Churchill County is happy to welcome back Jamie Lee as the new manager of the William N. Pennington Life Center.
She has 15 years of experience managing senior centers in Pershing County, Carson City and here in Fallon and her passion for seniors is evident in talking to her.
“Seniors are special because they are not a selected group…we will all be seniors one day,” she said in explaining her long-time advocacy for seniors in society. One of her main goals is to make sure seniors are treated well and retain their dignity through the aging process. She believes a way to do this is to include seniors in the larger Churchill County community through programming so that seniors don’t feel isolated. Several recent programs at the Pennington Life Center are examples: the western night at the end of June, afternoon tea, and the ice cream social and open house at the end of August saw multiple generations mingling together.
“We are designing programs based on seniors’ wants and needs and we treat them like the adults they are,” she said.
Lee is particularly happy for the county resources that are now behind the Life Center and are providing security and sustainability in programming without the extra burden of fundraising. “This allows us to focus on the programming,” Lee said, adding that positives of county management at the Life Center include support for the building and programs and the presence of Social Services Resource Liaisons who help seniors navigate Medicare, Social Security, and other resources available to them.
While the transition process to county management is still ongoing, Lee is focusing on grants and compliance, conducting a senior survey and listening to seniors’ needs and wants, and then providing programming to meet those needs and wants.
Programming extends not only to seniors but also to their families and caregivers. September is grandparents’ month and several activities, including crafts and a dance, are planned to bring grandparents and grandkids together.
The staff at the Life Center provides the programming and according to Lee has shown they have a heart for seniors and are present for them for the purpose of helping “above and beyond.”
The Pennington Life Center is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lunch is served in the dining room from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The center, and Lee, may be reached at (775)423-7096.
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