Relatives feel Red Bank discriminatory to seniors

We are writing regarding the proposed appeal of the Superior Court decision granting permission to Navesink House to build an addition on the abutting Gables property. We feel very strongly that this decision should be upheld.

We are very familiar with Navesink House because both of our mothers are residents there. One of them is 93 years old and has lived there as a regular resident for the past two years. The other one is 99 years old and has lived there for the past four years, first as a regular resident, then in assisted living and now in the nursing unit.

Several years ago, when we looked for a senior residence that would be near us and would be affordable for our mothers, we found — after thorough research — that Navesink House was the only facility of its kind in the area that provided the services we needed for them and that they could afford.

All the other decent housing for seniors in our area was much more expensive and completely out of our league.

We were dismayed to read in the newspaper that some people in the Red Bank community believe Navesink House provides residences for "rich people." This is totally incorrect. Neither one of our mothers is anywhere near wealthy, nor are any of their grown children who might be supporting them but are not.

The majority of the apartments in Navesink House, including the ones our mothers live in, are small, one-room or one-and-a-half room studio apartments.

They include a small Pullman kitchen, a closet and a small bathroom. They are not luxurious in any way but are perfect for elderly people who don’t want much living space to take care of.

Furthermore, Navesink House provides excellent services for seniors, and it is immaculately clean and safe.

However, it is badly in need of some additional facilities, all of which are available in newer retirement communities. For instance, it does not have a swimming pool where seniors could do water exercise; it needs a much larger exercise room; and the library is very tiny and needs enlargement. These are only some of the things it plans to build in an addition. There are many more, and all of them would be valuable improvements.

We do not understand why the Zoning Board is opposed to this addition. It seems to us that there is some sort of prejudice toward senior citizens in Red Bank.

Other building projects in the areas, such as an office and retail complex across the street from Navesink House, have been approved. Something is definitely wrong here.

Navesink House is an excellent, long-established facility, and one the residents of Red Bank should be proud of. Maybe more people should take a tour of this wonderful home for senior citizens, and then they would have a better attitude. After all, sometime in the future, they may need it themselves.

Ruth and Leonard Schlosberg

Tinton Falls