Senior Citizens

MUSCLE SHOALS SENIOR CENTER and OUTREACH PROGRAM

If you are sixty years of age or older and young at heart, the Senior Center is for you. Established in 1983, the center began with a small room located in the Recreation Center. In 1988 the seniors moved into a new building, the Frank G. Little Senior Center, named in memory of Frank G. Little who served as a long time City Clerk of Muscle Shoals for 22 years.

The center offers weekly fellowship and activities for senior adults. Seniors may participate in games of bingo, rook, skip-bo, aggravation, dominoes, checkers, or a friendly game of pool. For those who prefer to participate in non-competitive activities, the center offers ceramics and a reading area. An exercise program is offered for those who desire a type of physical activity. Educational programs on topics such as nutrition, depression, stress, and safety are often scheduled at the center.

The center also serves lunch daily for a nominal donation. For those senior adults who may qualify for the service, the center offers a home-bound lunch program. This program allows those who are unable to visit the center to receive a well-balanced meal in their home.

The center offers a covered dish dinner on the second Friday of each month at 4:30 p.m. Members participate by contributing their favorite dish or dessert to the dinner, and enjoying an evening of fellowship with friends of the center.

The senior adults of the center host the "Bean Supper", a semi-annual social-fund raiser event, held in April and October of each year. The seniors have become well known for this popular event in the community. The supper includes beans, slaw, cornbread, desserts, and beverages, all prepared and served by the members of the center.

Another favorite event among the senior adults is the Masters Games of Alabama. These games are hosted in various parts of the state in October of each year. Seniors have an opportunity to exhibit their skills and talents in many games of competition that include:

• Basketball Free Throw
• Basketball 3 on 3
• Billiards - Eight Ball
• Bowling
• Checkers
• Dominoes - Single and Double
• Frisbee Throw
• Golf
• Horseshoes
• Nerfball Throw
• Pitch and Putt
• Racquetball
• Rook
• Shuffleboard
• Softball
• Softball Throw
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Track
• Volleyball

The center provides a shuttle service for those who may need transportation to and from the center. Should you need transportation services, you may contact Betty Williams, Senior Center Manager and make arrangements.

The Muscle Shoals Senior Center also offers an Outreach Program to the senior adults of our city. The Outreach Program was created to assist senior adults with various needs, enabling them to remain independent for as long as possible. There are many services and much information available through this program such as:

• Social Security
• Medicare and Medicaid
• Insurance and Retirement
• Hospital Indebtedness
• Hospice Services
• Home Health Services
• Personal needs in the home
• Transportation
• Free Medication - SenioRx Program
• Chore Program (Lawn Maintenance)
• Sole Social Security Solid Waste Collection Fee Exemption
     Must provide proof of income upon application for service
     Applications are available for this service October 1, 2002 through 
              December 31, 2003  for the year 2004 Program 
     Qualifications:  Approved incomes are Social Security, SSI, Veterans Benefits,
              or you may have all incomes
     Restrictions:  No interest bearing accounts such as savings account, certificates of
              deposit, checking  accounts
• Garbage Discount of $1.00
        To qualify for discount you must be 65 or older and provide proof of
         identification
  

Carol Morris, Outreach Coordinator, is a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) volunteer. She also assists other programs designed to assist elderly persons. Because many senior adults are physically unable to visit the center, Carol visits in the home of the individual to assist in evaluating their needs. Carol also serves on the board of the Masters Games of Alabama.

If you need the services of the Outreach Program, or wish to obtain more information regarding the Masters Games, you may contact Carol Morris, Outreach Coordinator.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Betty Williams, Senior Center Manager Muscle Shoals Senior Center 994 Gattman Park Drive Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35661 (256)386-9280

Carol Morris, Outreach Coordinator Muscle Shoals Senior Outreach Pogram 994 Gattman Park Drive Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35661 (256) 386-9281

Senior Center Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Outreach Program Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m.  -   4:30 p.m.

                                             

District Masters Games participants:

Front row, left to right: Billie Underwood, Lucy Gray, Robbie Robbins, Eveline Wade
Second row: Betty Quillen, Gleria McVay, Par Harden, Louise Holt, Minnie Wagnon, Ruth Jones
Third row: Faye Purvis, Herman O'Dell, Jerri O'Dell, Sarah Mays
Not pictured: Willene Bush, Marie Curenton, Sue Higdon, Helen Glasgow, Ollie Michaels, Virginia Peeples