How Mitchell's James Valley Community Center helps elderly folks stay connected and thriving

Sep. 27—MITCHELL — As we age, life can come with a whole new set of challenges. While finding the time to do things might not be as hard of an issue, staying healthy and happy while remaining active can be more difficult.

Located a couple streets off of Main Street in Mitchell, the James Valley Community Center has a number of programs to assist folks to do just that, helping them find their stride as they hit their golden years.

Here are some of the ways they help people to lead active, fulfilling and healthy lives.

Many of the James Valley community programs are designed around doing shared activities. On every weekday except Tuesday, for instance, the center features a quilting get-together. People will come in to ask for a quilt to be made, and the club will sew it together collectively. It's a great social activity, said Jessica Pickett, community services director at James Valley.

To those who might feel a bit nervous or shy about meeting new people and getting involved at James Valley, Pickett said it's a welcoming place: often, existing members will take newcomers under their wing.

"We introduce them and people will take them under their wings — like the mahjong ladies and the pool players ... it's a great place to congregate, talk, enjoy each others' company and still be doing something physically," Pickett said.

Besides quilting and mahjong, there are also regular bingo nights, as well as ping pong tables and pool tables, among alot of other potential activities. One very popular activity right now is line dancing, which Pickett says always draws a good crowd. During the day, it's normal to see groups of friends hanging out in one of the center's multiple rooms, sitting at a table or engaging in some friendly competition over a game of pool. The center even has a Halloween costume party on Oct. 30.

Beyond being fun, remaining social also has profound benefits for wellbeing — increased lifespan, decreased dementia risks, and greater emotional satisfaction are just some of the many benefits that have been shown to be linked with remaining social.

"One of my favorite volunteers says 'You don't use it, you lose it. And she doesn't want to lose it.' That's why she does these different activities," Pickett said.

They also have a couple of different meal options, with the goal of promoting healthy, low-cost food options. It's also no secret that as we age, it's important to keep healthy eating habits in place, or form them for the first time. The right diet can be a very important part of longevity, playing a role in being around to see the ones we love.

"There are alot of studies that say a good diet is the most important thing to do to stay healthy," Pickett said. "Our meals are carefully reviewed and approved with our dietitian in a ton of categories like taste and nutrition."

James Valley has a dine-in as well as a pick up option. Both options come at a low cost, designed to be accessible to all regardless of budget size. Meals might include ham and baked potato, swedish meatballs or meatloaf, for instance. The food is designed to meet exactly one-third of recommended daily nutrition targets, reviewed by their dietitian to hit protein, calorie and vitamin targets, among others.

"It's common where people will say 'I want to eat healthier but I don't know what to make.' This allows them to eat healthy, without having to make all those decisions."