Caring for the old folks

Congratulations are in order for Becky Dutcher who is retiring from Management of McCook Housing Agency. You may know the place as Missouri Avenue Circle. Becky has managed the place for umpteen years and upon reaching the age of retirement is happy to turn the reigns over to new talent. During her tenure she has been the sparkplug that purchased the East Ward Campus and converted the old school into comfortable apartments plus added attractive duplex apartments to cover the former playground. She saw to improving and remodeling the Missouri Avenue campus including the office and its string of independent living apartments. Unwilling to rest from her accomplishments she also assumed the management of similar facilities in nearby Curtis and Cambridge.

The concept of our government helping to provide housing for persons of low income came to us during the Presidency of Ronald Reagen. As with any government agency the paperwork is cumbersome and involved. It takes an adept manager and an attentive local board of directors to govern it well. Obviously, our locals have done a good job because after all it is our tax money that is spent to make it all possible.

In days not long past our old folk were normally cared for by family. As a young child I remember that my great-grandmother lived with her youngest son and his family here in McCook. She was a woman who had homesteaded and built somewhat of a small empire south of Culbertson. She was a widow and whether or not she needed assistance in her daily life I know not but it seemed normal that she lived with the younger family. The story of my wife’s family was somewhat the same and I expect that was normal for the elderly at least in this area.

Then a new concept came on the scene. Lloyd Benjamin built a complex called Highland Park and the Larmons built what they called Willow Ridge, now Kinship Pointe. Private apartments for singles or couples to live independently. They also created a suite of assisted living apartments with medically qualified personnel available to give out medications and limited assistance for those persons with greater needs. Meals were provided for all the residents although small kitchens were a part of the independent living facilities. Garages were available for rent and the upkeep of the roads and grounds is attractively provided. Rents are reasonable when compared with the upkeep of a private home. Limited recreation and activities are also provided but a real bonus is the camaraderie of similar-aged residents.

Yes many of our elderly might prefer to live with their younger families as in days past. Then too for a price people living alone can contract with local firms to provide living assistance on a part-time or twenty-four-hour basis.

Many years ago Red Willow County had the foresight to build a County owned and operated nursing home. Designed for long-term care of patients in need of nursing care. Hillcrest Nursing home has been expanded and improved over the years and now includes independent living apartments on the lower level. Those apartments complete with meals served are idea for senior couples who have one member in need of the nursing services upstairs and the other desiring to live close by. A clever move not long ago was to include a day care center on the lower level to provide for young medically qualified mothers (nurses), needing daycare for their young children, to work upstairs in the long-term care facilities.

The point is that this area is served by a range of options for older folk to continue living nearby without burdening their families and long-time friends. Choices.

Thanks to federal money McCook has another appropriately named place called the Senior Center. Actually, it is managed by the City of McCook. It serves a congregate noon meal each weekday. They also prepare meals for persons who prefer to pick them up and consume them elsewhere plus volunteers deliver to the homebound. Public transportation is available and very reasonable in price. Recreation activities are also a part of the venue. A donation is suggested.

Now understand I have mentioned all the above with McCook’s name on it but understand that all persons in the surrounding area are more than welcome.

A happy thing about living in McCook is to note the patriotic display of so many American flags about everywhere you look in town. Still, this being Nebraska where the wind can blow strong on occasion many of those wonderful flags do become torn and tattered. The winds came last week and I’ve noticed many tattered flags which rather pierce this old vet’s heart. You patriots out there might check yours and see if it needs replacing. Our Veterans Service Officer at the Masonic Building has a container, and another at our Courthouse where you can deposit the unserviceable flags, for free, and they will be properly disposed of.

That is the way I saw it.

Dick Trail