In-person celebrations spark joy for seniors
Joy blooms for OMI Senior Center participants with in-person celebrations
For the first time in over two years, seniors at Catholic Charities OMI Senior Center are enjoying in-person festivities! Recently, 60 seniors came together and celebrated the joy of connecting while having fun with activities such as traditional Chinese dancing, Majong, karaoke, raffles, cooking demonstrations, and more.
“I haven’t seen my friend Xiang for so long,” said senior participant Mei-Lin. “It brings tears to my eyes.”
For seniors, who were especially prone to loneliness during social isolation but hesitant to risk illness from social exposure, these safety-first, in-person gatherings, are restorative and uplifting. OMI Senior Center Program Director, Kurlene Cambridge, notes that gathering in-person also ensures seniors stay active and mentally stimulated. “We are coming back together at the center one member at a time, one day at a time,” says Cambridge.
For more than 30 years, the Center has been serving seniors and adults living with disabilities with daytime programming to meet their social, emotional, physical, and nutritional needs. We strive to give our senior community members the building blocks they need to live happy and fulfilling lives. Here’s to many more in-person gatherings!
"It brought tears to my eyes to see Xiang again," says OMI Senior Center participant, Mei-Lin, posing next to her friend.
Ample safety measures protect our vulnerable seniors while permitting physical engagement and mental stimulation activities.
