The Cookeville Senior Center will get the maximum award $50,000 thanks to a Department of Disability and Aging grant.
Center Director Maxine Frasier said the center will use the money for programming support, reliable transportation, and essential operations. Frasier said grants are vital to the center’s investment in local seniors.
“All of the things we have for fun and for entertainment is through grants,” Frasier said. “Our bus is through a grant. Most of the furniture in this building, our big commercial kitchen, almost everything you see is through grants.”
Frasier said the grants also cover the center’s less visible expenses, like insurance and supplies. Frasier said the Cookeville Senior Center serves a diverse group of people aged 50 and up. Because of their varying ages, abilities, and interests, Frasier said the center has a wide variety of programs. Frasier said offering these programs helps save the community a lot of money.
“Think about the number of people that are not in the hospital or in assisted living,” Frasier said. “It saves money on drugs so the people may not have to go on food stamps. It saves everybody money when you help keep seniors healthy and active and living in place at home, and taking care of themselves.”
Frasier said the senior center gives families more flexibility to live their lives instead of staying home to watch over their senior relatives.
Frasier said isolation and staying home alone is one of the worst things people can do, especially seniors. This is why some of the grant money will be put toward some of the center’s transportation needs.
“Living alone staring at the TV is not the way to live,” Frasier said. “You get very depressed, you stop being challenged to think new thoughts. So we give free transportation tickets to our seniors to come here.”
Frasier said people may not understand that senior center attendees can participate in lots of activities, travel, and eat. Frasier said those are just a few ways seniors can find community and save money.
The state awarded some $5 million in grants to 125 senior centers across Tennessee. including the Cookeville Senior Center.
