DOTHAN, Ala. – When Governor Ivey extended her safer at home order until March 5th, it meant another month of senior centers being closed.
For nearly a year the Taylor Senior Center has been closed.
“At first it was difficult because you had to get used to the quietness. As we adjusted to serving curbside and homebound meals the way were doing now. You kind of had to learn to find new ways to entertain the people and keep them interested in coming back,” Amanda Henderson, director of the Taylor Senior Center said.
A place that many turned to for a good laugh, a warm meal, and good company.
“Well actually we just miss seeing everybody and talking. You know you stay home and your by yourself but when we come down here we play games, we visit, we talk a lot. We miss seeing our friends,” Loraine Cumbie, senior at Taylor Senior Center said.
The closure has impacted both the staff and seniors mental and social well-being.
“Several of our people that were coming through the line eventually just stayed home because of issues they were having. We saw some of them get depressed which we saw over a matter of time, I mean you could tell because they were not that forthcoming, they weren’t as happy go lucky,” Henderson said.
The Taylor Senior Center is finding ways to keep their seniors entertained. Including a tree decorated for Valentines Day but filled with encouraging messages of love, peace and hope.
“Every director I’ve talked to is struggling right now and we lean and depend upon each other. Having that support system and also having these guys come through, its a blessing. I mean beacause they look forward to it, you know they look forward to coming up here and as long as we can do that, to me in the end then it’s worth wild,” Henderson said.
The Taylor Senior Center is asking the community to email or send encouraging messages for their seniors.
