Following sparked interest online, a group of 40 met Wednesday, Oct. 29 at Three Oaks Assisted Living as owner Bobbie Nichols sought input and proposed group meetings for senior citizens in Dublin.
After polling the room, Nichols, who has devoted her professional life to taking care and enriching the lives of local seniors (through KB Enterprises owned with husband Keith), proposed that a group can meet several times per week for games, classes and activities.
The first meeting was set Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. in Three Oaks as seniors were invited to make personalized name tags and play a rousing game of bunco. (Activities will be posted weekly on Facebook through Dublin Citizen and Dublin TX Chatter as well as in the paper’s community calendar.)
Nichols is still seeking input on the group so she can properly fit the needs of Dublin (and surrounding communities). She can be reached at 254967-2307 or bobbien@ltcsys. com.
During the Oct. 29 meeting, guests enjoyed snacks and stated their wishes for the group.
One of the prime needs for several in attendance was just an opportunity to socialize as some who had moved into the area in the last several years said they never had opportunities to meet new friends and others who had lived in town for decades said they hadn’t seen some of their friends in the room for several years.
Some expressed interested in a place to exercise with other seniors but were informed that a group of Dublin seniors meets in the Station by First National Bank at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday for exercises led by DVD while Titan Fitness offers the Silver Sneakers program that accepts some forms of insurance.
Many admitted feeling the absence of a place for them in town after the senior citizen center was forced to close in 2020 from lack of funds and needed repairs to the building’s foundation and raingutters. Since then, the Stephenville Senior Citizen Center was available to all Erath County seniors as are activities at the Legacy center in Stephenville after it opened.
Several in attendance felt the Legacy didn’t fit their needs and also wished they didn’t have to drive to Stephenville for group activities.
Nichols said she intends for the group to be free so all who want can attend. A couple suggested small fees for events like bingo to help with prizes. Other suggested activities included gardening in a raised bed installed behind Three Oaks and line dancing (although a bigger space would be required). Nichols said she would just like to get started and they can build based on where the interest lies.