Report Details Poor Conditions At Senior Centers

The city's senior centers are unsafe at any age, Comptroller William Thompson Jr. says in a new report.

The audit released yesterday found that many of the 20 senior centers examined contained unsanitary and sometimes dangerous conditions, suggesting that the Department for the Aging was failing to properly maintain the 329 senior centers it oversees citywide.

According to the report, exits at 12 of the centers were blocked or otherwise obstructed so as to make access to them difficult in an emergency. Fourteen of the centers had hazardous conditions in the restrooms, such as unclean surfaces and broken pipes, while nine also had unsanitary conditions in the kitchens.

Mr. Thompson, a likely candidate for mayor in 2009, said yesterday that he was especially concerned that DFTA had previously identified some of the problematic conditions detailed in the audit in its own reports, but did not take action to correct them.

"Simply stated, DFTA's lack of follow up is putting seniors at risk for injury," Mr. Thompson said in a statement.

According to Mr. Thompson, DFTA has agreed to implement a series of recommendations based on the audit, such as conducting regular fire drills and monitoring bathrooms for cleanliness.