New Agape Center on Lincolnia Road offers social outlet for seniors
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| A bingo game in the main room of the new Agape center in Lincolnia. |
About 150 seniors are enjoying organized activities and a
chance to socialize every day at the new Agape adult daycare center on
Lincolnia Road.
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| A friendly game in one of the activity rooms. |
The new facility, which opened in November, offers “a better environment for seniors” than
the former facility it replaced on General Washington Drive in Alexandria, says
Dong Chul Choi, executive director of Agape Adult Day and Home Care. Unlike the
old building, the Lincolnia center has a fenced-in outdoor seating area where
clients can enjoy nature when the weather is nice.
the former facility it replaced on General Washington Drive in Alexandria, says
Dong Chul Choi, executive director of Agape Adult Day and Home Care. Unlike the
old building, the Lincolnia center has a fenced-in outdoor seating area where
clients can enjoy nature when the weather is nice.
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| The exercise room. |
Most of the clients are Korean, although everyone is
welcome. The center is open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
welcome. The center is open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
The new building’s main room, a two story open area with
crystal chandeliers and natural light, is used for meals and activities like
bingo and sing-a-longs.
crystal chandeliers and natural light, is used for meals and activities like
bingo and sing-a-longs.
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| Bingo in the main room. |
It’s surrounded by 10 small rooms for other activities, like
mahjong, cards, or other games, art lessons, or quiet relaxation. One room is full of
exercise equipment; another is a computer lab; and there’s a room where clients
can enjoy a quiet cup of coffee or tea and catch up on the news from Korea.
mahjong, cards, or other games, art lessons, or quiet relaxation. One room is full of
exercise equipment; another is a computer lab; and there’s a room where clients
can enjoy a quiet cup of coffee or tea and catch up on the news from Korea.
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| The backyard gets more visitors on warmer days. |
The center offers classes in English, calligraphy, computer
basics, crafts, and Bible studies. Agape provides bus transportation
from clients’ private homes or senior residences, such as the Evergreen House in
Annandale.
basics, crafts, and Bible studies. Agape provides bus transportation
from clients’ private homes or senior residences, such as the Evergreen House in
Annandale.
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| The main entrance. |
Clients come from Annandale, Alexandria, Springfield, Burke
and there are even some from as far as Centreville, Choi says.
and there are even some from as far as Centreville, Choi says.
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| A client takes a break in a massage chair. |
The average of age of clients is the mid-80s. Some have
memory disorders, disabilities, or chronic diseases. The center doesn’t provide
medical services, but there is a nurse on site. For those without Medicaid, the
cost is $60 a day. That includes transportation, breakfast, lunch, a snack, and
all activities.
memory disorders, disabilities, or chronic diseases. The center doesn’t provide
medical services, but there is a nurse on site. For those without Medicaid, the
cost is $60 a day. That includes transportation, breakfast, lunch, a snack, and
all activities.
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| The coffee lounge. |
Without a place like Agape, Choi says, many of these people
would be stuck at home with a caregiver. Most of them immigrated when they were
older to join adult children in Virginia and don’t have good English skills,
which makes them even more isolated.
would be stuck at home with a caregiver. Most of them immigrated when they were
older to join adult children in Virginia and don’t have good English skills,
which makes them even more isolated.
“Here, they have a chance to socialize,” Choi says. “They’re
not just sitting around at home watching TV.”
not just sitting around at home watching TV.”
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| Ginger, the office dog. |