ACCA Testimonials
"I like absolutely everything about the senior center. I feel safe here. Everyone gets along very well and everyone on staff is up to date on issues. We have a very diverse group.
I like bingo because it is a lot of fun and it is something to look forward to. The exercise keeps me more active.
The meals are very good. I haven't had anything yet that I didn't like. The meals have really helped me to eat more vegetables and to get a balanced meal. I drink more milk now.
I am glad to be here and I appreciate that the center is here to give seniors a safe place to come, which means a lot. I've met a lot of people that I wouldn't have met without coming to the center."
"I have participated [in yoga] for the past year and a half. This is an offering that adds tremendously weekly to my health, stability, and well being. The instructor is always professional and mindful of the needs of our particular age group. It becomes a center for well being and interaction for a wide variety of individuals from the Athens Clarke County area."
Janie Bolds
"I am very impressed with the senior center. It feels like family. I enjoy being in the choir because we get to go from place to place and make people happy. We look forward to it.
The meals are delicious and have helped me to eat healthier and even prepare my food better at home. I use a lot of healthy recipes that we get from senior center because I am a diabetic.
I have not met anyone down here that has not been helpful to me. I didn't know that the senior center had so much to offer. If I would have known, I would have come before now."
Success Stories
Gloria Gilham is a 54 year lady that has been diagnosed with hypertension, heart disease, and neurological disease as a result of childhood meningitis. She has been receiving meals through the ACCA’s Home Delivered Meals program since 2002 and has been attending the Bentley Adult Day Health program since 2006. Gloria always has a smile on her face and is difficult to track down as a result of her love of socializing with center staff, volunteers, and clients.
Through the Home Delivered Meals Program, Ms. Gilham receives 3 hot meals and 4 frozen meals a week. The meals are delivered by volunteers who Ms. Gilham has formed a friendship with and states that she looks forward to socializing with and seeing several times each week. Ms. Gilham stated that she has also learned how to “eat right’ as a result of her participation in HDM. When asked how the services provided to her by the Home Delivered Meals have impacted her life, Ms. Gilham’s answer was an emphatic “better!”
At the Bentley Adult Day Health Center, Ms. Gilham can be seen socializing with other clients and enjoying a game of Bingo or other activity. While at the center she receives medical monitoring by a RN who also schedules and arranges transportation to all of her doctor appointments. Before receiving the services of this program, Ms.Gilham “had to do things on her own” and didn’t have the time to do the things that she needed to do.
Since receiving the services of these two programs, she states she is able to eat good tasting, healthy food, spend time with friends, and do the things that she enjoys. What Gloria enjoys most about the services provided by Home Delivered Meals and Adult Day Health is having the opportunity to get out of the house and talk to people.
Edna Garst became connected to ACCA years ago through a founding member. Before retiring, she wanted to pursue an activity that would enable her to serve as a role model to promote physical health for aging women. She decided to engage in YOGA. She met with the ACCA Senior Center staff and she was encouraged to become a YOGA instructor. She felt the space and location were perfect! Edna then trained additional volunteers to teach these classes at ACCA. Having three classes per week serving sixty students total has been very inspiring to her. She feels this has provided her a way for her to give back to the community.
Several years ago, Edna’s husband, John Garst, developed persistent back pain. Edna, pressed him to attend YOGA class, taught by volunteer Julie Horne, at the ACCA Senior Center. He has found that the YOGA instruction has not only helped his back but it has helped him relax. John feels that this opportunity has enriched his marriage, by them sharing this interest, saying a happy wife makes a happy husband. John feels that the YOGA lessons have been very successful and have helped many.