Through federal Older Americans Act funding, Trellis supports home and community-based services that help older adults meet basic needs and live stable and secure lives. These services help people with low incomes and those facing other disparities in the seven-county metro area. The formula for distributing OAA funds across Minnesota is currently being debated. Add your voice to the Minnesota Board on Aging Request for Comment on the Intrastate Funding Formula to ensure an equitable formula for metro older adults.
Jim Wilzbacher is a man of many experiences and has lived a full life. Today, he lives at Central Towers, a senior community in Saint Paul.
Central Towers offers a group meal to residents daily at noon provided by Optage, a Presbyterian Homes & Services service, and funded by Trellis with Older Americans Act dollars.
Jim looks forward to lunchtime. It is a break in his day to connect with others and enjoy a good meal.
According to Jim, “Eric, the cook, always does a fantastic job with the budget he was given. The meals are nutritious and always include vegetables, meat and bread. I appreciate the effort put into the food.”
People can take their lunch back to their apartments, but Jim loves the camaraderie of the dining room. It’s a chance to connect with others and see how they are doing. For Jim, it is an opportunity to get to know people, to talk about their health, family and anything else that comes to mind. He says, “I am a people person and love the chance to make connections.”
“Yesterday, I felt like I was in a piano bar,” says Jim. A violinist and saxophonist joined the lunch. “It was a lovely surprise and made me feel we were somewhere special.” His connection with the people in the dining room is essential to him. He says he would feel isolated and alone if it wasn’t for lunchtime.
For Jim, there are connections to be made, people to meet and stories to hear. Lunchtime is one way to do that, and Jim cherishes every moment.
