Keeping the Lewis County senior centers closed while many of Washington’s senior centers are open for limited business is a perplexing question. Why? Is it due to the recent grant of $300,000 to build a huge kitchen to only serve packaged food, while keeping seniors captive in the quote “until we give the OK to reopen” along with needing our paid staff busy at the Twin Cities Senior Center to help with packaging meals?
I agree, nutrition is important, yet the packaged meal count from the beginning of the pandemic has decreased by many seniors who have withdrawn! Another question — why?
Yet, the other side of the coin is socialization and engagement versus isolation and dementia. The Area Agency on Aging, federal agencies and senior organizations say socialization is paramount. If you don’t believe this, look up “senior isolation, socialization, engagement and dementia” concerning our senior needs.
Why are the centers closed in Phase 3 of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan? The Department of Health, Area Agency on Aging and Gov. Jay Inslee’s website show approval of opening the centers.
What is the transparent truth around the continual closure of our centers?
Volunteers provide most of the services in all centers. Without the volunteers, the centers wouldn’t be able to provide help with meals, sanitizing, serving and cleanup, and all are expected to do events that bring in money toward the Lewis County Seniors board’s requirements.
Could volunteers keep the Lewis County Seniors centers open for socialization according to COVID-19 mandates? We are capable and eligible according to Inslee’s website, plus, full meals do not have to be served, just socialization and engagement — and coffee.
There are a ton of questions our seniors have as to the whys. Unfortunately, neither the Lewis County Seniors or the centers’ director will make themselves available to answer the myriad calls and emails from seniors around our county. No one seems to care. Sounds like the mission statement is not being executed as intended. Here’s the mission statement from the Lewis County Seniors website:
“The mission of Lewis County Senior Programs is to provide services to ensure all older adults are revered, cared for and/or supported so they may continue to live meaningful lives through the aging process. A community where all older adults are revered, cared for and supported to live meaningful and productive lives through the aging process.”
Elizabeth Hicker
Vader
