The city of Lexington is working to improve the lives of the area's elderly and disabled. The director of Lexington’s Aging and Disability Services Division says from last June to the end of April 679 new seniors joined in city programming. Kristy Stambaugh offered an update to the city council’s General Government and Social Services Committee last week. Stambaugh said COVID has taught staff members communication technology assistance remains the biggest need.
“So, we have hired an independent contractor. He is there three days a week, doing tech assistance. Drop-in, so if you have a question about your smartphone or your smart tablet or your laptop, he’s there three days a week, to lend one on one kind of a system,” said Stambaugh.
Stambaugh talked about programming at the Lexington Senior Center, the Bell House, the Charles Young Center, and the Black and Williams Center. During the same April through March time frame, Stambaugh said three social workers provided more than 54 hundred different services.
Lexington was deemed a dementia-friendly community in early 2020. Stambaugh noted the focus is on business designations.
“So what we’re aiming for is 50% of the direct-line employees attend a training online and in-person on industry-specific criteria and that 100% of management in those companies do the same.”
Stambaugh said programming at the four different senior facilities includes 32 group fitness classes, 26 art-music classes, as well as educational sessions.
