The Leeper senior citizen center has a new, if temporary, lease on life.
In a letter to the Leeper participants of the center, Marcella Dill, executive director of the Clarion Area Agency on Aging, said the center would close Dec. 31.
In her Dec. 14 letter, Dill said she had visited the center, which is in the Farmington Township fire hall, “many times” and had “attempted to enrich and grow the Leeper Center over the past three and one-half years.”
Seniors attending the center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, disagreed with Dill’s characterization.
“I think it was a terrible letter,” said Marie Cyphert, a participant at the Leeper center. “I think she should come up here herself and talk to us. She needs to explain the problem and give us a chance to make things better. I can only remember her (Dill) being here one time.”
“We do like to play cards,” said Leeper participant John Cyphert. “I don’t think she (Dill) likes playing cards.”
Dill said in her letter that “regardless of resistance” from participants, the senior center staff has consistently brought additional programming, health and wellness programs, guest speakers, entertainment and community outreach events to the Leeper center.
“To my knowledge there were never any programs presented here,” said John Cyphert.
“Leeper participants have remained outspoken about not wanting to participate in anything except cards,” said Dill’s letter, “and even openly expressed gratefulness that a guest has finished presenting.”
Dill said the “senior center staff and I have endured unwarranted disrespect from Leeper participants…treating guests rudely is not acceptable at any senior center.”
Dill said the center manager at Leeper resigned and, at this time, there is no replacement for her or any staff available to fill the open position.
“As a result we have evaluated each satellite center as to if it can remain open,” Dill said in her letter. “Due to a variety of reasons, many of which are highlighted in this letter, with the approval of the (state) Department of Aging, the Leeper Senior Center will no longer be open as of Dec. 31, 2022.”
That was when Samantha Schrecengost stepped in. Schrecengost, the senior center services director with the Agency on Aging, said she would be at the center for the next three months regardless of staffing.
She added that the closing of other centers in the county was a staffing issue and not a funding issue.
Schrecengost said the restriction on card playing was the result of COVID.
Schrecengost said she did witness the incidents in Dill’s letter.
“The Leeper center was due to be closed permanently after today (Wednesday),” she said. “Over the last two weeks I have been here at Leeper and I told them I would advocate on their behalf. I already made an agreement with Marcella (Dill) that I would come here for the next three months. In the meantime we will come up with a plan that would let the people play cards from 9 until 10 a.m. and we will try to have other programming come in.
“My goal is to get you (the Leeper participants) on track with the other centers,” Schrecengost said. “From 10 to 12 we will do the same activities other centers do.”
Schrecengost said she hopes to eliminate the negativity and address it over the next three months instead of just letting it go.
“The problem may be on us,” she said. “We have been through two senior center managers here in the last two and one-half years. I am willing to take one for the team and try and make it work.”
“I think she is right about a lot of things,” said Marie Cyphert. “There were some negative things said here by a few people. We should give her a chance because we really enjoy coming here and we really do enjoy playing cards.”
“I got to know Samantha when she started coming up here and got to like her,” said Leeper participant Beth Gladden. “Maybe she (Dill) should play Old Maid or Go Fish with me. This is just for fun. The people talk to each other, laugh and socialize. If someone comes in to talk they stop playing and listen.”
Some of the activities weren’t well received by everyone at the center.
“One of the activities was to have us come in here and cut out paper to make flowers,” said Jim Hurlbrink. “I am not a flower maker. I am not in kindergarten. I refused to do it and that is probably where one of the negative comments came from. I would have an interest in some of the other programs but I have not seen them.”
Schrecengost said the agency is required to perform certain functions set by the state Department of Aging.
“We want to incorporate all of these things so they are happy and we are happy,” Schrecengost said. “We do Bingo-size, self-management classes, health classes, Ti-chi for arthritis, healthy steps for older adults, dementia friends, arts and crafts, wellness, brain games and all sorts of things.”
Schrecengost said she will work closely with the participants to get their ides on what the center can offer.
The future of the center will be evaluated at the end of the three-month period.
“I think if we put in an effort over the next three months we can definitely save the center,” said Schrecengost.