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Senior Citizen Center Plano Tx – “He made the heart gesture with his fingers and held it up to the window,” Gordon said, recalling one volunteer’s experience after dropping off her shopping.
PLANO, Texas – Two programs in Plano are helping seniors connect with each other and get help while sheltering in place.
Senior Citizen Center Plano Tx
“They are the highest of the high-risk groups and in some cases the least mobile,” said Fabian Gordon of the Plano Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association.
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In Plano, there are two groups working to reach seniors isolated in their homes. Gordon has helped organize a program called Members Assisting Plano. The program was initially designed to help seniors within the police alumni association, but they later decided to expand. With this program, seniors can have groceries or other items delivered to their door through a volunteer.
Brent Bloechle is a Plano city library manager and now helps organize senior care calls, where library staff routinely call seniors and check in on them during self-isolation.
Elderly people voluntarily sign up for the Senior Care Calls program or a family member has signed up.
“The goal is to give them a social outlet and chat about something they like to talk about,” Bloechle said.
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The simple task of chatting with someone means connecting, and that’s what Brent hopes happens with every phone call. The group has connected with 64 seniors so far and hopes to expand that number.
Bloechle says staff cannot talk to seniors about financial, health or legal matters. But they are happy to connect the elderly with other appropriate services in the city.
Members attending Plano helped four seniors with groceries last week. They have also delivered items to local food banks for the families.
“We’re providing them with a sense of community. Being cooped up at home takes that out of you,” Gordon said.
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Both programs are in full swing and work because of the feedback they have received from the people they have helped. “He made the heart gesture with his fingers and held it up to the window,” Gordon said, recalling one volunteer’s experience after dropping off her shopping.
“I feel like they’re making an impact after every time they have a call with a person,” Bloechle said of the effect those calls have had on his staff. Couples take a spin around the floor in one of the ballrooms twice a month. dances at the Plano Senior Recreation Center. (Jason Janik/Special Contributor)
Every week, senior centers around Dallas open their doors to dozens who like to kick up their heels. When people over 50 walk through these doors, they find more than a fun afternoon and great exercise. Many discover a sense of community, a group of like-minded friends, and a way to escape from everyday stress, even if only for a few hours.
Richard Lai (foreground), with his wife, Clansy, dance to big band music during a dance held by the Marilyn Meyers Dance Connections Club at Sokol Dallas.
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“Two and a half hours of dancing seems to have passed so quickly. It’s over before you know it,” says Clansy Lai of Plano. “You don’t have time to think about the little problems you have. You are very happy, relaxing and dancing to the music.”
Ballroom dancing has been a part of Clansy and her husband Richard’s life for as long as they can remember. They grew up watching their parents dance in Mauritius, and Richard and Clansy started dancing together as teenagers. Dancing was put on hiatus, however, after they moved to Canada for college and then Richard’s career with Frito-Lay Canada and PepsiCo brought them to Plano. Now that their two children are grown and Richard is semi-retired, dance has become an important part of their lives.
“We dance for three hours straight, usually,” says Richard. “Our son said, ‘Every time you go dancing, you do 9 miles.’ So in a week you dance three times. This is a marathon every week.’ We love to dance.”
The Lais first ventured to the Plano Senior Recreation Center nearly 10 years ago. For just $5 each, couples like the Lais can bring the cool light to a live band with songs like “In the Mood” and “Moon River.” The Lais knew right away that they had found the perfect place.
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“The people were very friendly and we loved the place,” he says. “From there, we have another list of places to dance. So now we’re going to dance in all the senior centers, like Plano, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Garland, Richardson, Irving.”
It’s not uncommon for the Lais to run into their fellow dancers at larger dances like Marilyn Meyers Dance Connections Club at Sokol Dallas in Lower Greenville, Tanglefoot Ballroom Dance Club at National Hall in Fort Worth, and Metro Dance Club at Swingtime in Fort Worth.
“We always look forward to the next dance,” says Clansy, a former accountant and stay-at-home mom. “It’s like a big family. And it’s good for seniors. Good exercise and entertainment, and you relax.”
They know which nights there are which clubs and bands are scheduled each month. Favorites are Jack Melick and Doc Gibbs.
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Richard especially finds it amusing that he and Clansy often unexpectedly run into their dancing friends on cruises. Or they plan to meet on the ship. Once there, they know how to encourage others to join their fun.
“For a lot of people, it’s a bit intimidating to dance on a cruise, so they don’t dance too much,” says Richard, 67, who also swims and plays badminton to keep fit. “But my wife and I love to dance regardless. Once we start dancing, guess what? People join us.”
The band High Caliber performs during a dance at the Plano Senior Center. (Jason Janik/Special Contributor)
Women line up for their next ballroom dancing partner during a dance held by the Marilyn Meyers Dance Connections Club at Sokol Dallas (Rex C. Curry/Staff Photographer)
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Michael Champion, left, and June Shin dance to big band music during a dance held by Marilyn Meyers Dance Connections at Sokol Dallas. (Rex C. Curry/Special Contributor)
Grafton Cooper, left, and Sharon Clute, a ballroom dance instructor, dance to big band music during a dance held by Marilyn Meyers Dance Connections at Sokol Dallas. (Rex C. Curry/Special Contributor)
Johnny Tan, left, and Estelle Holtwick dance to big band music during a dance held by Marilyn Meyers Dance Connections at Sokol Dallas. (Rex C. Curry/Staff Photographer)
Dance instructor Sharon Clute of Lake Highlands is among the Lais’ circle of dance friends who often gather weekly around Dallas.
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“I have been addicted to dance for 50 years. I love to dance to all kinds of music, especially Big Band music,” says Clute, 55, former co-owner of Dancemasters in Lake Highlands. “I’ve made a lot of friends during my dance career. I go to a lot of places to meet – them, and they are all places to dance.”
Retired real estate agent Estelle Holtwick has also caught the dancing bug. She was drawn to dance when her co-workers suggested she needed something more than work. For eight years after her husband’s death, she immersed herself in her career at Henry S. Miller and Prudential.
“The women I worked with told me, ‘You have to do something else.’ They got on the computer and came up with the senior center. They said, ‘If you don’t go, we’re going to get you. and we’ll make sure you go,” says Holtwick, who lives on the north end of Dallas.
He’s been dancing ever since, often reserving a table for his friends and calling them ahead of time to see who’s coming. She mostly dances at the Farmers Branch Senior Center and the Carrollton Senior Center, but also enjoys the Plano Senior Center. She is not alone.
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“The Plano Senior Center has become one of my favorite places,” says Clute, who works in the oil industry by day and dances with friends or the Dallas Tap Dazzlers in her spare time. “It’s one of the few places where a single woman can go alone, have a good time and feel no pressure, but can enjoy herself in a safe and friendly environment.”
Richard points out that no one stays idle for long. Even he and Clansy often split up so they can take out others on the ground. The tight-knit group makes sure everyone gets a chance, even if they come alone, he says. They often do a shuffle dance where men and women line up on opposite sides, a whistle blows and everyone switches partners.
“My cardiologist said to keep dancing. It’s good for my heart,” she says. “It’s good for everything: socially, mentally, physically.”
Clansy, a health nut who also does yoga, meditates and swims, says, “It’s good for your posture, your bones and everything.” He also admits that dancing has overcome his shyness, and it’s an excuse to go out.
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“It gives me a chance to dress up, put on makeup and make myself pretty,” she says. “It’s given me the opportunity to make good friends, friends that we see week after week.”
“My cardiologist said to keep dancing. It’s good for mine
