This is just some of the staff that make Whiteside County Senior Center a huge success. Pictured are Ruth Adams (front row L-R), Barbara Smith, Hannah Winge and Sharon Handel; Alma Schetteler (second row, L-R), Diana Lange, Karen Muow, Marie McDonnell and Gloria Anderson; Paula Rodriguez (third row, L-R), Carol Nicklaus, Gordon Cooper, Sue Renner, Janice Bell, Mary Velazquez, Denise Mickelson, Bev Armstrong and Roy Armstrong; and Doug Sandrock (back row). Missing from the picture are Angela Church, Betty Huntley, Jim Wesner, Ron Faust, Warren Baxter, Al Geesey, Rosemary Hindley and Shirley Schwarz.

Meet the staff and volunteers
By Denise Mickelson

Earlier this week, someone approached a fellow employee and said, “You have so many people that work here, that when I call I never know who I’m talking to.” That gave one of our employees a wonderful idea. Over the next several months we will be introducing you to our staff and volunteers. This way you can get to know more about them and what their part in making the senior center a success is all about.

In our first issue you can see our group photo. Although several people are not present, we may not be the tiny organization you thought we were. It takes many dedicated employees and volunteers to make the senior center a success. In the weeks ahead we will break down each of our departments, take a closer look at the individuals that will be assisting you in that department, what their experience is, and what they can offer you!

Here is a little history on the senior center. The senior center first opened its doors 25 years ago 1979 in what is now known as AMCORE Bank. In 1985 the center moved to its present location at 1207 W. Ninth St., Sterling. For those of you who are unsure of where that is, the easiest way to tell you where we are is to go to the Dairy Queen, take a right, and we are five blocks down on your left. It’s that simple.

We decided our services were expanding and we needed to expand and in the fall of 1999 opened our doors to more offices, a larger dining area, a bingo hall, and an Adult Day Center. For those of you who have not had a chance to stop by the Whiteside County Senior Center we invite you do so. We have many things going on inside and outside. Stay tuned in further editions of the Senior Echo for features of each department and what they can offer you!

Getting to know the staff at ‘Time Was’

“Time Was” Adult Day Center has been part of the Whiteside County Senior Center for nearly five years now. It provides a protective environment for your loved one. The atmosphere, transportation, breakfast and noon meal not only give the senior a day away from home, but additionally allows the caregiver an opportunity to relieve stress and accomplish other tasks.
“Time Was” Adult Day Center not only handles clients with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis, they also can take care of your loved one after getting over a stroke, an illness, or for companionship. They have a registered nurse on staff that you will meet later. Bring your loved one into the “Time Was” Adult Day Center and they will have a full day of enjoyment. Whether it’s going on outings or having fun with indoor baseball we will find a way for your loved one to enjoy the day.

Now lets meet the staff:

Sharon Handel has been here for four years and is our day center supervisor. She is a certified nurses aide and first aid certified. She has attended the State Adult Day Care Training, numerous caregiver workshops and an aromatherapy workshop. She plans the outings, games, crafts and so on for our day center. She has a CL and can drive our busses to take clients on trips or to pick them up or take them home.
Lynn Clark is our registered nurse. She’s been an RN for 17 years, since 1977, and in long term care for the last 15 years. She has been with our day center for about a year. With her medical background, she is able to give other staff hands on training that is needed for state requirements.
Mary Velasquez has been with our day center for four years. Her experience comes from taking care of her mother, who had Alzheimer’s for 6 1/2 years in her home. that is enough hands-on training for an expert. She also has taken a class called “A therapeutic Approach to Caregiving.”
Gloria Anderson has been at our day center for eight months. She started out working as a sitter for Home Instead Health Care and before that she worked at CGH Medical Center.
All of our aides are CPR certified and take monthly training to care for your loved one. By bringing your loved one to the “Time Was” Adult Day Center, not only will you get a break in your day, you will have peace of mind knowing that your loved one is being watched over by experienced personnel.

