Senior Living

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Living as a Senior

Today I am going on a rant about senior citizens. Why you may ask? A few months ago I put in a application for an apartment complex for seniors. Yesterday I received  a letter of denial from this complex.

When I saw  the reason for said denial I could only think of one thing, what the heck could I a 65 year old have done that showed up as criminal in a background screening. It turns out it was an incident that happened over 13 years ago.

I was employed as a cashier at a grocery store, it had been a very trying day and was fast approaching quitting time and I had  no lunch break. So I might have been a little irritable, this young lady comes to my register and ask for a pack of ciggarettes for a brief second I considered her age it was to brief. I sold her the ciggarettes and then a man comes in and proceeds to give me a ticket for selling tobacco to a minor.

I remember this so well because it happened on my birthday november of 1999, not only did I receive a ticket I was fired right on the spot. I really enjoyed that job and I regretted what happened.

Now here we are in the year 2013 and this shows up on a background screening. What upsets me the most is that because I am seeking affordable housing for myself they would deny an application for something that happened so long ago.

I immediately wrote a letter asking them to reconsider their decision. Heck I was denied food stamps and even if I was approved for them I probably would not have received much.

I just think it is disturbing how we as seniors are being treated in so many ways today. I did not ever think that what is happening not only to seniors but to homeowners,children,women,the disabled is happening. Are rights as citizens are being taken away or rewritten every day. It has to STOP!!!

The government is even now considering a change in social security, saying something to the affect of it is not a right. Well maybe so but we contributed to it through our years of employment so how dare they think let alone say we did not earn it.

I barely get by with what I receive as it is, after paying monthly expenses I do not have the luxury to do anything that requires money. To many seniors are living like hermits, and god knows how many more are homeless.

I can say that I am fortunate to have a roof over my head, when I think of those who don’t I wish there was a way for me to help all I can do is pray for them.

I know their are more seniors retiring every day and I hate to imagine what the future holds for us, not to mention the generation we precede. Well that is my rant for today. Seniors remain strong we shall overcome.

Granny with a Plan