Aging Gracefully
The role parks and recreation can play in assisting seniors
By Clarence Thomas, Jr.
Photos: Macon-Bibb County Parks and Recreation Department
Participation by senior citizens at recreation centers across the country has significantly increased over time, and along with it the offerings that beckon them. One example of a successful program is the Georgia-based Macon-Bibb County Department of Parks and Recreation’s Elaine H. Lucas Senior Center.
Opened in November 2018 as part of a $15-million Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax project, the $2.7-million center is located in Carolyn Crayton Park, just outside of downtown Macon, along with the department’s administrative office, skate park, softball and football complexes, walking and biking trails, event spaces, and the historic 1929-built Luther Williams Field—home to Macon’s wood-bat, collegiate, summer baseball team.
This modern facility—named for an active veteran member of the Macon-Bibb County Commission—has rec rooms, a garden, indoor and outdoor seating, and a mini-auditorium. But it’s what happens here Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that makes the place really pop.
A smorgasbord of activities awaits seniors who are willing to pay the nominal fee of $10 per fiscal year. Choices include chair aerobics, pickleball, and line dancing to get seniors moving. For mind-bending moments, participants can choose from board games, checkers, crossword puzzling, and bingo, to name a few. But involvement is not confined to the center. Members also are invited to participate in shopping excursions, fishing, museum visits, and bowling. There’s even a day dedicated to mental health between health fairs, fitness classes, and out-of-state tours.
A Bevvy Of Benefits
Andrea Lee, who supervises the senior center, has spent half of her 14-year career with Macon-Bibb, creating pleasant memories for the members. For the first seven years she worked as a recreation-center supervisor, presiding over a neighborhood center that offers diverse programs for all ages. She says her love for working with youth and families will never dissipate, but since taking over the center she has developed a special place in her heart for serving this population. “I love the youth, but I have honestly developed a different kind [of love] for the aging community,” she says.
Just as with the programs, the center is not short on diversity. Elders of varying ages, genders, and economic and social backgrounds can be found there. Debra Moore is one. The spry, 56-year-old New Mexico native moved to Macon recently and was encouraged by friends back home to join the center. She says it was a good decision since it keeps her busy and feeling better mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Moore’s list of activities includes walking, pickleball, and Spades, and also just being with other members. “I truly enjoy going. I know everyone (staff members and members) now. They make going so enjoyable,” she shares. Sixty-eight-year-old Sarah Martin joined in 2015. She was drawn to the center after learning that it offered dance. She says the activities keep her feeling young. “I like that you can pick and choose. We’re retired, but we’re not sitting at home doing nothing,” she says.
Mentally Speaking
The benefits of being a member are bountiful, transcending fun and the creation of memories. Studies have shown that people generally do better if they are engaged. Seniors are no exception, according to Gloria Cisse, CEO/Lead Therapist with Southern Center for Choice Theory, a mental-health agency that she and her daughter preside over.
Cisse, 66 years old, says membership at a recreation center is a good way to stay fit above the shoulders for a nominal fee. Engaging in activities deters depression and feelings of loneliness. She says senior socialization improves one’s mood and increases quality of life. “It gives senior citizens a chance to engage with others. Being around people you like, and learning new things is very important,” Cisse adds. “All seniors deserve to have the very best quality of life as possible, since the majority of them have added value to communities.”
Fredrick Burton, a physician, heads the Burton Medical Group LLC in Macon, and agrees. For 28 years, he has worked with people of all ages—including the elderly. While his specialty is the physical body, he says the mental and emotional benefits of being at a center that is dedicated to providing the activities noted above helps seniors to think more clearly, provides emotional stability, and improves mood.
Coupled with age-friendly, physical activities like Tai Chi, yoga, walking, and stretching, seniors have what might be a municipal owned-and-operated fountain of youth, according to Burton. “If you sit down, you’re likely to stay down. Moving is very important. Whether it’s the body or the mind, if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it,” he points out.
Geraldine O’Neal is proof positive. At first glance, her glow, bright eyes, and quick wit belie her 83 years. After spending 50 years in the medical profession as a licensed practical nurse, she decided 10 years ago that her hometown-owned, 55-plus recreation center was for her, so she joined. Dancing and traveling are two of her favorite activities, which allow her to joyfully tap out her tax dollars. “It’s been a good experience for me,” she shared while donning workout clothes during downtime. “It keeps my mind youthful and doesn’t allow depression to set in.”
Nodding in agreement, 60-year-old Renee Moffett has been a member of the center for six years. It’s proven to be a good workplace replacement following 38 years in the medical profession. Her favorite activities include crocheting, ceramics, and crossword puzzles. “This place allows you to stay active. I like to keep myself going, and the senior center lets me do that,” she says.
These testimonials are what the managers of the department love to hear, according to Brittni Fletcher, one of two Recreation Operations Managers. The senior center is under her division’s jurisdiction and is viewed as a vital part of the department’s programming portfolio, Fletcher says. “The services this staff offers are incredibly valuable to this segment of our community, and we’re committed to supporting them. There are endless opportunities for seniors to enjoy retirement,” she says.
Helpful Tips
For those considering adding a senior-citizen center to recreation offerings, Fletcher recommends:
1. Making sure staff members are on board
2. Being committed to offering senior programs in current programming schedules
3. Creating a steering committee to assist in getting started.
Lee adds that discovering what the community wants, showing seniors the possibilities, and looking at other places, like the award-winning Spaulding County Georgia Senior Center or the Howard County Maryland Glenwood 50+ Center is key. In the end, it makes her motto easy to embrace. “This is not a nursing home,” she says with a serious grin. “You will be actively involved here.”
For more information, visit www.maconbibb.us/recreation.
Clarence Thomas, Jr., is a Supervisor for the Frank Johnson Recreation Center, part of the Macon-Bibb County Department of Parks and Recreation in Macon, Ga. Reach him at cwthomas@maconbibb.us.