Meet Michelle

This is a new face you will be seeing and hearing a lot about here at the senior center. Michelle Frank will be taking the place of our current director Ruth Adams. Ruth will remain on our staff part-time until Michelle receives her certification training in adult day care. A lot of you may know her as Michelle Martinez, formerly the manager of Ponderosa, or Kentucky Fried Chicken in Sterling. She has been in restaurant management for 22 years. Because she has been born and raised here in the Twin Cities, she is familiar with local agencies and who runs them. A lot of these people also associate with the senior center so she kind of grandfathers in with knowing people. While she was working for Ponderosa she earned acknowledgments for local marketing techniques that were adapted nationwide! Michelle is currently attending Sauk Valley Community College for her communications degree. This will really help the senior center with our radio ads and our newspaper ads, and marketing.
As for Michelle’s experience with seniors and caregiving, just say she’s been there, done that. She has been involved personally with caregiving and Hospice and is no stranger to them.
Michelle’s duties as an executive director will be to oversee the operations of the senior center, write grants, and promote awareness of the senior center and their activities. She also needs to be responsible for the development of the senior center, plus there are many other duties in her job description that are going to be keeping her busy. Michelle already has some new ideas ot put in place. She is a self starter and a hard worker, and very determined. She already has gone out into the community and introduced herself to many people, first hand through transportation talks and by handing our food from our food pantry. The staff has had about a month to work with her and everyone seems to feel she is a good choice for Ruth’s replacement. Although Ruth will be missed once she’s gone, Michelle will make sure the legacy of the Whiteside County Senior Center lives on!

Get to know our Outreach Department

The Whiteside County Senior Center Outreach Department has one main purpose. That is to help older persons lead independent, meaningful and dignified lives in their own homes and community as long as possible.
We accomplish this through providing programs and advocating on behalf of seniors for various benefits and services.
We realize older adults need information and assistance services because of many factors. Including lack of knowledge about what is available, lack of time to research options, confusion, and intimidating eligibility and documentation requirements. It is our job as Outreach workers to educate the community and seniors about these services.
We will do home visits to the homebound, people can come to the office to receive help, call the office, or we go out to various places in the community where we may offer services. Our role is to give information and assistance to older persons and get them the help they need by utilizing the experience, education and training we have had over the years.
Now lets meet our Outreach staff. Denise Mickelson is our Outreach supervisor, and has been at the senior center for four years. She has taken Social Service classes at Sauk Valley College, is a first responder for Tampico Ambulance, and trained in CPR. To keep her First Responder license current, she attends monthly training meetings for Tampico Ambulance. She has worked with the public for more than 15 years. Denise has been in a supervisor position for seven years. In addition to this training, she attends the yearly Circuit Breaker training to keep seniors and staff informed on the most current and up to date information on the program. Denise is a notary public and can assist in filling out your power of attorney papers, and homestead exemption papers.
Karen Mouw has 20 years of nursing home experience at a local nursing home where she is now helping a lot of her clients daughters or families. Karen has been doing informal information and assistance in the nursing home for the 30 years she was there working in activities. She has an associate’s degree in sociology. Upon retirement from the nursing home she came to the Senior Center to continue her career with the elderly. She has been with the senior center almost four years.
Diane Lange is a past local hospital auxiliary board president. This makes her very active in her community. Diane also has her notary stamp to help the homebound fill out their homestead papers or power of attorney papers. She was a hospice volunteer and worked one on one with the terminally ill patients, and has gone through the counseling needed for grieving. Diane has been with the senior center for three years.
All workers have completed tests required to keep current to keep up to date, and complete your Circuit Breaker, LIHEAP, Public Aid, Power of Attorney papers.
As you can see our Outreach Department is well staffed and ready to service anyone in Whiteside County area.
If you have any questions or concerns for our department, please call us at 626-7707.