Sandy Fuller of the Village of Glenbrook is hoping that changes at postal stations could be made in sensitivity to the aging population of Florida’s Friendliest Hometown.
Fuller told members of the Amenity Authority Committee on Wednesday that her husband suffers from neuropathy and balance issues. It is becoming harder and harder for him to retrieve the mail from the Glenbrook postal station, she said.
A friend with neuropathy and balance issues recently fell at the same postal station, she said.
“It took him six months to recover,” Fuller said.
She added that it is difficult to watch her once very active husband slowing down.
“He came home and said how hard it was for him to get the mail,” Fuller said.
She said the decorative fence at the Glenbrook postal station can be an obstacle.
“It serves no real purpose,” she said.
She said the curbing around the postal station makes it difficult for those with balance issues to step up.
And those who park in the golf cart spots have a long sidewalk to maneuver down before they reach their boxes.
“The longer they have to walk, the more exhausting it is,” she said.
Fuller found a receptive audience in AAC member John Wilcox, who admitted his own struggles with such issues.
“I have a tremendous walking problem and I probably should have been more aggressive about this when we were making improvements to the postal stations,” Wilcox said.
He said he would like to see ramps at both sides of the postal stations and more handrails.
District Manager Janet Tutt said there have been many instances where the curb has stopped vehicles from crashing into the postal facilities.
“When you get what you ask for, sometimes there are unintended consequences,” Tutt cautioned.
AAC member Carl Bell said it would be best to stick to standards set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“We do not want to depart from ADA standards,” Bell said. “Once we start doing that, it’s a slippery slope.”
Fuller countered that ADA was set up for communities across the nation, but the standards might need to be notched up for an aging community.
“We’re all getting older, so it’s just a matter of time,” she said.
How easy is it to access your postal station? Let us know and send us a photo at [email protected]