Lunch time at the Kosciusko Community senior center.

WARSAW — Local seniors who have not yet taken advantage of the services offered by Kosciusko Community Senior Services may have another incentive to check it out. According to the National Council on Aging, senior center participants have higher levels of health, social interaction and life satisfaction than their peers.

Kosciusko Community Senior Services is located inside the Pete Thorn Center at 800 North Park Avenue in Warsaw. KCSS offers a mobile meals program, handicapped accessible van transportation and a senior activity center.

Activities offered at the senior center include bingo, euchre, movies, birthday celebrations, crafts, chair aerobics, chair volleyball, dominoes and many other activities.

The first Wednesday of every month a birthday bash is held for all senior activity center members who have a birthday that month. Miller’s Merry Manor sponsors the meal for the birthday lunches, and Warsaw Meadows provides cupcakes and ice cream. Birthday recipients receive a small gift.

The senior activity center also offers health seminars and workshops, blood pressure screenings, hearing tests, foot clinics, help with Medicare and field trips.

David Neff, executive director of KCSS, says the key is for seniors to get out and about and interact with others.

Neff said it is important for seniors to avoid isolation because, “That’s when they start to go downhill.”

Dana Maggart, case worker for Hope Link, brings Ed Timmons to the senior center each day. Timmons was in a serious car accident in 1973 and cannot drive. Timmons was feeling very isolated so Maggart began bringing him to the senior center where he can have lunch and interact with friends. Maggart said, “I am so grateful for the day we walked through the doors of KCSS to investigate this as an option for Ed because it has been a huge help to him.”

Jean Ansell comes to the senior center every Monday through Friday. If it were not for the KCSS bus transportation, Ansell states she would not have a way to go anywhere. Ansell said the senior center activities are interesting and fun. Her favorite activities are playing dominoes and the chair volleyball on Thursdays. Ansell played volleyball in school and did not think she would ever have the opportunity to play again.

She states, “It’s such a thrill for me to do something I used to participate in when I was young. It makes me feel like I’m doing something really great.” Ansell said she tries to avoid scheduling doctor appointments on Thursdays because she does not want to miss chair volleyball at the senior center.

When asked what she would say to other seniors who have never been to the senior center and are thinking of coming, Ansell states, “I’d tell them to come on in – they will have a good time.”

With a mischievous grin, Ansell added, “I’d be glad to tell any of the senior women – there are a lot of nice men in here.”