As responsible stewards of the public funds entrusted to us, Senior Services finds it necessary to streamline and consolidate our services to best serve the community. After much thought and consideration, we have decided to close the Happy Diners Activity & Dining Center in Midland and reduce days of service at the Greendale and Mills centers no later than September 30, 2016.
The staff and Board know that these centers have been an important part of many people’s lives and we did not make this decision lightly. Your feelings are important to us and we are committed to continuing the services and programs you need. This plan allows us to still provide nutritious meals, valuable programs and opportunities for socialization in all areas of our community.
Nationwide trends indicate a decline in senior center participation and Midland County is no exception. Over a number of years, the daily average attendance has been low in these three locations. Our Activity & Dining Centers are a crucial part of our service mix. Operating six full-time centers, however, is spreading our resources too thin.
Closing the Happy Diners Center, located in Memorial Presbyterian Church, will keep Senior Services from duplicating efforts within the City of Midland. Those who regularly attend Happy Diners will be welcomed to the Trailside Center which is four miles away. Consolidating into one location will decrease overall operating costs.
The Greendale and Mills Centers will be open three days a week instead of five. They will be closed on the two days with the lowest attendance: Greendale on Tuesday and Thursday; Mills on Monday and Thursday. The full range of programs will continue to be offered, just combined into three high-quality days. On days the centers are open, participants will be able to order a second frozen or sack meal to take home for the two weekdays the centers are closed. Meals on Wheels services will not be affected by these schedule changes.
Senior Services will continue to provide meals and activities five days a week at Trailside, Sanford and Coleman Centers. We will make every effort to ensure you feel comfortable at any center you attend and make this transition as easy as possible. Additional efforts will be made to have transportation available for those who need it.
If you have any questions or would like further information, please feel welcome to contact Carol Witte or Alan Brown at 989-633-3700. Transitions such as this can be challenging, but we recognize we must maximize our resources efficiently in order to allow us to extend our impact, provide high quality programs and continue to strengthen services to all the older adults of Midland County for years to come.
For more information, read Senior Services Executive Director, Alan Brown’s Letter to the Editor in the Midland Daily News. Click Here
