While the drive-thru lunch program is no more, the Macon County Crawford Senior Center is back to offering a full array of services, programs and much more.
Kim Crawford, Senior Center coordinator, spoke about the center with a group of mostly seniors at the St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church on March 13.
“I like to call the senior center the hidden gem of Macon County, because most people are amazed at what we offer,” Crawford said. “If you just haven’t started back since the pandemic shut us down for a couple of years, it’s time to start back, because we are fully open. Everything is a go now. And you meet a lot of really nice people there.”
The center is open to everyone over the age of 50 and Crawford said they would appreciate seniors who use it become members, no fee required.
Crawford said the pick-up lunch program isn’t available anymore due to it being a pandemic state of emergency program. However, the center offers a hot lunch at 11 a.m. every day to everyone over the age of 60, regardless of finances. A suggested donation for the lunch is $1.50.
The home delivered meal program is full, Crawford said, as they deliver to 80 homes. To expand the program, the center would need more volunteers, Crawford said.
The center offers a day program called Care Connection for adults who can’t be left alone due to handicaps.
Crawford mentioned Project Lifesaver, a program the center started to help find people who are prone to wander. Through the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, an ID bracelet helps find someone. Another program, STAR, has the senior center call to check in with people and if there isn’t a response within a certain time, someone goes out to check on that person.
The Community Resource Center is open to everyone, Crawford said.
Along with the Senior Health Insurance Program to help navigate different healthcare options, Crawford talked about their nutrition classes, including a program where a Mediterranean Diet recipe is cooked for them, and the attendees can take that recipe with them. The idea, according to Crawford, is to get seniors off certain meds.
“We offer more than 20 activities a week continuously,” Crawford said, naming singing, tai chi, simple exercises and much more. “There is no reason to sit home and be bored, not with the Senior Center.”
In March through November, the center offers day trips once a month. Suggested donation for transit is $5, and Crawford said they normally fill up the 25-person maximum.
Crawford brought up the Tech Teens, a partnership between the Senior Center and the Franklin High School Honors Society. Twice a month after school, students visit to help seniors with their smart phones or other tech devices. Appointments are required.
“If you got question about that new smartphone you got, or a laptop, who can better answer those questions than a teenager,” Crawford said to chuckles. “And no question is too small or too silly for them, and they’ve never treated any of us like it was a silly question. They have been the politest, nicest bunch of kids to come and help us.”
Crawford told the crowd she feels like the most important thing to do is to get the word out about the Senior Center’s services.
Additionally, there are support groups, such as ones for dementia caregivers, people with visually impaired persons, MS and more. There are games groups for different table games such as Mahjong, Kings Row, Bridge and more, which meet weekly.