By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Denise Niese has always gravitated toward “mature” people.
She grew up with older parents, and had close relationships with her grandmas. As a member of Rainbow Girls, she spent time with seniors. Then in college, she continued to build on that appreciation of older adults.
“I’ve always been comfortable around seniors,” said Niese, executive director of the Wood County Committee on Aging since 2005.
“And now I am one,” she said with a laugh.
But Niese is more than just comfortable with seniors. She has dedicated her professional life toward improving the lives of older adults and giving them opportunities to stay healthy and thrive.
Her efforts have garnered national recognition – and have earned her a National Council on Aging 2021 Trailblazer in Aging Award for working toward a just and caring society for seniors. Specifically, she was awarded the National Institute of Senior Centers Founders Award, which recognizes exemplary and long-standing service to the senior center field.
“We want to honor your dedication and leadership to older adults in Ohio and to the field of senior centers nationally,” a letter from the National Council on Aging stated.
The award was announced locally during a meeting of the Wood County Committee on Aging on Wednesday afternoon.
“We are very impressed and appreciate all you do,” WCCOA Board President Eric Myers said to Niese. “This is quite an award for her, and quite an award for us.”
An advocate for older adults, Niese is past president of the Ohio Association of Senior Centers and served as treasurer for NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers Delegate Council. She led the effort to update the NCOA’s Senior Center Standards of Excellence to accommodate online submissions.
Niese also secured a $1.6 million capital grant to build a new senior center in Wood County – the largest state of Ohio capital grant ever awarded in the county to a non-profit organization.
“I have benefited by the many mentors who have passed through my personal and professional life,” Niese said in receiving the award. “Many of those individuals in the field of aging have been connected to me through NCOA/NISC opportunities.”
Also at Wednesday’s board meeting, Niese presented an update on reopening plans for the senior center sites in the county after COVID closures.
“The dining room is ready for us to begin congregate dining here on June 21,” Niese said of the new center in Bowling Green.
The centers in Perrysburg, Rossford and Walbridge will be open for limited hours beginning July 1. And the part-time sites in Grand Rapids, North Baltimore, Pemberville and Wayne will be reopened in stages with the goal of all being open by Sept. 7.
The board also voted to adopt a new mask policy, effective immediately, which allows all unvaccinated employees, volunteers, guests and participants to no longer have to wear masks at senior centers.
People entering the centers will still have temperature checks, but not have to answer pre-screening questions.
There will be no proof of vaccination required for seniors, but employees who cannot show proof of vaccination will continue to be tested for COVID every two weeks.
Also at the meeting, it was announced that the official ribbon cutting for the new senior center at 140 S. Grove St., Bowling Green, will be June 18 at 10 a.m.
