Meet Stephanie Lyon—New Coordinator of Lymes' Senior Center

Stephanie Lyon has always loved working with seniors. Although her first internship in college placed her in Yale-New Haven's pediatric unit, it was during her second internship at a retirement community that she really found her calling. 

"I loved it," Lyon says. "I knew that was where I wanted to go. I think seniors are so gracious, always very appreciative, and they have such a history, so much knowledge about the past."

Lyon, 39, comes to the Lymes' Senior Center after working 13 years at Bayview Health Care in Waterford. 

"Bayview had been good to me for so many years," Lyon says. "I loved working with the seniors—I've already been back for a visit!—but I was looking for a bit of a change. I think this is a wonderful site, a beautiful building, and the people here have been so gracious and amazing." 

Now she's here, Lyon says she also hopes to bring about a few changes at the Senior Center. 

"I'm looking to have more seniors use the facility," Lyon says.

As of May 20, 627 people had come to the senior center but it does serve two towns, Lyon notes, and she'd really like to see more people come through the doors. 

Lyon has a degree in therapeutic recreation and recreation and leisure studies, with a minor in psychology, and she has lots of ideas for new programs, activities, and lectures.

She's thinking about courses on scrapbooking and nutrition, computer skills (perhaps even having local students come in to show people how to use cell phones). There could be book clubs, walking clubs, quilting clubs, movies, and so much more. 

But Lyon isn't the kind of person to foist her ideas on others. Her top priority since she assumed the position on May 29, she says, is to get to know the people and the community to find out what it is they'd like to see happen at the Senior Center.   

"I want to get a feel for what the seniors want," says Lyon. "I have a bunch of ideas but I want to make sure it reflects what they want."

To that end, Lyon is including a questionnaire in the Senior Center's August newsletter to find out what things people like that the senior center already offers, what things they are interested in, and what they'd like to see offered in the future.

In the meantime, there are already a variety of programs scheduled for the summer, starting with a concert series with ice cream socials on July 11 that is open to the entire community; a talk about how the sequester cuts are likely to affect Medicare on August 1; a New England Lobster Bake at noon on August 8; and a gathering to officially welcome Lyon on August 21, which will include a big raffle.