THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 3, 1994 TAG: 9410030057
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: United Way
Part of a series profiling agencies
SOURCE: BY ANGELITA PLEMMER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
Effie Robinson lifts her knees to her chin with ease. Her turquoise-socked feet point straight up as her leg muscles stretch from baggy blue shorts.
Grace. Agility. Stamina.
To keep in shape she adheres to a grueling schedule. Tennis twice a week. Forty-five minutes of stretching and exercise followed by nearly an hour of line dancing twice a week.
Robinson, at 68, is not an anomaly for the over-60 crowd that frequents the Norfolk Senior Center for weekly exercise, dance, nutrition, tennis, and fitness classes.
``I think people need a safe place to go plus they need activities with other people to keep them alert, and you make new friends,'' said Robinson, a retired executive from the National Dairy Council. ``Plus, it gives me something to do.''
The center also offers arts and crafts classes, a full woodworking shop, a large-print library, self-led support groups, and other activities that focus on the social, emotional, mental and physical needs of older people.
Many of the activities the center offers are made possible through United Way funding, which makes up nearly 5 percent of the center's $462,420 total operating budget for 1994-95.
``It's a big part of what we're doing even though it's a small part of the budget,'' said Barbara Quale, the center's executive director who also doubles as the morning exercise instructor.
Two essential programs that rely on United Way support are the center's geriatric health education program and two licensed adult day health care programs, Quale said.
``It doesn't serve as an exact match for other funds but it generates more contributions and other funding,'' she said. ``It generates more dollars.''
Through the geriatric health education program, participants are eligible for free eye and blood-screening clinics, mammograms, health and weight management support groups, nutrition classes, instruction on how to take medications properly, health insurance guidance, reduced rate swimming lessons and other activities that focus on the fitness and health of older people.
While volunteers help defer some of the costs, the United Way's contribution helps the center to continue offering free or reduced rate services.
``They support something we don't want income or lack of income to prevent people from participating in,'' Quale said.
Although membership at the center is only $12 a year, other activities may require a small fee that some seniors cannot afford, she said.
``We use United Way and federal programs to get us started and to support the low-income people in the program,'' she said.
And for many families trying to take care of an aging spouse or parent, that additional support provides an affordable option for ensuring licensed, specialized care and supervision for an aging relative through the adult day health care program.
The center charges $31.12 a day, which includes meals, snacks, games, lectures, music and other coordinated activities designed to provide mental and physical stimulation in a group setting.
``But there are so many people who cannot pay even that amount,'' said Madeline Dunstan, assistant director for adult day health care.
Even with the help of state subsidies, there's still a gap left.
``Our cost is $31.12 but Medicaid only reimburses us for $25,'' Dunstan said. ``But we match Medicaid funding with United Way dollars so that a person's costs are covered for the day they're here.''
Currently, out of 58 clients in the adult day health care program (located at Norfolk's Senior Center and the Jewish Community Center), only 22 percent are able to afford the full fee.
``There is unequivocably a need for programs like this because of the increasing population and the fact that people are living longer,'' Dunstan said.
In Norfolk alone, there are 36,407 people over the age of 60, and statewide, there are 156,537, according to the latest census data.
For people suffering from the effects of strokes, heart attacks, Alzheimer's, dementia and other medical problems, the center provides a viable and less costly alternative to nursing homes or 24-hour homebound care.
Elizabeth Malloy, at 79, maintains her independence and dignity although she lives with her daughter.
``I cook for myself and I still wash my own clothes and clean up,'' she said.
But she decided to come to the center three times a week to socialize with other people and to keep active.
``We're doing something all the time,'' said Malloy, who has been in the program for about four or five years. ``And I just wanted to get away from the house sometimes.'' ILLUSTRATION: RICHARD L. DUNSTON/Staff
LEFT: Earl Wallace, 77, takes part in the Norfolk Senior Center's
exercise class, one of many activities the center sponsors for
senior citizens. RIGHT: Barbara Quale, the center's executive
director, leads the morning exercises.
KEYWORDS: UNITED WAY by CNB