By Susan Reynolds
My name is Susan Reynolds, and although I am a current resident of Hartford my family moved here from Illinois in the 1960’s. I remember everywhere I looked there were corn fields and cows. After my grandfather’s passing in 1964, my parents decided that his wife, my paternal grandmother, should move in with us. She was 65 at the time and moved from her home in Milton, Mass to the corn fields of Illinois. She stayed with my family for the next 25 years until she died in 1986. Recently I have begun thinking about her more, more than I have in the past. I am currently just a few years older than my grandmother was when she moved in with my family in 1964. Looking back now, I wonder how she felt being uplifted from her home, away from her family and friends, and dropped in the middle of corn country. Knowing my father as I did, I doubt that she had any voice in the matter. During the Illinois years her life was very small, however when we moved to Connecticut in 1967 her life became fuller. She eventually became involved in the local Senior Citizens group where she thrived, but on the downside she still had to rely on others (i.e. my parents) in order for her to get around.
On July 30th 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Amendments that created Medicare and Medicaid. The creation of Medicare and Medicaid were the most important pieces of these amendments, as they created health insurance for individuals over 65 and financially strapped families. Something else happened when Medicare and Medicaid were created- the booming growth of the popularity of nursing homes. With the availability of Medicare providing short term benefits and Medicaid providing long care benefits, families with members over 65 began to move them into these facilities, thus creating the growth of an industry. Then, in the 1980s things changed again. This time seniors opted for a less restrictive atmosphere, resulting in the assisted living facilities phase. In an assisted living facility, a resident has their own apartment that may or may not be equipped with a full kitchen. Sometimes, the apartment may have had a microwave. In this situation services may be provided that can help you maintain a more independent lifestyle.
Today, in 2025, I am sitting at my desk in my apartment at Capitol Towers. I have been a resident since 2020 and am heading into my 6th year here. I have to tell you, it was hard moving in here. Not because of aesthetics, or building maintenance but because I had to wrap my head around the idea that I was moving into a building that was meant for people over the age of 62- Senior Citizens. It was hard to wrap my mind around the thought that I was old. I don’t believe that I am the only one who felt this way when they moved into Senior Housing. I think with the popularity of nursing homes in the 60’s and 70’s, we automatically believe that any specific place meant for Seniors is a place where Elders can be kept as they become less and less valuable to society as a whole…where we go from being Elders with wisdom to Seniors with no value.
So, what is Senior Housing where I live? Basically, I live in an apartment building specifically for people over 62. My building is mixed income. However, no matter what your income level is you are required to follow HUD rules. I find myself explaining to people that this is independent living.
We do have benefits to living here. Many Senior Housing Buildings have RSC’s (Resident Service Coordinators) and their job is to bring vendors in who will supply us with the knowledge that allows us to move into this new phase of aging called “Aging in Place”.
It’s pretty self explanatory. Seniors now have the ability to have services brought into their homes. These services can be anything from DME (Durable Medical Equipment), nurses or PCA’s, anything that enables us to maintain a healthy quality of life. These changes are wonderful and right now they are benefiting the Senior population. However, moving forward, who is to say that this is the path that we will stay on? Our government has been defunding and halting services, however society can only move forward. Going backwards is not an option. I didn’t look up the directors of these government or non-profit agencies, but I would guess that they are not Seniors. So, if they are not Seniors, do they truly understand the concerns that we have? Do they, these agencies who advocate or lobby for us actually have our best interests at heart? Or are they making deals that might not benefit us? So many questions! While there are issues that Seniors have worked on in their neighborhoods, like when Capitol Towers Community Outreach teamed up with Frog Hollow residents to work on traffic calming at the Capitol Avenue and Broad St. intersection, on the local level in Hartford this is what I know- there is not one organization in this city working on issues that affect the quality of life of seniors in Hartford that is run by seniors, working on senior issues. Think about that for a minute.
As of 2024 it is estimated that there are 26,868 people in Hartford 55 and older. That is 28% of the population of Hartford. There is strength in numbers. We at Capitol Towers Community Outreach are organizing a group across Hartford known as Seniors in Hartford Organizing for Power. (S.H.O.P). We are looking for Seniors in Hartford who want to work on issues that affect them. One recent issue brought forward recently is that Connecticut Transit Buses don’t always put the ramp down for people who need the ramp unless you are in a wheelchair. If you have a story about CT Transit and the Ramp or you want to become involved in an organization that represents you, as a Senior and a Hartford resident there are 3 ways you can contact us:
- Join our Facebook Group – Seniors in Hartford Organizing for Power
- Email us at – capitoltowerscommunityoutreach@gmail.com
- Call us at – 860-515-8470 if no one answers, leave a message.
In 2026, we will change the narrative in Hartford. Let’s build an organization that represents Seniors run by Seniors looking out for the best interest of Seniors. Let’s build our Voice!
Sources:
Social Security Amendments of 1965
When nursing homes became popular
What decades were nursing homes popular in
Government and Non Profit’s that advocate for Seniors
What is an issue that only affects the over 62 population
