Hot? Centers Open to Older Residents

By Jon Cawley, Daily Press, Newport News, Va.

Jul. 10–GLOUCESTER — Older Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck residents have a cooler option than stewing in this week’s excessive heat.

A Bay Aging official said the organizations’ senior activity centers will extend hours of operation this week, and as needed for the rest of the summer, to provide a respite from the heat.

In all, 10 air-conditioned centers are located in each Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck county, and are available to residents 60 years old and over, said Patsy Taylor, Bay Aging vice president of care coordination.

The centers are normally open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This week, those hours have been extended to 4:30 p.m. and will include Tuesday and Thursday. The Gloucester Active Lifestyle Center is already open five days a week, but the extended hours will be observed during the heat wave, Taylor said.

After this week, Taylor said the group would monitor weather changes and extend future operational hours as needed.

Lunch will be served to residents who wish to visit a center and call before 11 a.m. to reserve, Taylor said.

At the centers, residents can also apply for Bay Aging’s Fan Care and Cooling Assistance programs that provide fans or financial assistance to pay utility bills or purchase a home air conditioner, Taylor said.

For more information, call Bay Aging’s Care Coordination offices at 1-800-493-6109 on the Middle Peninsula or 1-800-493-0238 on the Northern Neck.

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