Arkansas state division takes over senior adult centers
Volunteers are needed to help during transition
Senior adult centers in Southwest Arkanasas will remain open, but operations are being taken over by the Arkansas Department of Human Services’ Aging and Adult Services Division.
The Southwest Arkansas Development Council recently terminated its operations at 12 senior adult centers because of financial issues.
Craig Cloud, director for Aging and Adult Services, visited the centers recently to dispel rumors.
Cloud assured everyone in attendance that the county senior adult centers were not closing, but they would only be open four days a week until the Area Agency on Aging could determine if there was enough funding to open the centers five days a week.
He said he expects a legislative audit of the development council to determine what caused the agency (SWADC) to terminate senior center operations.
SWADC operated senior centers in Ashdown, Foreman, Hope, De Queen, Horatio, Lockesburg, Ben Lomond, Fordyce, Texarkana, Nashville, Stamps and Prescott.
Operations include serving and delivering meals at centers and providing commodities, home health care and transportation service.
The centers in the entire region started losing money in 2012. A decline in population is believed to be one factor in some of the financial problems.
The funding was based on the 2010 population, and every county in Southwest Arkansas had a population decline from 2000 to 2010 except Miller and Sevier counties.
Ruthie Langston, executive director for the Area Agency on Aging of Southwest Arkansas, said the centers provide a retreat for senior adults in other ways besides meals.
One of the most important things is the social aspect.
“The hardest thing is being alone. It makes a difference when someone cares,” she said.
Cloud said fundraising at senior centers will stay local. Volunteers are needed at all centers to ensure services do not lapse during the next few weeks.