Sea Cliff survey to assess seniors' needs

A questionnaire intended to gather information to help Sea Cliff better serve its senior citizens should make its way to their mailboxes early next month, the village's senior outreach worker said.

The survey, which is still being written but should have about 15 questions, will shed light on how many seniors live alone, how many need assistance and how many use or are interested in current senior programming such as luncheons and shuttles to the grocery store, said Karen Montagnese, who is directing the project.

"We want to let people age at home, but we want to get them the support they need to stay active, stay mobile and stay safe," she said.

Montagnese estimated people 60 and older make up about 25 percent of Sea Cliff's 5,000 residents, but admitted that the survey's results might provide a more accurate population count.

She said she hopes the mailed surveys will be completed and returned to Village Hall before the end of the year.

Montagnese and project intern Greg O'Rourke, a senior at North Shore High School in Glen Head, will use the voter registration database to find the names and addresses of senior citizens.

Montagnese said the pair will use the statistics to inform future programming in Sea Cliff.

"We want our village to be one of those naturally occurring retirement communities. We want to have a retirement community without the walls, with all the fun, intellectual stimulation and support," she said. "We're trying to integrate all those services."