In a story published Wednesday, a scenario was described in which a woman using a walker and oxygen had difficulty using a ramp to the door of a county agency.

By the time a maintenance worker helped her there, she was out of breath and in need of water.

In any circumstance, this is far from ideal — but especially if the organization is the Area Agency on Aging.

This is not to fault the agency, which has — its leadership notes — been seeking a new space that is more accommodating for its workers and those utilizing its services for eight years.

Its current offices have long been located in a building at the Sunnyview complex. Workers there attest to a backed-up sewer system that prevents some of them from using the restrooms and the presence of mold and rodents.

The deteriorating building is also often difficult for clients to access.

We agree with director Beth Herold, who said the organization is overdue for a newer, more modern and easily accessible workspace.

She is also correct that the agency needs more than just a “band-aid” space — or, somewhere to move in a pinch that’s only marginally better. The problem, according to county leaders, is that various proposed sites for relocation present roadblocks.

For example, a proposal to build offices and a recreation center at Alameda Park could take a long time to bring to fruition.

Since it is prohibited from locating offices other than parks and recreation in a park, state legislators would have to bring representatives from various state agencies to the county to hear plans for the proposal. Then, General Assembly approval is required to make an exception. The entire process could take up to five years.

Other proposals have also faltered: Butler’s YWCA has space available, but renovation to accommodate the agency would likely be cost prohibitive, while the Clearview Mall and Tanglewood Center — where the Butler Senior Center is located — are not up to code.

Leslie Osche, county commissioners chairwoman, told Herold at a meeting this week that spaces are becoming available frequently — such as the former school at St. Michael the Archangel’s building — due to the pandemic.

While it’s certainly bad news to see businesses or organizations closing due to COVID-19, we hope an appropriate locale can be found for the agency’s new digs.

Herold said the agency’s employees “deserve an office that looks nice, works for us and is easy for consumers to use.” She’s right.

It’s said that a society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable. In this case, we hope that area leaders come up with a plan to help an organization that assists those among the most vulnerable — senior citizens.

— NCD