Senior Circle anniversary

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

The Senior Circle of Edge Regional Medical Center is celebrating its second anniversary this month. The seniors gathered on the hospital grounds last week for an afternoon of fellowship and merrymaking and to take a proud glance in the mirror.

"It hardly seems possible that we are celebrating two years," said Faye Lunsford, circle advisor. "We have had great support from the hospital, the community and, of course, our seniors. Everyone together has made our first two years very successful."

Lunsford didn’t mention how successful the program really is. She left that up to David Loving, hospital CEO.

"Our Senior Circle has 720 members, making it the number one Senior Circle in Community Health System’s 50 hospitals," Loving told the seniors who responded with an appreciative round of applause.

Loving said he learned in the program’s infancy that if he would stay out of the way and let Lunsford do her job the Senior Circle would be a success.

"That’s what I did and the Senior Circle has been successful in providing valuable information to our members, offering them special services and giving them opportunities for fellowship and travel," Loving said. "We appreciate our seniors and we want to help them every way we can."

Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford also had words of congratulations to the members of the Senior Circle.

He said Troy has an outstanding network of organizations that benefit seniors.

"The Senior Circle and the Colley Senior Complex work closely together and with other organizations to provide a variety of programs and activities to our seniors," the mayor said. "They don’t compete. They compliment each other. We take pride in offering something for all of our citizens and we are especially proud of our senior programs."

The mayor also took the opportunity to express appreciation to Loving for his commitment to

the Senior Circle and to Edge Regional Medical Center and the growth it has experience during the four years under his leadership.

"David has been instrumental in bringing doctors to Troy that the hospital board could not recruit prior to its decision to privatize the hospital," Lunsford said. "Specialists have come to Troy and have brought new life to the hospital. We have some of the brightest young doctors anywhere, especially in south Alabama."

Faye Lunsford encouraged Senior Circle members to make the third year of the organization even bigger and better by introducing a friend to the many benefits of the circle.

The benefits of Senior Circle include:

·

A private room at semi-private room rate

·

Free meal plan for spouse of caregiver of member

·

A 10 percent discount in the cafeteria

·

Insurance claims filing assistance

·

Free notary, copying and faxing of important papers

·

Discounts from local and national merchants

·

Exercise, line dancing and computer classes

· Trips to interesting places

· And much more for only $15 a year

To obtain application forms or for more information, call Faye Lunsford at 670-5512.