By: Robin Ford Wallace, Staff Reporter

The Dade County Senior Center’s Julie West tells the story of how one senior program participant, Naomi Watkins, tries to recruit for the center. When she sees a group of men old enough for membership loitering at a convenience store drinking coffee, Naomi says, “Come down to the senior center and do that.”

“But they don’t seem to want to,” said Ms. West, nutrition site manager for the center.  She can’t figure out why not. The senior program has so much to offer – a walking track, exercise equipment, music, games, crafts, and did we mention free lunch? – she sees no reason it should get stood up for a convenience store. 

“This is such a wonderful facility,” she said.  “They could come in and do their own little thing here. It’s good to keep the seniors active, and this is just a wonderful place to do it in.”

The seniors program in Dade, made possible through the Older Americans Act of 1965, is provided through the Area Agency on Aging free of charge to participants. With federal stimulus dollars now available to expand the program, Ms. West is actively seeking new members, figuring she has room for almost double her present attendance of 20-25.

And while she hasn’t quite stooped to picking up men in gas stations, Ms. West can’t help noticing how few of her current clients are of the male persuasion.  She’d like to change that. “We’d love to have a group of men to get a little excitement in here,” she said.

Ms. West also notices that a good percentage of her regulars are among the over-80 crowd, with several in their 90s coming every day. “It’s wonderful that they can do that, but I’d also like to have a group of 60s that would like to sew or like to play cards, get a little energy going,” she said.

The seniors program, she points out, is open to any county resident 60 years of age or older. Ms. West realizes that these days 60 is no age at all and that many eligible for membership may still be busy with work and other obligations. She says that, while the center is open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday, there’s no rule that members have to come every day. “As long as they come once a month or so, they can still be a member here and reap the benefits,” said Ms. West. 

Those benefits include access to the walking track and exercise equipment as well to the classes, games and organized activities provided by the center and its volunteers. Transportation back and forth is provided for those who need a ride, and the center’s vans also take members on shopping trips once a month. 

Also provided are periodic blood pressure checks, hearing tests and legal aid, and when heating and cooling assistance is available or commodities given out by local or federal government, participating seniors are the first to know.

A nutritionally balanced, diabetic-friendly lunch is catered in every day free of charge to members who show up, with meals on wheels delivered to those who are homebound. Also offered to the homebound are housekeeping and errand-running services.

“They figure on the average this program has kept the seniors, the ones that participate, out of the nursing home three years,” said Ms. West. “It’s really beneficial to seniors to get out and be social and active.”

But Ms. West stresses that she is looking for not just 60-and-aboves who want to reap benefits but also those who are interested in providing them. One member, Phyllis Smith, comes weekly to entertain members by playing the piano, and the above-mentioned Naomi Watkins writes a column on senior activities. The talents of another senior/volunteer, painting and crafts teacher Mary Long, are featured in the related article that accompanies this one.

Ms. West wants to see more of that type of participation, perhaps someone who could teach a 60-and above dance or exercise class. “We would love to get some more people down here with their ideas, not to come and do what we want to do,” she said. “They can start their own group of card players or gardening.”

Or, convenience store crowd – you know who you are, guys – there’s always the option of just sitting around talking and drinking coffee.

Prospective members, or those interested in the homebound services, may call Ms. West Monday through Friday mornings at (706) 657-7434.

Ms. West is also recruiting for an activities director, a part-time employee 55 or older, to work 25 hours a week at the center. Interested applicants may apply through the state Department of Labor in LaFayette, or may call Ms. West at the number listed above.