Batesville Herald Tribune, Batesville, Indiana

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  • Although the purpose of the Osgood facility is to provide nutritious lunches, “it’s awesome to watch people mingle together,” reports director Dee Huskey. Enjoying chicken Parmesan or fish are (clockwise from left) Shirley Summers, Helen Caplinger, Virginia Miller, Louise Combs, Betty McGlone, Jesse Taul and Nan Wonderling.

    SNAC
February 9, 2010

Lunching with seniors

Debbie Blank

OSGOOD – “We have good times together,” said Osgood resident Nan Wonderling Jan. 29 with a glow in her eyes. It was noon and she had just finished eating lunch with about 30 at the LifeTime Resources-sponsored Senior Nutrition Activity Center at Buckeye Village Apartments.

Each weekday it’s a process to get food to the tables. The menu items arrive from Valley Catering, Batesville, at about 6:30 a.m., then are chilled or warmed until the 11:30 a.m. serving time.

About five volunteers and director Dee Huskey show up in the morning to empty the dishwasher, wrap silverware, make lemonade and iced tea, fold napkins and set tables. After lunch, they also get to clean up.

Everyone has a favorite meal. “They love the meat loaf,” Huskey reports. Louise Combs is partial to the roast beef, while Wayne Hull, also from Versailles, prefers the bean soup.

Other anticipated lunches boast oven-baked chicken or pork loin, says LifeTime Resources deputy director Julie Schafer. To find out how clients think the SNACs are faring, “we do an annual survey. We have gotten really good feedback on the food.”

Huskey confides, “I spoil them. I go way beyond.” She has purchased pretty dishes and also remembers to bring sour cream on days baked potatoes are served.

At the Osgood site, “we do a lot of entertainment” to round out the experience, the director explains. “When I have a singing group in or something (else) special,” attendance can spike to 40.

The room has a piano and Wii video game console. “They play it every day,” usually choosing bowling. “They love bingo” each Wednesday at 10 a.m. “We always have a full house.” February’s schedule also shows a sitting exercise class every Tuesday and two Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.

Because Huskey recently attended a brain fitness class that gave tips on how to slow memory loss, she is reporting on what she learned each Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.

Other offerings include Bible study, Disney tunes by home-schoolers, blood pressure and blood sugar checks and euchre.

“Osgood is our most successful site,” according to Schafer. The director “has got lots of activities and a really good volunteer group there.”

The three-year director finds her reward in “serving seniors and loving people.”



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