Meet Our Client: Alzonia Evans
Alzonia Evans raised four children (three daughters, one son); worked as a caregiver at a nursing home until her retirement in 1998; and in later years cared for her husband (who passed away in 2010) and mother (who passed away in 2019) in her home.
Her daughters felt she had become very isolated during COVID – a common concern for many older adults even when there isn’t a worldwide pandemic. In January 2024, Alzonia’s daughters convinced her to visit the nearby Paul W. Alandt Rose Center. Located at 16600 Lakeshore Boulevard, it is one of the six Rose Centers for Aging Well.
“When Alzonia came in with her daughters, she was very reluctant – she was not feeling it at all,” says Carla Collins, the center director. “We completed the initial assessment, and I assured her she’d be fine. She finally gave in and gave it a try.”
Within a week, Alzonia was greeting the other older adults who come to the center on a regular basis. She also gave Carla a hug and thanked her for the encouragement.
Alzonia has become a regular, spending time at the center four-to-five days a week. She relies on Senior Transportation Connection with which the center contracts to get her to and from the center each day where she enjoys a hot lunch and activities ranging from Zumba and crochet classes to music bingo and monthly theme parties. “Everyone is so nice. They treat you like a human, make you feel like human,” says Alzonia, who has a group of four friends she eats lunch with. “We just fit – they feel like my second family.”
In addition to coming to the center, Alzonia has participated in special trips offered by the center including lunch at a Chinese restaurant, shopping at Dollar Tree and Walmart, and a visit to the International Women’s Museum at Burke Lakefront Airport.
Carla recalls getting a phone call one day from Alzonia’s daughter, because through GPS tracking, she thought her mom had left her cell phone on the transport bus. She didn’t know her mom had gone on a trip!
“I told my daughters, and my sister – who now comes to the center as well – that they are my first family, but the people at the center are my second family,” says Alzonia. I appreciate all of them and how they have made me feel so welcome.”
Learn More About the Rose Centers
Our Rose Centers for Aging Well promote active aging for Northeast Ohio’s older adults by offering opportunities to learn, socialize with peers, create and volunteer. Discover how you can become a part of our exciting community today!
Sign Up for our Newsletter