school.

TAOA director Tifimalae Ale acknowledged these recommendations and has taken them under advisement. He also shared with the gathering that there is a bus transportation service provided by TAOA for seniors wanting to head into town to pay their bills or visit a doctor at the hospital. And the same transport will take them home in the afternoon.

He said the bus transport operates on Mondays and Fridays only and seniors needed to contact the TAOA office in advance if they want to use this service.  (See original Samoan story in today’s Lali edition of Samoa News.