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Seniors gain new gathering place
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Psychologist Kurt Beler spoke to a group of seniors at The Gathering Place at Canfield Lord of Life Lutheran Church and focused on mental health issues and how to cope with loneliness, depression and isolation March 10.
By ABBY SLANKER
The Canfield Lord of Life Lutheran Church has established The Gathering Place for area senior citizens to meet and enjoy each other’s company, and have a little fun, once a month.
“We recognized a need in the community for a senior community center. We conducted a demographic study of Canfield and realized there is a great need for a senior center. We started The Gathering Place in September and have continued to meet once a month at the church,” said Judith Lobaugh, a member of the committee which oversees the program along with Bernadette Beler, Vangie McDorman, Bob Dean and chairperson Carolyn Dean.
According to Lobaugh, The Gathering Place is designed to encourage seniors to socialize and all senior citizens are welcome.
“Our program focuses on the needs of seniors, including isolation. The Gathering Place encourages seniors to socialize in a safe environment and feel comfortable,” Lobaugh said.
Each month, seniors will enjoy a program, a light lunch and fun and games. Psychologist Kurt Beler spoke to the group March 10 and focused on mental health issues and how to cope with loneliness, depression and isolation.
“Each month we will have a program, for example we will be hitting on Medicare changes coming up. We will also play Grocery Bingo where the prizes will be groceries. The seniors will also be able to add their input of what they would like to discuss and what their needs are,” Lobaugh said.
Carmen Heasley, fiscal financial officer for Canfield Township, is also involved in the program and sees the benefits of this type of program.
“This program is wonderful and is beneficial to all. This is a great opportunity to have a community center for seniors. The best thing about it is getting the community to come together and get to know each other and then see them in church and to see the different way they interact with each other. They know each other because they have had a chance to form relationships and friendships and they feel comfortable with each other,” Heasley said.
Heasley pointed out the program is open to everyone, not just church members.
“The Gathering Place is open to everyone, not just members of our church. You do not have to join the church to come to our programs. And it doesn’t have to cost you. The small cost of lunch is a donation, there is no obligation there. And it is important for attendees to bring friends if they would like. It makes the program even more enjoyable,” Heasley said.
According to Lobaugh and Heasley, the program is going to apply for a grant through the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation, which would help fund the program.
“We are serious about making this happen. We have had meetings to discuss what pr grams like this have done right and what they have done wrong. We wanted to figure out what was happening to make them go away. We wanted to put together a program that we felt would be successful. Our program is co tinuing to grow and we invite all seniors to check it out,” Heasley said.
For more information on The Gathering Place at Canfield Lord of Life Lutheran Church, call Bernadette Beler at 330-533-6045. The next program will take place on April 14.