“She’s always smiling,” said Ruth Dahl.
She has a “Personality plus,” commented Ruth Johnson.
“We will miss her.”
To the chagrin of the county’s elders, Cindy Velde retired as the Yellow Medicine Senior Advocate as of last Thursday.
For nine years, Velde has put an enormous amount of effort into looking out for the interests of the seniors, dutifully and cheerfully fulfilling her role as their ‘advocate.’
“You can always do more,” she said of her position. “You can never do too much.”
A lasting mark
By creating and expanding programs and activities, as well as a facilitating a new location for a senior center and meal site, Velde has left an indelible mark as she has increased the quality of life of the areas’ elderly.
Whether it was organizing one of the many group activities, from crochet groups to book clubs, or bringing in professional speakers, that included lawyers, law enforcement and medical personnel, to comment on relevant issues – Velde always made sure that something important, or at the very least stimulating, was available to the seniors. And, “I never turned down any ideas,” she said.
One of the programs Velde is particulary proud of is the approximately two year long running, “The Gathering.” Developed for persons with alzheimers and dementia, The Gathering allowed those with memory problems to come to gether for fellowship and memory stimulating activities while giving respite to caregivers in need of a break. Up to six clients would meet with the caregiver in the morning, where after conversation, brain exercises and stretching, individuals would be incorporated into the meal site to interact with other seniors. Then, in the afternoon they would take part in additional activities. Velde indicated that she would like to see this program expanded, but conceded that it would have to occur under her successor, who is expected to be chosen in the coming weeks.
Senior Center
Establishing a Senior Center that provided enough space to house such aforementioned programs and activities was perhaps Velde’s most notable accomplishment.
At the onset of her administration, Velde recalled how the senior meal site was located in the back room of the Jimmy’s Pizza where there was no heat in the winter and no air conditioning in summer. Striking a deal with United Church of Christ, she said the seniors were able to utilize the church until a deal cut with the city council allowed them to move to their present site beneath the library.
“For me to know the seniors have a place to call home is gratifying,” Velde said. “And that they’ve outgrown it, is even more exciting.”
Originally setup to be for the short term, the seniors have called the present location of the senior center their home for the last seven years. Velde has been active in pursuing a new location and says that, if there’s one area where she will continue to serve a role, it will be in the establishment of the new senior center.
