By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Senior centers in Wood County will stick with a “masks encouraged” policy – at least for now.
The Wood County Committee on Aging Board had cautiously maintained its mask mandate longer than most agencies since the senior centers serve some of the county’s most vulnerable residents.
In April, with COVID case numbers continuing to drop, the board voted to lift the mask rule at its eight centers across the county.
The decision was met with hoots of joy from the seniors playing cards and putting together puzzles that day at the center in Bowling Green.
But on Wednesday, two months after the mask requirement was dropped, the board heard a request that it be reinstated.
David Love, a senior who eats lunch at the center in Bowling Green, told that board that he and 10 others he spoke with in the dining room want the board to consider the rising cases of COVID in the region.
“Perhaps the board might want to reconsider the relaxation of the mask requirement,” Love said to the board. “We are no longer in the mild stage. We’re in the moderate stage.”
Wood County Committee on Aging Executive Director Denise Niese and the board discussed the request, but decided to stick with the recommendations of the Wood County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control.
“We continue to have conversations regularly with Ben Robison, the health commissioner,” Niese said.
And the senior centers still have signs “encouraging” masks be worn, especially for people who have not been vaccinated. Masks are provided at the door and temperature monitors are at the entrances.
But Niese said she advocates for “personal choice” for the 200 to 250 local seniors who visit the Bowling Green site each day. “They are more than welcome” to continue wearing face coverings, she said.
The numbers are not high enough to re-issue the mask mandate, Niese said. Wood County is currently in the “yellow” medium range, and both the CDC and local health department don’t recommend mask mandates unless COVID numbers are in the “red.”
The recommendation that the board not reinstate the mask mandate was supported by board members Dr. Tom Milbrodt, who is also president of the Wood County Board of Health, and Ben Batey, who is the chief health officer at BGSU.
“I’m comfortable continuing to defer to them and their guidance,” Batey said of the local health department.
If the local COVID numbers return to the “red” level, the signs “encouraging” masks will be changed.
“Then the sign will say ‘masks are required,’” Niese said.
In other business at Wednesday’s meeting, the board heard from Dr. Abhishek Bhati, a political science professor at BGSU, who works on studies to help non-profit agencies function more effectively.
Bhati explained that he will be meeting with board members after their August meeting, he will study other similar organizations in the nation, and he will look at changes in demographics. Bhati said he will then present the board with recommendations.
Also at the meeting:
- WCCOA Board President Paul Herringshaw praised the cross training efforts of staff, which has allowed the senior centers to stay in operation. Niese estimated it had been three years since the centers have been fully staffed.
- Niese reported on the Elder Abuse Awareness event at the Bowling Green senior center on June 14, at 10 a.m. The number of reports of elder abuse in the county grew to 318 in 2021. “Many are self-neglect, and that is just as detrimental to people as abuse and exploitation,” she said.
- Niese mentioned the senior center policy allowing pets only if they are ADA assistance dogs. “Seniors are asking why some people can bring in their pets and some can’t,” she said. The center staff does ask for paperwork to confirm pets are ADA certified.
