Supervisors are working to bring an adult day care center to Lincoln County, according to one supervisor present at a recent community meeting.

During a community meeting geared toward senior citizens in the area, many expressed concern about the lack of facilities for seniors. Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District Program Coordinator Michelle Singleton was the speaker for the event and said that Brookhaven used to have a facility, located on Williams Street, that allowed caretakers to bring senior citizens for care throughout the day. There would be food and activities there for those who attended.

However, Singleton said that after a while attendance dwindled to about three participants a day. Although the facility remained open for a few more years with such low participation, the cost-effectiveness of the program became questionable and the facility was closed.

Lincoln County District 1 Supervisor Jerry Wilson told the audience that he and another supervisor are working on ways to bring such a facility to Brookhaven.

“We can have one right in Lincoln County, and we can hire people in Lincoln County to help run it,” Wilson said. “It’ll be a help to everybody.”

Other topics Singleton spoke about included the organization’s homemaker service, meals program, case management services, transit services and the vouchers available to those 60 and older.

Homemaker service brings someone to homes once a week to take care of light chores such as dusting, sweeping, mopping and laundry. SWMPDD’s meal program delivers five meals to clients’ doorsteps. Meals are prepared by Valley Services in Magee, which supplies the cafeterias of many hospitals in the area. Transit services for the Brookhaven and Lincoln County area are provided through Five County Community Transportation, which is contracted through SWMPDD.

Singleton also spoke about respite care services SWMPDD offers that provide caregiver relief to people who live with those to whom they give care. Singleton also said that she’d be sending notifications to the Senior Center about when she’ll be dispersing vouchers at the center.

“I’m 55 years old,” Wilson said explaining his and Ward 3 Alderman Mary Wilson’s motivation to plan such community events. “We need to put things in place so they’ll be there when we and others need them.”