North Ridgeville seniors have fun learning and living

NORTH RIDGEVILLE – The North Ridgeville senior center is “much more than bingo,” said Emily Lockshine, administrator at the Office for Older Adults and Senior Center. With a variety of programs that enlighten, entertain and educate, followed by events and outings that stimulate the mind and body, the Senior Center is a pretty hip joint.

The center exists to provide cognitive, health and wellness activities and socialization. And according to Lockshine, it’s that socialization component that has been proven to have a major positive impact on overall health, well-being and happiness, especially as people age.

Loneliness and isolation have been shown to actually increase the risk of chronic diseases, stroke and heart disease. That’s why Lockshine says the Senior Center is preventative medicine. And between the men’s breakfasts and the ladies’ brunches, there’s always something cooking in the Senior Center – literally.

“We do a lot of fun things. We do trivia twice a month,” said Lockshine, who has served as administrator since 2021. “We started something new a few months ago called ‘Try It Tuesdays’ and it focuses on a different culture and cuisine every month. It is culture and culinary literacy where we focus on the culinary aspects of that culture.”

Lockshine praised her coordinated activities and her entire team for the work they do and the experiences they have provided to the seniors. Recently, the Senior Center received the designation for the City of North Ridgeville as a “dementia-friendly community,” a designation initially spearheaded by local resident Terri Lanham.

Lanham created what Lockshine called an action team that helped educate the community, especially local police and fire departments, about dementia. Their programming is now included in orientation for new officers and firefighters, as well as integrated into training for Senior Center staff and other volunteers throughout the North Ridgeville community. North Ridgeville has the distinction of being the only dementia-friendly community in Lorain County, and only one of seven in the state of Ohio.

On November 7, as part of their ongoing efforts to educate various sectors of the community about dementia, the Senior Center will hold an educational seminar focused on North Ridgeville’s business and faith-based communities. The general public is also very welcome.

“I have taken it upon myself to offer three education sessions to the public this year, so this is the last part of this year,” Lockshine explains. “It lasts approximately an hour and the aim of this session is for individuals to understand what it is like to live with dementia and how to support a family member or loved one who is experiencing dementia.”

Lockshine says the Senior Center and its events are for people who are simply looking for community and fun, where people can visit friends and make new ones with shared interests. The center was founded in 1978 with the mission of facilitating opportunities for older adults to be healthy, engaged and vibrant citizens. It is open to people aged 55 and over.

The Men’s Breakfast is held every Wednesday morning at 9:00 am and consists of a hot entrée, coffee, fruit and juice, all for $4. Not to be outdone, the Women’s Brunch meets at 10:30 am for friendly conversation and program on Thursdays, once a month. The brunch includes a hot entree, fruit cup, juice and coffee for just $4 and both require advance phone reservations.

Finally, the breakfast club meets monthly on the second Friday of each month at 9:30 am

More information can be found online at www.NRidgeville.org.