Senior center asks Little Rock for funds, told to wait; city board members want more details

Little Rock's only center devoted entirely to senior wellness must wait at least two weeks to find out if it will receive city funding to help it stay open.

The CareLink Fitness and Wellness Center, located at 1200 S. Cleveland St., asked the city's Board of Directors for $90,000 in the remainder of 2018 and $180,000 in each following year until it is able to meet its own financial needs.

CareLink CEO Luke Mattingly said the center faces a budget shortfall of about $195,000. The center has more than 500 participants, about 300 of whom are paying members, Mattingly said. All members are reportedly Little Rock residents.

"We envisioned a larger membership base but have not been able to sustain financial viability of the facility," Mattingly said. "It broke my heart when I had to announce that we were going to close it, because it is a great place for seniors."

At its Monday night meeting, the board opted to delay voting on providing the requested funds for two weeks. Some members expressed a need to know more details about what the money would go toward and how the city's 2019 budget would be affected.

Mattingly said the shortfall resulted from a change in state funding for the nonprofit.

City Director Doris Wright said she found out about the facility's financial troubles in late May.

"We have so many of our seniors that go over there for their back, for their arthritis, and they need this support," she said.

Wright has also proposed forming a commission on aging to address the needs of senior citizens as well as Little Rock's ability to attract retirees. Nearly 13 percent of Little Rock's population -- roughly 26,000 people -- are 65 years of age or older, according to U.S. Census data from 2017.

The CareLink Fitness and Wellness Center provides targeted group fitness classes to help seniors with pain and balance issues they may face through programs such as aqua walking, bean bag baseball and ballroom dancing. There are also courses in cooking and managing diabetes. Mattingly noted that both Jacksonville and Conway have specialized senior centers.

"When seniors have a dedicated place for them to go, that's where they're going to go," he said.

The Cleveland Street facility was where Barbara Vaught went when doctors told her swimming would help her knee problems. Vaught, who spoke at the meeting in support of funding the center, praised the pool's quality and said that going ballroom dancing at the center on Wednesday and Friday nights helped improve her balance, easing her worries about descending stairs.

"For a 77-year-old woman, I'm in really good shape," Vaught said.

City leaders noted that other local facilities, including the Jim Dailey Fitness and Aquatic Center and the Hays Senior Center in North Little Rock, offer similar services. CareLink also provides senior services throughout the city, including hot lunches via Meals on Wheels and resources for caregivers.

Metro on 07/03/2018

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