by Thomas Breen
The city’s Elderly Services Department is on track to grow a new program that provides swim instruction for New Haveners ages 55 and up, thanks to the alders’ formal acceptance of a related $15,000-plus grant.
The Board of Alders took that vote Monday night during its latest meeting on the second floor of City Hall.
Local legislators voted unanimously in support of a resolution authorizing the mayor to accept a $15,316 grant from the Agency on Aging of South-Central Connecticut “to provide swimming lessons and water aerobics for New Haven senior citizens.”
During a Sept. 25 meeting of the Board of Alders Health and Human Services Committee, city Elderly Services Management and Policy Analyst Chantel Cave explained that this grant will help the department broaden the reach of its new “Golden Swimmers” program.
That effort is a 5-week program undertaken in partnership with the nonprofit LEAP and based out of LEAP’s pool at 31 Jefferson St. The program provides free water aerobics and swim lessons for New Haveners who are 55 and older.
This $15,000 grant will allow the department “to add additional cohorts” to the Golden Swimmers program, Cave said.
Currently, classes have a cap of 14 participants each. With this grant funding, the department should be able to increase that cap to 18. “Right now, we have over 29 applicants for the program,” Cave said in late September, demonstrating a “major need” for more swimming instruction for local seniors.
Cave said that there are two different types of course: one day a week of water aerobics, and one day a week of swimming instruction. “This is very important because we want to ensure that our seniors are coming out of their homes,” that they’re not isolated, and that they’re learning water safety and developing confidence in the water.
Cave said this grant will also allow the department to provide transportation for seniors from the city’s three senior centers; will allow for the offering of additional swim-instruction sessions; and will help cover the cost of related equipment, like swim gear, swim caps, towels, and bags to store one’s belongings while swimming.
What’s the cost of this program besides the $15,000-plus coming in from this grant? Downtown/East Rock Alder Eli Sabin asked during the September committee hearing.
Cave said that to run a five-week session costs a little over $3,000, not including transporting seniors from each senior center to the pool.
The Elicker administration initially planned on holding a press conference celebrating this program on Sept. 29; that press conference was subsequently postponed, and has been rescheduled for Oct. 27.
“Responding to requests from seniors for swimming classes, the program is being offered in partnership with the non-profit LEAP, which hosts the program at their community pool, facilitates the fitness classes, and provides swim instructors and lifeguards,” a press release announcing that postponed press conference read. “Golden Swimmers provides seniors with opportunities for physical activity, water safety, and social connection with water aerobics classes on Mondays and swim lessons on Thursdays.”
The press release went on to state that the Golden Swimmers program “is part of the City’s broader efforts to expand swimming opportunities for residents and also part of its broader investments to provide programming and community spaces for senior residents.” That part of the press release included a link to a page on the city’s website that describes the Elicker administration’s efforts to convert the contaminated former English Station power plant property into a new Mill River Park with an outdoor public pool.