I am surprised at how many people I bump into Upvalley who have never heard of Rianda House or who have a fuzzy understanding of what it is. Allow me to bring you up to speed.
Rianda House brings together people from all walks of life to celebrate elderhood as life's greatest chapter. Our mission is to help people remain strong in mind, body and spirit, connected in meaningful relationship, and giving from the abundance of their lives. We study language, art and music. We practice Zumba and tai chi. We engage with thought leaders. We volunteer in the community.
Most people think of a senior center as a place where older adults go when they have needs. This is one important aspect of Rianda House. We offer a wide array of programs and services to help with the challenges of elderhood. When problems go beyond the scope of our offerings we refer to our partners. Finding the help you need may be harder than you think, not because it does not exist, but because there are so many options. It can be tough to know where to begin.
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Did you know you can call Karen Lustig, a compassionate social worker who knows these services inside and out? Call 707-989-0120 to speak with her by phone. You can even set up an in-person consultation at Rianda House where she works on Tuesdays. Karen comes to us courtesy of Providence Community Health.
But Rianda House is not just a place to go if you have needs. It is also a place to go if you have gifts. Many of our teachers are older adults who share their lifetime of expertise with us. Lorraine Ruston is a great example, offering three Spanish classes, including ESL. Kathy Carrick is another. Her long-running exercise class has been going on for decades and would prove a challenge for most 20-year-olds. Or take Carroll Cotten, who serves on the board at Rianda House and provides a pastoral touch to the 20 to 30 men who gather each Thursday morning for coffee and conversation. I could give many more examples.
All of our programs are no-cost to participants. This matters because we serve all kinds of older adults, including many who live on tight budgets. Providing our services at no cost removes any financial obstacle to participation. It doesn't matter whether you are rich or poor or somewhere in between. If you are an older adult who wants to embrace life to the fullest, you are welcome. Money won't even be a speed bump.
In 2024 Rianda House increased its services by 25%. One big reason for this is the generosity of the American Legion. They allow us to use their building three times a week at a very affordable price. It gives us much-needed space for exercise classes and large group gatherings. We are pleased with this growth but there are still far too many Upvalley older adults who need our services. We have a lot of work to do.
Rianda House is a manifestation of the generosity of the Upvalley. Seventy-eight percent of our funding comes from private individuals and businesses. Older adults make up more than one-third of the Upvalley but receive a small fraction of the resources devoted to human services. Rianda House is the only Upvalley organization solely dedicated to serving this group. We could not offer our vital programs without community support. Thank you for remembering older adults with your end-of-year giving. It means the world to us.
Maury Robertson is executive director of Rianda House, which serves Upvalley seniors. Contact Rianda House at 707-963-8555 ext. 101, info@riandahouse.org, or visit the website to view the weekly activity newsletter, The Wrinkle: riandahouse.org
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