Hill County senior centers reopening next week

After spending more than a year with the doors closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hill County senior citizens centers are reopening next week.

“It’s a joyous occasion, because for over 16 months, we’ve been closed to most of the public. We have seen some people for cases where we had to get information. But it’s a joyous thing because the senior center has been very quiet and unused, Hill County Council on Aging Director Don Kenny said.

“I’m just really happy to have the opportunity to have our seniors, have volunteers come back and assist us. And it’s a great thing. There’s been a lot of social isolation out there caused by this pandemic over the last 16, 17 months,” he added.

The North Central Senior Citizens Center in Havre, the nutrition site in Gildford and the Hi-Line Senior Center in Rudyard are all reopening Wednesday.

Hill County Council on Aging employee Marci Bergren said the center had to pass inspection and establish a protocol with the county nurse and the commissioners in order to re-open.

“We’ve been closed since last March, when everything was shut down. And as long as the cases are active, they didn’t want us to be open. In that, for us to be opening they really wanted the count below four for Hill County of active cases,” she said.

Although the Havre center will be open to the public, restrictions will be in place. The center will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. only. Upon entering the building, patrons will have to wear a mask and temperatures will be taken at the door.

“One thing I did was I hired a part time infection control assistant, and that young man is going to be with a staff member when they come in for the congregate meal program, and to greet our customers, and to take a non-invasive temperature rating, and ask anybody if they’ve been sick,” Kenny said.

He said they also are adding a space for phone numbers on the signup sheet in case there ever is a need to contact trace, he added.

The number of occupants in the building will have to be limited. Meals will be provided in the dining room. Meals will be served at tables and there will be a limit of four guests per table. Patrons will be asked to remain seated once they’ve selected their table.

“Once they select the table they’re going to be at, we will be serving meals and we will also be picking up the dishes at the end of the meal and bringing it to the dirty dishwashing sites. We will be doing disinfection and cleaning after the meal every day and before the next day,” Kenny said.

Kenny said a special mister and tablets that are effective against the COVID virus for disinfection and cleaning have been purchased. He added that grab-and-go meals would also be available. Patrons are asked to call for the to-go bags before 10 a.m. the day they wish to pick one up.

The center is still providing limited services by phone with individuals bringing their paperwork down to the center only if they have an appointment. Help is also being given over the phone whenever possible.

Bergren said she wants everyone to remember to make an appointment if they need help from her, and everyone must wear a mask.

The senior center will provide senior transportation Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday transportation is limited to people with medical needs. For shopping trips to Walmart, call ahead. Shopping trips are the first Thursday of the month from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

No more grocery deliveries will be made.

For more information on the Council on Aging, people can visit https://hillcounty.us/departments/council-on-aging .