ABOUT US

Public Purpose

Washington County Healthy Living Association (WCHLA), the Senior Activity Center, follows the mandates of the Older Americans Act in pursuing two primary goals. The first is to give quality and dignity to the lives of senior citizens by promoting community involvement, healthy habits, and independent living. WCHLA's efforts include:

     •  teaching good health and nutritional habits    
     •  creating interaction between its senior citizens
         and their community
     •  providing higher education classes    
     •  encouraging peer camaraderie and group
         support, and . . . 
     •  just plain "having fun"   

Each works toward giving strength and support toward independence for senior citizens throughout their "golden years."

Lillie and Vincent Krupka (donor of the "Krupka Van")

The Senior Activity Center's second goal is to give relief to the huge and growing costs of medical and nursing home expenses, which are primarily paid for by our tax dollars through Medicare and Medicaid. The average cost of nursing home care is about $3,500 per month, per person. If a senior citizen requires help from home health care attendants giving support in a senior's home, which enables that senior continued independence, those costs average only about $1,200 per month.

Ruth Necker, Gladys Winkleman, Ruth Emshoff

Baby boomers started reaching their senior years four years ago and there are 74 million on the horizon. Between 2011 and 2029, a 'boomer' will turn 65 at the rate of 1 every 8 seconds! The cost of their care has become a national crisis that is only going to worsen unless lifestyle changes are made now. It obviously benefits us all to support seniors in their endeavors to stay involved, healthy and independent.

There will always be a need for nursing home care, but we must look to the future with a new vision for our growing senior population. We are living longer, and we must focus toward staying healthy, active and independent. That is WCHLA's mission; that is who we are; and that is what we strive to do—not just for the 5000+ senior residents of Washington County, but for the benefit of all citizens of Washington County.

2024-2025 Board of Directors

CHAIRMAN
Luther Hueske
 
VICE-CHAIRMAN
Gary Appelt
 
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Joy Fuchs
 
SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE
Evelyn Mayo
Lottie Teagler
 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Don Voelter - Chair
Barbara Hemmer
​Lete Phillips
Dottie Schaer

Board Members
Deanna Alfred
Ginger Bosse
​Leah Cook
Misti Corn
Nancy Neiser-Davis
Nita Hyatt
Pat Lueckemeyer
Steve Miller
Russell Rogas
Charlotte Smith

Frank Blizzard, Sallie Blackie Sengel, Steve Miller, Don Voelter

Admin Staff:

​EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Willy Dilworth

ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Charlotte Avera

RESALE SHOP DIRECTOR
Virginia Boeker


​


 

---