The future of Irving’s senior citizens
Seniors in Irving, TX need jobs, not seminars, to ensure a secure foundation. Emma West, an Irving resident, asked city council members. “Why is there so much focus placed on financial coaching seminars and workshops,” “The number one need is jobs. That will help seniors so that they will not consistently need assistance, food, and shelter.”
West said. “One of the job programs she attended was at Irving Cares called Invest In Yourself.”
- West stated that the program did not feature employers with available jobs. Instead, the information they shared focused on financial coaching, and announcements regarding upcoming job fairs.
According to Irving Cares’ website, their mission is to provide “focused assistance for Irving residents to address a financial crisis. They offer Irving residents a variety of services which include food pantries, rental, mortgage, and utility assistance, and money management classes.
- West also stated she contacted Senior Sources' about the programs and possibility of having a job fair in Irving. They directed West to contact Irving Heritage, who informed West the challenge is that their events are typically planned one year in advance.
“Programs should not be about; ‘we have a program,’ but programs should be about addressing a real need of Irving, TX Senior citizens right now,”, “Everyone seems to have a reason on why they cannot adopt new procedures for the needs of senior citizens now, and not after they are homeless.”
Unfortunately, this program is addicted to crisis mode. Sure, there will always be recovery, but what about opportunity? All that Irving Cares does, according to Ms. West, is remedial, too little, too late relief. What about the preventive effort of not condemning our elders to a fixed (read shrinking) income by empowering them with skills and jobs?
Seniors have far more grit and work ethic than the apparently desirable younger workers. You can hire us at entry level, as we may only need enough to live comfortably while avoiding a higher income tax bracket. We are frugal with company resources, and we're here to stay. That's right, while your ambitious young bucks jump ship to the competition after five years or less, we'll stay with you for the rest of our working days. And depending how old we are, it can be anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Look at all the money we saved you from training replacements!
Thank you so much for sharing information about this program Steven Ransom !
So true! And I, for one, have more natural energy then my own sons who are 42 and, 36. They themselves tell me constantly. I am educated (a Paralegal, Dental Assistant and, have financial background from years in the admin offices of JPMorgan Chase) and bilingual to boot but, everyone wants younger in age people then complain they have no respect, no work ethics and, are lazy. Do not complain when you are the ones choosing to hire them instead of us just because of our age as you completely overlook and ignore our experience and abilities all because of that age.