More than a meal
Organizers emphasize social aspect — games, music, speakers — of county’s Senior Dining Program
BY DIANE GILES dgiles@kenoshanews.com
Activities designed to make lunch-time gatherings for senior citizens more than just a meal have come to the local Senior Dining Program, formerly known as the Adult Nutrition Program.
Meals are served through the program on weekdays at six locations throughout Kenosha County for people age 60 and older and their spouses. The program serves the noon meal to about 175 seniors each weekday.
Administered by the Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services Inc., the program is designed to meet both the nutritional and social needs of older people.
Earlier this year, the Kenosha County Department of Aging, through which funding comes for the program, instructed the family and aging services organization to strengthen the social aspect of the meals. In response, Sharon Acerbi, 60, was named the program’s activities coordinator in May.
Acerbi said some of the sites have board games and puzzles, and diners are encouraged to stick around after their meal and mingle.
Beginning this summer, speakers have addressed the groups at least twice per month at each of the six meal sites.
And organizers say they would consider musical entertainment to add to the dining ambience.
“If someone in the community wants to share their gifts and talents with our senior diners, we’d love that,” program supervisor Lauren Zielsdorf said.
Beyond the anticipated increase in the numbers of participants, the hope is that diners will linger a little longer and socialize.
“We like them to get to know the people they are dining with every day. When people make connections with each other, they feel a little more self worth,” Acerbi said, adding that when a diner misses a meal the other diners miss them. “They get to be really good friends. They may not see each other outside of the dining site, but they’re good friends and they feel that somebody cares about them.”
Speakers are allowed 15 minutes to make their presentation either before or after the meal is served.
Most of the guest speakers who have made presentations so far have been in the health-andwellness field, but Acerbi said other topics within program guidelines would be welcome.
The goal is to find presenters who will speak on subjects of interest to the diners, but often it’s a matter of trial and error.
Finding speakers can be a challenge, especially with two of the six dining sites being in western Kenosha County. Fortunately, Acerbi said, she has found that some speakers prefer to get gigs near their communities near those sites.
“Sometimes it takes several phone calls, and I have to be pretty determined (to fill the slots),” Acerbi said, adding that sometimes diners come up with their own ideas for speakers.
But there are also certain restrictions on the speakers.
“It’s their lunch time and (our diners) don’t want to be bothered. We don’t want people coming in there and selling anything,” Acerbi said.
Zielsdorf added that speakers must stay away from the subjects of religion and politics.
Anyone interested in volunteering as speakers for the program can contact Acerbi at (262) 658-3508, ext. 123 before 2 p.m. on weekdays.
KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY DIANE GILES Seniors socialize before their meal is served at the Kenosha Senior Center, one of six sites where noon meals are served each weekday. Pictured, from left, are: Florence Anderson, Sandy Bollendorf, Elaine Jones, standing, and Betty Burian.
KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY BILL SIEL Sharon Acerbi shares a laugh with one of her volunteers while serving up lunch at the Kenosha Senior Center.
Sharon Acerbi enjoys a freshly picked rose presented to her by Don Roeder who arrived at the Kenosha Senior Center for lunch. KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY BILL SIEL
