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By Rose Hooper
"I stayed in all last winter, but this winter I'm getting
out and having a lot of fun," said Ruby Arrington.
Arrington joins a close knit group of senior adults at the Jackson
County Adult Day Program who meet daily at Love's Chapel Methodist
Church.
"It's like home here; I just love it," said Jane Chastain,
94.
"It's our home away from home," said Jemima Tucker.
Ladies
at the Jackson County Adult Day Care Center busy their fingers
making Christmas decorations to sell. From left, are Janet Jeuck,
Annie Buchanan and senior aide Jean Jamison. The items, which
are for sale, can be seen at the center's location in the basement
of Love's Chapel Methodist Church. - Herald photo by Rose Hooper
Willa Mae Green, who lives alone, agreed the daily
outings "help with companionship."
"Every day I like it here more and more," said Annie
Buchanan. "I was down and out before I came, but now I'm
not; it means so much to me."
"The ladies who come here are some of the finest ladies I've
ever met," said director Diane Melton. "I certainly
learn a lot from them."
Operated by the Jackson County Department on Aging, the center
is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Senior
adults - those over age 50, and disabled adults needing daytime
care are eligible. Some of the ladies arrive by the Jackson County
Transit van; others are brought in by their family members.
From
Snowmen filled with birdseed, light bulbs transformed into Christmas
ornaments, crocheted candles to decorative pinecones, these ladies
at the Jackson County Adult Care Center get in the Christmas spirit
as they make decorations and ornaments to sell. All items can
be seen at Love's Chapel Methodist Church Monday through Friday
from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Proceeds from the ornaments will be used
for center activities. The center provides a supportive, home-like
atmosphere for senior adults like, from left, Jane Chastain, 94,
Jemima Tucker and Willa Mae Green. - Herald photo by Rose Hooper
The church provides the space and the Duke Endowment
provides partial funding. Lack of funding last year forced the
center to close for several months, but it reopened in April.
Snacks and lunch are provided and volunteers from the community
involve the participants in music, exercise, games, crafts and
programs.
"We are learning Tai Chi," said one of the ladies who
admitted she enjoyed the instructor, Gene Strickland, as much
as she did the exercise. "He is so funny," she said.
"He keeps us moving and laughing."
"We laugh a lot here," Melton described the warm, friendly
atmosphere.
On Thursdays the ladies go to Southwestern Community College where
cosmetology students fix their hair and nails.
"And they'll even pluck your eyebrows," said Arrington.
"If we had our own van we could go more places, but we're
limited in transportation," said Melton, who drives the ladies
- a few at a time - in her car.
As of yet there are no men.
"We're just a hen party," said Melton. "But we'd
welcome a rooster or two."
For more information, or to volunteer a service, call Melton at
586-5441.
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