Senior citizens want more than just bingo and lunch a few days a week and Oxford Township Parks and Recreation is willing to give them more options.
‘They want activities just like everybody else does, but no one’s programming for them,? said Parks and Rec. Director Ron Davis.
Davis and Becky Paquin, senior coordinator for parks and recreation, went before the township board last week with a presentation to expand senior recreational activities at the Oxford Veterans Memorial Civic Center (commonly known as the Vets Hall).
‘We would like to really take an aggressive approach on this and start programming outside what we currently have for our seniors,? Davis said. ‘I would envision the township board relinquishing the lower level (of the Vets Hall) to us and we would program 6-7 days a week.?
Currently, the only activities for seniors at the Vets Hall are bingo on Wednesdays, a luncheon and bingo on Fridays, card games, reading and occasionally trips.
Paquin called the Vets Hall in downtown Oxford a ‘community resource? that needs to be ‘unlocked.?
‘We have a facility here that is not being used to its fullest potential,? she said. ‘It’s not being used the way it could be used and the way I’ve seen in other communities.?
Davis agreed.
‘The facility downstairs is not conducive to enhancing the quality of life for our seniors,? he said. ‘It’s fine, but it’s not what it could be.?
‘If you want to attract people to a senior center, you’ve got to have activities besides bingo, cards and reading sessions,? Davis noted.
A few weeks ago, Paquin, who’s working to obtain an associate’s degree in gerontology (the study of aging) from Oakland Community College, surveyed 28 seniors who were there to play bingo.
The survey indicated seniors wanted things like art classes (photography, painting, clay, ceramics, woodworking), exercise programs (yoga, aerobics, drumming class, walking club) and a computer lab.
‘These are things they said they would like to see happen,? Paquin said.
‘I assure you there’s a bunch of seniors out there that are starving for this type of activity,? Davis noted.
In some cases, Vets Hall already has the space and the equipment to accommodate the seniors? requests.
Paquin said the former North Oakland Transportation Authority offices make the ‘perfect area? for a computer lab, while the kitchen could be used to offer cooking classes.
She also noted there’s ‘everything that you need to do ceramics? in the basement right now including ‘two kilns, tons of molds and all kinds of stains and dies.?
Davis suggested holding some activities at night because ‘not all seniors are retired.?
‘Some seniors are back to work,? he explained. ‘They can’t make it during the day, so let’s open up some avenues for them at night.?
Paquin said she already has organizations and people lined up to help enrich local seniors? lives.
POH Medical Center has volunteered to do regular blood pressure and blood sugar checks.
A local attorney has volunteered to do estate planning classes.
Paquin even has a teacher standing by to give belly dancing lessons.
To pay for all this Paquin and Davis said the parks and recreation department would pursue grants and corporate sponsorships.
‘There’s a lot of resources we can use,? Paquin said.
Davis suggested the possibility of securing funding from POH or Beaumont Hospital.
‘They can underwrite those recreational programs,? he said. ‘It doesn’t all have to be medical.?
An organization called NAEIR, based in Galesburg, Illinois, would be able to provide virtually free equipment. ‘It’s a company that gets donations, then we as (a) nonprofit can order (them) and just pay shipping,? Paquin said. ‘It’s amazing what we get.?
Township officials seemed supportive of the proposal.
‘I am very much in support of seeing more (for seniors),? said Trustee Sue Bellairs.
Clerk Clara Sanderson was also in favor of the idea, but asked Davis and Paquin to prepare an information package for the board with more details including cost estimates.