Letter: Elderly need a place to meet people

Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007 | 1:14 a.m.

This letter is inspired by the Aug. 5 article in the Las Vegas Sun by Marshall Allen and Alex Richards, headlined, "Elders deepen tragedy of state's suicide rate."

I believe what many seniors need is a place to go every day and meet new people.

I am a 66-year-old retired woman who has lost her husband. I suggested to the senior citizens center near me that all senior centers should offer a "meet new people" forum. This would be an area where seniors could gather, and the theme would be: Come on in, have some coffee, let's get to know each other and make new friends.

Senior centers should offer this every day, from the time they open till the time they close. I truly do not know where to really sit down and meet new people.

I don't want to sit in front of a slot machine. I don't want to play cards and I don't want to do arts and crafts. But I would love to have a table set aside just for people who want to meet others. Senior centers are the perfect places for this.

Just maybe such a social forum as this would stop some suicides.

Kelly Clancy, Las Vegas