As part of Care Connection for Aging Services, the Clinton Senior Center at 970 E. Sedalia Ave, and the Windsor Senior Center, located at 201 S. Main. provide many services beyond the weekday hot lunches and home-delivered meals for which the centers are known.
Care Connection, a nonprofit area agency on aging, serves Henry County with information, education, fitness and more for people 60 and older and their caregivers. The two centers are part of 21 locations operated by Care Connection in 13 West Central Missouri counties.
The mission of the agency is to “provide opportunities to create positive aging experiences.” The agency vision is that “the people we serve will live with maximum independence, respect and dignity.”
“We want to be the place for folks to come if they have questions about any of the complicated issues that face older adults,” said Kathy Wilson, Clinton Center Coordinator.
“We also provide a comfortable community hub for older adults to have lunch, visit, exercise, play cards, enjoy coffee or other activities,” added Carla Campbell, Windsor Center Coordinator
Here are some examples of the other programs and services Care Connection and the Clinton and Windsor Senior Centers provide:
Medicare information and enrollment assistance: The agency has trained care managers who can provide beneficiaries unbiased, personalized information about Medicare health and prescription drug plan insurance.
Health & Wellness programming: Classes are offered both in the center and on the Zoom online platform that include education about healthy living as well as fitness classes that are proven to improve mind, body and spiritual health for older adults. Some of these courses could be offered on large TV screens at the center, and all of them are free. Care Connection can help individuals learn the Zoom platform to join the classes. Offerings include, Tai Chi for Arthritis, Enhance®Fitness, Chair Yoga, and Living a Healthy Life.
Care Management: Through a comprehensive care management and family caregiver program, the agency offers information and enrollment assistance with benefits. The Benefits Enrollment Center enrolls older adults in money-saving programs they probably didn’t know exist. Care Managers can personally and confidentially assess the needs of older adults and match them with needed services such as in-home services, transportation, financial assistance and more.
Long-term Care Ombudsman Program: This program’s leaders and volunteers advocate for residents in long-term care centers such as nursing homes. The program provides volunteer opportunities for people interested in visiting nursing homes and being a voice for vulnerable elder adults.
Advocacy: The Care Connection volunteer Silver Haired Legislature delegation advocates for older adults in Missouri government, bringing focus on the issues that matter to seniors.
Volunteer Opportunities: Many of the services are provided by trained volunteers, and the agency continually recruits older adults and other community members to provide important services to older adults and their caregivers. The opportunities range from packaging and delivery of home-delivered meals to providing Medicare counseling, from income tax preparation to teaching a fitness class.
The centers also host many fun fundraising events, and encourage the community to attend and hopefully learn more about their local Center. Money donated to Clinton and Windsor Senior Centers stays in their respective communities to help fund programs and services. To donate, ask at the center, or donate online at www.goaging.org/donate.
The Clinton Senior Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and lunch is served 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Windsor Senior Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and lunch is served 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
While there is a suggested contribution, people 60 and older may enjoy lunch regardless of their ability to contribute. Those under 60 may purchase a meal for the cost of the meal.
To learn more, please call Care Connection at 1-800-748-7826 and ask about these services. Henry County is one of 13 West Central counties served by the nonprofit Care Connection for Aging Services. For more information: visit www.goaging.org.
