Bay Oaks needs to keep programs
To the editor:
The current philosophy for Senior Citizens is “Aging in Place”. I agree! It allows:
> Dignity and certainly more independence for our Seniors
>If able, deciding how they want to live the time they have left.
> Ultimately, less taxpayer dollars spent for nursing home care
> The ability for our Senior Citizens to thrive in their own comfortable homes rather than rely on assisted living or nursing home facilities to decide what is “best” for them.
My dad is Charlie Hibbeler (if you don’t know him, you SHOULD!). He celebrated his 97th birthday on June 4. He gardens, cooks, and remains active. One of his life-long hobbies has been playing bridge. He religiously plays bridge when it is offered at Bay Oaks. He (and others like him) benefits greatly from this activity: It keeps his mind active and stimulated and he develops friendships with his peers.
You will note that I live in Ohio. I am comforted knowing that he has friends from Bay Oaks who look out for him. The flurry of phone calls to and from his home prior to bridge day assures me that the group is concerned about their bridge buddies. Who needs a ride? Who can drive? Who cannot come? Why can’t they come? If they are ill, it sets up a parade of visits, phone calls, and casseroles to the person who is ill. These phone conversations serve a number of purposes including a lifeline to others who also may live alone.
I was visiting my dad when he had missed a bridge game because I had taken him to the hospital. I got back to his home quite late, and the answering machine blinked from numerous bridge friends who were concerned about his wellbeing. If “bridge day” disappeared, would anyone care?
I realize that budgets are very tight this year. However, programs such as “bridge day” at Bay Oaks are a destination for seniors in the area. I call my dad frequently, and he always mentions his “date” with bridge day at Bay Oaks. I invite each of you to attend a card game offered, and see and experience what this is all about (I understand that they are very patient with “beginners”). A card table is rather intimate-this is a face-to-face, knee-to-knee relationship with others-difficult to hide the distress of someone across the table.
When programs such as those that Bay Oaks offers dissolve because of budget concerns, they tend to fall through the cracks when budgets are not as tight. This friend-to-friend caring may disappear because of the lack of the “knot” of friendship offered by these programs. Please carefully consider your decision regarding the fate of Bay Oaks programming.
Jean (Hibbeler) Holland
Ohio