Care Connection for Aging Services will close its central office in Warrensburg and all 21 West Central Missouri senior centers to the public beginning Monday through March 31.

The area agency on aging will continue to have staff at central office and most centers to answer telephones and to prepare and deliver meals to the homebound during this time.

Homebound seniors who already receive meals should see no stoppage of their deliveries. Participants who regularly have lunch at the center dining rooms may contact the center staff about other options.

Care Connection serves individuals 60 and older, and the federal Centers for Disease Control has advised that people in that age group avoid public places and crowds as much as possible because of the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States.

“We are not acting out of panic or fear, but in an abundance of caution – out of respect for public concerns and for the protection of both our staff and seniors,” Care Connection Executive Director Diana Hoemann said. “In taking these measures, we are doing our part to lessen the spread of the virus during this pandemic.”

All fitness classes, services such as tax preparation and in-person care management, educational programs, in-center volunteer activities, and fundraisers have been canceled or postponed. Volunteers who deliver meals should call the center coordinators about whether they will continue. Staff members will fill in where volunteers are not comfortable delivering meals.

“It’s important to remember that we are still taking care of our most vulnerable population,” said Debbie Krieger, Regional Services Director and Disaster Preparedness Coordinator for the agency.

Care Connection staff will work on a case-by-case basis to meet the needs of clients.

The agency leadership team will reassess the situation and determine whether to remain closed past March 31, Hoemann said.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services set up a hotline (877-435-8411) for possible coronavirus reporting. The website cdc.gov has an abundance of information about preventing, detecting, treating and reporting the coronavirus.

Care Connection for Aging Services is a non-profit area agency on aging with a mission to provide opportunities to create positive aging experiences. For more information, call 1-800-748-7826 or www.goaging.org.

Our locations:

Central Office, 106 W. Young, Warrensburg, 1-800-748-7826

Bates County:

Butler Senior Center, 611 W. Mill St., Butler, 660-679-5830

Benton County:

Cole Camp Senior Center, 206 E. Junge, Cole Camp, 660-668-2352

Warsaw Senior Center/Harbor Village, 17571 N. Dam Access Road, Warsaw, 660-438-3300

Carroll County:

Carroll County Care Connection, CCMH, 200 Lifecare Lane, Carrollton, 660-542-0399

Cedar County:

El Dorado Springs Senior Center, 604 S. Forest, El Dorado Springs, 417-876-5574

Korth Center, 309 W. Englewood, Stockton, 417-276-5306

Chariton County:

Brunswick Senior Center, 801 E. Broadway, Brunswick, 660-548-3010

Salisbury Senior Center, 304 Broadway, Salisbury, 660-388-5431

Henry County:

Clinton Senior Center, 970 E. Sedalia, Clinton, 660-885-3482

Windsor Senior Center, 201 S. Main, Windsor, 660-647-3224

Hickory County:

McCarty Senior Center, 19482 US-54, Wheatland, 417-282-6100

Johnson County:

Holden Senior Center, 204. W. Second St., Holden, 816-732-5757

Warrensburg Senior Center, 445 E. Gay, Warrensburg, 660-747-2624

Lafayette County:

Concordia Senior Center, 710 Main, Concordia, 660-463-7393

Higginsville Senior Center, 21st and Walnut, Higginsville, 660-584-7040

Margaret Gray Center,  811 C S. Business Highway 13, Lexington, 660-259-2025

Odessa Senior Center, 217 S. Second, Odessa, 816-633-4161

Pettis County:

Sedalia Senior Center, 312 S. Washington, Sedalia, 660-826-0713

Saline County:

Marshall Senior Center, Marshall, 660-886-9888

St. Clair County:

Rivers Crossing Life Center, 5215 Business Highway 13 NE, Osceola, 417-646-8292

Vernon County:

Neal Center, 301 N. Main, Nevada, 417-667-5847

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