Senior citizen programs at a standstill

CLOVIS - Senior citizens are an obvious high-risk population during the pandemic. And Clovis Senior Services Director Barbara Riggan said without a vaccine available it's possible senior centers across New Mexico will remain closed until spring.

Committee members met Thursday for the first time since November to discuss an uncertain future.

Locally, the pandemic has already led to the cancellation of the 54th nonagenarian tea, the Old-Timers Day slated for the now canceled Curry County Fair and the 50-Plus Olympics.

Melinda Coslett, a local representative for the games, said everything is at a standstill because members are unable to meet and install a 2020-21 board.

Coslett hated that she didn't have more information, but committee chair Rube Render responded that, "We're all pretty much in similar situations."

Coslett and Susan Zamora of the Curry County Retired Senior Volunteer Program noted they've each participated in companion calling programs where they telephone local senior citizens to check on needs and just provide conversation. Coslett said it's proven to be a worthwhile effort even as it's time-consuming.

A half-dozen simple checkups might take an hour, Coslett said, because many of the call recipients are so happy to talk and have plenty to talk about. The most asked questions are about when public schools will open again, as many seniors have grandchildren in local school systems.

Riggan noted in-person activities can't happen, but many activities are taking place on Facebook and Friday mornings feature parking-lot bingo.

Seniors arrive at the Friendship Senior Center parking lot at 10 a.m., tune to 88.5 FM for the announcer and use their car horns to signify a bingo.

The game has been so popular a Spanish version will begin on Wednesdays, also at 10 a.m.

In other business at the meeting:

• Riggan noted the Curry Residents Senior Meals Association has stayed busy despite eliminating in-person dining in March. For June, CRSMA served 11,074 meals to 529 customers - 6,995 grab-and-go meals serving 415 different seniors and 4,079 deliveries to 114 different seniors. A $3 donation is suggested but not required.

• David Briseno of La Casa said staff is still busy despite senior center closures, and noted the Portales and Clovis locations each received a new bus.

• Riggan hopes to have a new bus in October as part of a New Mexico Department of Transportation pilot program that would provide senior citizens with rides to medical appointments. The buses couldn't go to Texas, but Riggan anticipates a fixed route that will service communities in Curry and Roosevelt counties. She needs to consult with area doctors, as their schedules will guide decisions on route creation.

The bus can hold 10 people.

• Committee member Donna Labatt, participating by phone, made members aware of mailings she determined to be scams targeting seniors.

The mailings she received looked official at first glance, Labatt said, with references to health benefits and logos from prestigious universities. But they included no phone number, address or website to contact and a query of the company on the Better Business Bureau's website produced "a slew of negative comments."

Riggan said she wasn't sure if there was anything the city or the U.S. Postal Service could do about the mailings, but she would look into it.

• The next meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sept. 10.