The Coltrane LIFE Center, an adult day healthcare program in Cabarrus County, was recently honored by Mayor Bill Dusch and the Concord City Council as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The center serves participants, from Cabarrus, Stanly, Mecklenburg and other surrounding counties.
Each day, the LIFE Center provides services to up to 60 senior citizens and adults with disabilities with health care, nutritious meals, transportation, personal care/bathing, therapeutic activities, beauty/barber shop, referral services and caregiver education and support.
The LIFE Center began in 1974, led by members of Central United Methodist Church in downtown Concord. Seeing older citizens’ problems of loneliness and good nutrition, they opened the second adult day care center in North Carolina.
The program began as a Wednesday afternoon program in the church fellowship hall.
For three hours each week, volunteers offered a program of music, crafts and snacks for 50 older adults, most of whom lived at home with other family members.
Based on the demand, the program expanded to a five-day-a-week LIFE Center.
The acronym stands for Living Interests For the Elderly. In 1984, the center opened an Alzheimer’s specific center in the basement of Covenant Presbyterian Church.
After 25 years, the LIFE Center outgrew the facilities. The Cabarrus County government leased to the center property adjacent to the Cabarrus County Senior Services on Corban Avenue. In 1999, a new building was renamed Coltrane LIFE Center in honor of L.D. and Julia Gay Coltrane.
Susan Caudle, a gerontologist, has led the program for the past 29 years.
Funding for the LIFE Center comes from limited government support, sliding-income fees for participants and fund-raisers.
Find out more by calling 704-788-1215.
A celebration is planned for Sept. 22 at Central UMC in Concord. Scheduled to speak at 9:30 a.m. is Rev. Harold Wright, who was the minister in 1974 and wrote the initial grant for the center. A 10:30 a.m. worship will be led by Rev. Garland Young, who was the minister in the center’s early days.
An 11:40 a.m. lunch is planned, with seating limited.
Call 704-788-1215 to make reservations.