Canton Senior Center Set To Reopen Monday

CANTON, GA — Cherokee County Senior Services is re-opening its senior centers this month.

“I can’t say enough about how difficult this time has been for our clients and especially our staff,” said Cherokee Senior Services Director Tim Morris. “We are so excited to get them back in the centers, so they can see and talk to their friends again. We have personally seen the devastation this virus has caused our seniors in their social life, which is so important to them. Our promise to everyone: we will do everything in our power to keep our seniors safe at all times. I am very proud of our staff for implementing the safety protocols for everyone to follow.”

The Senior Center in Canton plans to reopen Monday on a limited basis. The Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The Center will be closed Thursdays but will continue lunch delivery to senior center clients.

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution Nov. 3 at the request of the Community Services Agency, requiring masks for all senior center attendees and staff.

There will be a limit of 15 clients allowed each day set up by a schedule based on mode of transportation and home location. Routes are still being determined based on where senior center clients live.

The Ball Ground Senior Center reopened Nov. 3, and clients are required to wear a mask. The building falls under mask requirements issued by the Ball Ground City Council.

Ball Ground Activity Coordinator Julie Arthur has implemented a plan that will allow up to 10 seniors each day. The Center will be open Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with lunch provided. Each senior should have their own bag of supplies for daily activities.

For both Centers, clients will have their temperatures checked each day, and both staff and clients who feel sick will not be allowed to enter. Clients who take CATS transportation will have their temperature checked before boarding the bus. Each Center will have a separate entrance and exit, and dining room seating will be structured so that clients keep the same seat throughout the day and no more than two clients will sit at one table.

Staff will service coffee, juice, snacks and water, and at lunch, food will be taken to the clients.
Clients will be asked to maintain social distancing when they walk around and only activities that can be provided safely will be offered.

The Silver Roamers group has been meeting for lunch throughout the summer and met as a group for an outside cookout in October. They recently had their first official day trip in October, following all safety protocols, practicing safe distancing and wearing a mask.

For information about the Cherokee Senior Centers re-openings, call 770-345-2675.