Rural Roots: Community Exemplifies Neighborly Love

By Kelli M. Donley

Smack dab in the middle of Missouri sits a small rural community of 500 people. Travelers may not realize they've visited Higbee until they've passed through -- there is no stoplight within town limits. Yet this small railroad community has made a name for itself by providing for seniors in need.

In 1972, a small group of volunteers in Higbee noticed nutritional lapses in the elderly population. One volunteer, Martin Robb, equipped with a homemade bicycle and a large basket, began delivering meals to seniors in the area. In 1973, the volunteers organized a not-for-profit organization to receive funding through the newly passed "Older American's Act." State funds and local donations purchased a small building, kitchen equipment, dining room furniture and raw food supplies. A cook was hired and the number of meals being prepared by the center immediately skyrocketed.

Today, some 30 years after volunteers started delivering meals to local seniors, the Higbee Senior Citizen Center provides adult day services, nutrition programs and health and wellness service to seniors in the area and in surrounding communities.

Barbara Brooks, executive administrator of Higbee Senior Citizen Center and Sunshine Adult Day Services joined the center in 1980 and immediately began coordinating activities and services.

"A few years after I joined the program, we had the opportunity to provide nutrition services to the entire county, with the exception of the larger towns that already had programs," she says. "We went from one person delivering meals in our town to four delivery drivers traveling nearly 65,000 miles yearly -- mainly remote areas and smaller towns."

Brooks says reaching out to the growing senior population is a continual challenge.

"There is a high percentage of elderly in Higbee and in many of the small rural towns in this area," she says. "The latest census shows for the county people age 60 and older consist of 21 percent of the population. Five percent of these seniors are handicapped adults."

Today, more than 27,235 meals are delivered to homebound elderly annually.

However, perhaps more impressive is the environment in which some 13,555 congregate meals are served -- the new 5,400 square foot Higbee Sunshine Senior Center. The new facility, which had a grand opening January 24, 2002, was funded in part by a State of Missouri Community Development Block Grant, a USDA Rural Development Grant/Loan, Neighborhood Assistance Program Funds and the United Way.

In addition to the nutrition services, Brooks says she is excited about the implementation of the adult day service program.

"After five years of planning and acquiring the funding to build a state-of-the-art facility, we are ready to proceed with this much needed service," she says. "It is our desire to provide a community-based healthcare option that will be far more beneficial than some of the other alternatives, as well as being much less costly for families."

Services provided through the center's adult day care include: supervision, recreation, group and individual activities, exercise, meals and snacks, personal care, socialization, education, transportation, healthcare, reality orientation, physical therapy, counseling, speech therapy, information and referral, occupational therapy, health screening and social services.

"We must continue to be vigilant as to what the needs of older people are and what we can offer in the way of new services, as well as what can be provided to help our elderly age successfully with minimum disease, disability and functional impairment," she says.

While the majority of the costs associated with the nutrition programs are funded federally through the Older Americans Act, adult day services will be funded by the individual, the individual's family, long-term care insurance, veteran's benefits, Medicaid or via special group assistance.

Goals of the adult day center include: promoting individual independence, helping an individual maintain a functioning level, rehabilitation, providing support and education to family members and caregivers, fostering an area for socialization and peer interaction and serving as a part of the community network.

For other communities interested in creating senior centers, Brooks offers the following advice: "It is a worthy goal, but it will take immense planning and research," she says. "Every community in America could greatly benefit by having their own center. Although senior centers are scattered across the United States, their mission swill be expected to change by the baby boomers -- who will expect more than a hot meal and daily recreational activities. Senior centers will have to offer more to the upcoming seniors and they will have to develop programs that answer all of an elderly person's needs at one location. Activities offered will be expected to be creative, exciting and educational."

Looking back on the past 30 years, from volunteers delivering homemade meals on bicycles to adult day care services provided in a technologically-advanced facility, Brooks says the community still has much to look forward to.

"I am extremely optimistic about the future and growth of our center and that it will continue to be a vital part of the community."

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