By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Senior citizens throughout Wood County are getting antsy to play some euchre and cozy up with friends for lunch.
As much as Wood County Committee on Aging Executive Director Denise Niese would love to fling open the doors on the eight senior centers in the county, the facilities are taking the slow and cautious approach.
Much of Ohio dropped pandemic prevention efforts today – after Gov. Mike DeWine named June 2 as the end to mandatory masks and social distancing.
But while the population attending senior centers has the highest vaccination rate, they are also the most susceptible to COVID-19.
“We need to make sure we can open each of the locations in a safe and organized fashion,” Niese said. “They are the most vulnerable for the virus,” she said.
Congregate dining will begin at the main senior center in Bowling Green on June 21. The in-person meals will be phased in at the satellite locations, with seniors in those areas being surveyed about their interest in congregate dining about two weeks prior to the centers opening.
People coming back for congregate dining will be asked to make reservations ahead of time. Senior centers have never asked for reservations before, but times are different now, Niese said.
“We don’t want meals to go to waste at a site,” she said.
In-person activities are also making a gradual comeback.
“Perrysburg is chomping at the bit to get back” to bingo and exercise classes, Niese said.
Bingo will be the first sanctioned game played in-person. At the beginning of the pandemic, the senior centers purchased 5,000 disposable bingo cards.
Cribbage is back and the mahjong players have asked if they can meet again, Niese said.
“Groups are starting to call and ask if they can come back,” she said.
Poker and euchre will have to wait a bit.
“People lick their fingers to play their cards,” Niese said. “We’re not ready to play cards yet. We’re looking at what we can do for people who want games like that.”
Many seniors across the county have become tech savvy in order to stay in contact during the pandemic.
In May, the senior center continued with several virtual programs on topics such as warblers, domestic and sexual violence prevention, making strawberry rhubarb pie, over-the-counter medication, painting classes, and a virtual tour of the new Juniper Brewery.
In-person programs – with limited attendance allowed – included classes on conversational French and diabetic information, plus the movies “Mamma Mia” and “Hamilton.”
In June, virtual programs are scheduled to continue, with digital euchre games, sing-alongs, a class on making fruit salsa, a virtual walk in a park, and a “name that tune” game.
But several small in-person programs are also planned, including fitness classes on intermediate yoga, Tai Chi, and dancing with Parkinson’s. In-person programs are also scheduled on watercolor painting, how to use Instagram, plus a Father’s Day Pie Parade, and Antique Roadshow Adventures.
The board passed a policy last July requiring masks in all Wood County Committee on Aging facilities. The policy has not yet been rescinded – but it will be discussed at the next board meeting.
“This is something the board will decide,” Niese said.
According to Niese, there will be no request to see the immunization cards of seniors entering the facilities.
“We have to respect personal choice,” she said.
Niese has been in contact with Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Robison about plans to open up the senior centers.
Early in May, the senior center in Bowling Green began phase 3 of its reopening plan. All offerings are still limited to fewer than 10 participants, including the instructor or facilitator, with registration required.
Once it is determined that the protocols are working, other senior center sites will transition into the phase 3 level.
The senior centers in Perrysburg, Walbridge and Rossford areas are currently in phase 2, and are open by appointment between the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Eventually, the part-time sites in Grand Rapids, North Baltimore, Pemberville and Wayne, will be reopened as well.
