Senior centers serve as an access point to connect older adults to services that can aid them in staying healthy and independent while also offering a range of programs and services vitally important to the senior community.
The Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County, one of 15,000 senior centers nationwide, is for anyone age 60 and over, and last month, over 450 utilized their services.
“We offer a full range of recreational, activities such as billiards, cards, line dancing, dances, special theme parties or just lounging around watching television,” said Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County Executive Director Dana Peveler.
The center also promotes healthy activity through classes including yoga, low-impact aerobics and fall prevention. The center has a well-equipped fitness room that is available for use to anyone over 60.
Services for homebound community members are also offered through the center.
“For example, a visiting program to offer companionship and an extra set of eyes and ears for caregivers; we have volunteers who make scheduled telephone calls to clients just to check in; and of course, we deliver the Meals on Wheels to about 140 people every day in addition to another 100 frozen meals each week,” Peveler said.
The center has five different locations throughout Daviess County that offer lunches daily at 11:30 a.m. and the center’s mission strives to provide that time for relationships to be built around the table, Peveler said.
Medicare and Medicaid benefits and Social Security benefits are often confusing, so the center offers one-on-one benefits counseling by appointment to help navigate the plans.
Recently, Owensboro Middle School has begun partnering with the Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County to bridge the generations.
“There’s just so much we would like to do and it changes shape each time we identify a new need and those needs change with the ever-changing and growing population of our seniors,” Peveler said.
Peveler said that the center wants to offer more afternoon programming, including starting a choir, offering board game activities, music classes and even a theatre group.
“If anyone wants to volunteer to lead that charge, we would welcome that,” Peveler said.
The center also rents offices to Audubon Area Community Services Senior Programs and the Canteen Senior Food Program through Green River Area Development District (GRADD), both permanent tenants, on the second floor. Community members can rent space for various events for a minimal hourly rate as well.
The center is not funded entirely by federal and state money, something Peveler said she sometimes worries the greater community doesn’t understand.
“Only a fraction of our funding comes through that source,” she said. “Just within the past five years, we’ve seen $50,000 in cuts from federal and state government alone.”
Peveler said they are allowed to accept donations for the services, which is usually a suggested donation of $1.50 per service, but the programming is funded through the Older American’s Act and it requires the center to not charge a fee.
“It is set up that way, though, so that anyone who wants or needs services has access to them and that’s something we’re extremely proud of,” Peveler said. “Sometimes, we just need a little help.”
Fundraisers the center hosts help meet the rising costs of programming, and these fundraisers are when the center does look to the community for help.
“Our numbers of clients have grown over the years while our funding has continued to be cut,” she said. “This community has really supported us through that; otherwise we would really struggle to provide the services.”
The center also writes grants, like most nonprofits, Peveler said, and they use those to support activities — like yoga and Zumba, for example.
Parties are also hosted for holidays and Peveler said that one of the most fun ones is St. Patrick’s Day party where people dress up, have a feast, play games and spend time laughing.
“No one is afraid to be themselves around here. Pretenses are out the window,” Peveler said. “That’s probably my favorite part — besides the pie and the billiards — that a person can come here, be with a group that shares their interests.”
Peveler said that people can come and go when they want and the center shuttle will even take them home for $1.50.
“If you stay long enough, [you] become family,” she said.
The Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County is always looking for community volunteers. If interested, contact the volunteer coordinator at 270-687-4640.
“We have some great Christmas parties coming up,” Peveler said, adding to check the Senior Center website for more information.
