By Stephen Smoot
“People are invited. It’s a public building. If you’ve got questions, we will answer them!”
So said Michael Crites, the new executive director of the Hardy County Committee on Aging. With the facility and its staff relied on for the most basic needs of some seniors, his goal lies in making the senior center a welcoming place for all.
“I think people are most aware of our nutrition program, Meals on Wheels” Crites stated, then said “We deliver meals to the elderly in their homes.”
The program can reach as many as it does mainly through the generosity of both individual and business donors. “It is a constant effort on our part to make the public aware of this,” he noted
The signature program, Crites explained, provides more service than simply bringing food and leaving it. Drivers bringing food do not just leave it. Many who receive these meals have few family living nearby and may have limited mobility.
That driver bringing regular meals is also the sole point of contact for many. He or she can observe if the client is not doing well and needs help. At some points, the driver has arrived in the middle of a crisis and made sure medical attention came.
Crites adds that the center also serves a midday “congregant” meal every weekday.
Seniors and non seniors alike are both welcome. Crites shared that the cost of each meal figures out to $10.43 with $7.00 received per meal. “We have to make up the difference,” he explained.
The senior center does not charge for meals, but asks a free will donation. Seniors give what they can, while the center asks non seniors to pay full cost, a huge help in deferring the overall costs of the meal.
The community also provides support. Businesses, for example, have donated funds to sponsor the serving of an entire meal. “We are seeking sponsorships,” he said.
When generous donors can help in this way it saves money for the center, which always operates on very limited resources in the best of times.
Also, seniors are welcome to pick up meals.
While the total food and nutrition program represents the best known services, the center offers much more.
Hardy County Commision on Aging also provides access to some in home services beyond meals. “The degree of assistance depends on the client,” said Crites, since some will need more intensive help than others.
That said, this is one of the most difficult services that the center tries to offer. Staffing serves as one of the biggest challenges. As Crites says, “it’s hard to compete against other facilities that provide better pay than we can.”
Another primary service available at the senior center lies in assistance with applications for Medicare and Medicaid. These government programs sometimes involve paperwork as copious as it is confusing. The senior center has an expert who can help those trying to navigate the systems.
“It’s an overwhelming process for most people,” Crites said.
The services of the enrollment advisor remain in high demand, especially during enrollment periods. “She finds the best programs to meet people’s needs,” he went on to say.
Crites understands the value of the senior center as a center of social life for many. “For many of them, their social sphere is a little more limited than when they were working or raining a family.” Social interaction provides stimulation that keeps minds and mindsets fresh and is a proven benefit.
For that reason, the center has a social program that Crites seeks to expand. Wednesdays at 10:30 AM, the center hosts a Bible study. Monthly bingo games have also proved popular.Crites wants to restart the crafts program and is “looking for someone that’s crafty.”
Any help for any center program is always welcome.
While new to serving the senior center, Crites has significant experience in service. He has worked with Moorefield’s historic landmarks commission, engaging with the community on the best ways to continue to preserve the town’s unique historical image. He also served with the food program of the Oak Grove United Methodist Church.
“Their program is what brought me here,” Crites stated.
He has also served in leadership role with the Board of another vital county institution, the public library.
“The idea is to make today better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today,” Crites shared.
In all phases of the operation, the seniors always come first. He explained that if a senior needs assistance, any other administrative tasks go on hold.
“There’s a lot of responsibility with that,” said Crites, “but also a lot of joy.”
