By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
The Jacksonville Senior Center celebrated its new name Wednesday as the Jacksonville Senior Wellness and Activity Center. It is one of five centers designated as a senior wellness center by the state’s Division of Aging and Adult Services.
The state has approximately 190 senior centers.
Beverly Dunlap, program coordinator for the Department of Human Services’ Division of Aging and Adult Services, presented a certificate of recognition to the Jacksonville center.
To be designated as a certified wellness site, the center is required to provide members with the seven dimensions of wellness: social, emotional, physical, spiritual, vocational, intellectual and environmental.
According to Dunlap, 14 percent of the people in the state are 60 years or older. By 2025, that number will rise to 24 percent.
She said 39 percent of the state’s senior adults say they do not participate in any physical activity.
Only 25 percent said they eat the recommended five or more fruits or vegetables a day.
Dunlap said 80 percent of older adults have a chronic health condition and 50 percent have two or more chronic conditions.
Dunlap said the benefits for seniors to be involved with a wellness center are a longer life, a reduction in the rates of disabilities, better mental health and lower health costs. The results are fewer visits to the hospital and shorter stays.
She said a wellness center can attract a more diverse group of program participants. It draws more attention to the programs, increases the number of volunteers and possibly increases funding with support of the local government and opportunities to apply for grants.
Jacksonville director Christy McMillion said the center is targeting the growing senior population, the baby boomers. She said they are independent, active and are accustom to having more choices.
“It will always be a place to stay young,” McMillion said.
Mayor Gary Fletchers said the while the center is a place where seniors crochet and play dominoes, many older adults want to stay active and need a place to exercise.
“It’s a red-letter day for our city,” the mayor said.
The center started in 1974 as the Jacksonville Elderly Activities Program in a single-wide trailer on Martin Street.
It expanded with the help of a $400,000 community development block grant in 1984 to its location on Victory Circle. The property was donated by the Bart Gray family, where the Graco Theater once stood.
The center is a place for seniors to socialize, stay active or have a hot meal at lunch during the week. The cost to join the center is $20 a year for anyone age 60 and over.
Transportation is available to bring members to the center and return them to their homes Monday through Friday. The service is also available for medical appointment and to go shopping.
Seniors can take part in exercise programs geared toward older adults such as Zumba Gold, line dancing, tai chi and bean bag baseball. They can complete in the Senior Olympics.
The center also has the Peer Exercise Program Promotes Independence that offers programs on balance and how to prevent falls.
The center has classes to teach people hints on how to make their life easier living with a chronic illness.
The Jacksonville center offers Super Noggin, a brain fitness program to keep the brain active and strong and help with physical health. The center also has a six-week educational program for people to manage their diabetes.
The center will still have ceramics and hold bingo games. A weekly dance and live music is held every Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9: 30 p.m. Admission is $5 and is open to the public.
“I like the friendliness of the people. The different activities we do. The different games we play. Anything to stay young,” said Shirley Jackson of North Little Rock.
Ida Casson of Jacksonville said, “I like the fellowship and the warmness of the staff and the many activities. The food is very palatable. They have very good menus”.
Gwendolyn Harper of Jacksonville said she likes attending the annual fundraising roast. She also said she loves the center’s staff.
On hand for the renaming event were Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher, former mayors Tommy Swaim and James Reid, state Rep. Mark Perry (D-Jacksonville) and state Rep. Jane English (R-North Little Rock), Alderman Reedie Ray, chamber of commerce members and past and present senior center board members.
The center receives support from the city of Jacksonville, the city of Sherwood, CareLink, Heart of Arkansas United Way, ElderChoices, a state Medicaid program, through donations.
Construction of a $500,000 storm shelter at the center for residents is planned next year. According to City Engineer Jay Whisker, the shelter will be 2,400 square feet and hold 350 people. The city was approved for an 80/20 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA is providing $400,000 and the city will pay $100,000.
During the threat of a tornado, the shelter doors can be opened remotely allowing residents to seek safety anytime, day or night.
The center will be able to use the shelter as an exercise room when severe weather is not threatening.
