Published: September 07, 2008 12:01 am         

Senior centers more than just places to meet, eat

HRDC serves up variety of activities in addition to nutritious, low-cost lunches

CUMBERLAND — Sonja Morrissey doesn’t have to worry about what to fix her husband for lunch; he’s already found the perfect lunch spot.

Morrissey, a proud senior citizen, is a frequent visitor to the Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission’s senior center in downtown Cumberland. Her husband is almost a daily attendee with the inexpensive meals bringing him through the door.

It’s about more than a meal, it’s about the camaraderie and the variety of activities available for them. Both enjoy the exercise room and Morrissey is an active member of the quilting group.

Seniors services is one of 27 programs HRDC offers the community from 19 different sites. Based at 19 Frederick St., the commission annually serves about 7,100 individuals, which translates into about 10 percent of Allegany County’s population.

HRDC and the Allegany County Area Agency on Aging operate four senior centers including Cumberland, Frostburg, Lonaconing and Westernport. All are open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Carl Donahoe calls it “joint enjoyment together” when he and his wife, Rita, partake in the senior programs. Rita joins the senior line dancing class every Monday in Cumberland while the two travel to Frostburg for couples line dancing. Both often can be found using the exercise equipment downtown with Carl also taking advantage of the pool table.

They also look forward to the outings, which this year include a trip in December to New York.

“I worked for HRDC years ago and when I retired and became a senior, I looked forward to coming back and doing the fun things,” she said. “Staff is always very pleasant and very receptive. They’re always willing to help if you have questions and they’re open to new ideas. I like that.”

Darren Wiley, center manager at Cumberland, said talking with seniors is an easy way for the program to expand. A Nintendo Wii system, computer lab, line and square dancing are all things that have been given a chance.

“If there’s something they like to do, they just have to ask and we’ll get it,” he said.

Some seniors become involved simply by walking in to a center.

Lee Twigg’s one of the newest seniors to enjoy the atmosphere and said he’s lost weight participating in a walking program.

“I came in and had a pretty good time with the people,” he said, adding he now can be found at 19 Frederick St. four to five times a week.

Listening to music in the parklet and the lunch, where he receives a “good balanced meal” for a nominal fee, round out his preferences.

Leona Lavin, HRDC’s Older Americans Act program manager, said those meals provide one-third of a person’s daily nutritional value. At Cumberland alone, about 45 people a day eat their noon meal at the center. Those 60 and older and their spouses, regardless of age, are welcome.

HRDC also has a home delivery program and again, just in the Queen City, 75 to 80 meals are furnished.

Other benefits for seniors include health screenings and information, nutrition education programs, assistance with the Medicare Part D program, free tax preparation, senior health insurance counseling and coupons for farmers market.

Seniors who are homebound can become part of the telephone reassurance program. They receive a phone call every day to check on their well-being.

For more information about HRDC and its programs, call (301) 777-5970 or visit www.alleganyhrdc.org.

Contact Maria Smith at msmith@times-news.com.