The Oglethorpe County Senior Center hosted a tailgate party with the University of Georgia's Dance Dawgs, cheerleaders and mascot Hairy Dawg for its members to kick off football season.
The Oglethorpe County Senior Center has no shortage of Georgia Bulldogs fans — as Hairy Dawg himself can testify.
About 60 seniors showed out in a sea of red and black to celebrate the upcoming football season with a special tailgate party on Aug. 22.
Activities director Sheryl Howard said the center regularly holds Georgia spirit days during football season, but it doesn’t often receive a visit from the University of Georgia Dance Dawgs, cheerleaders and Hairy Dawg.
“It gives them a chance to do something they never experienced before,” Howard said. “Being able to physically touch and see Hairy, so that’s something good for them because they never get a chance to.”
As members lined up to have their pictures taken with the Georgia mascot, Howard played fanfare music to rile up the crowd. Red and black pompoms waved across the room while cheerleaders led the center in calling the Dawgs, with some members dancing along with their performance.
Others were just happy to join in on the festivities.
“We were excited about the tailgate party,” said Lisa Summers of Winterville, a visitor at the event. “We knew a lot of people were going to be here, and we just wanted to be a part of it.”
Summers is the primary caregiver for her mother, Mary Gearing, and brings her to the center almost every day. It’s a way for them to get out of the house and engage with the community.
“I would stay at home all the time, and I just got bored,” Gearing said. “I told my daughter I needed to get out, I needed to go somewhere, so she suggested that we start coming down here and talk to them, and we did.”
For Alice Flint of Lexington, the center has kept her active since her husband became sick.
“I’m older, I’m 78, and I know if I sit still, my muscles are going to get stiff,” Flint said. “I don’t want to stop because I’ve gotten older, because I figured my body needed more since it’s aging.”
Studies from the National Institute of Health show social participation in group activities like those held at the county senior center have a positive impact on the general health and well-being of older adults. In addition to improving physical health, activities at the center also promote social connectedness and unity.
“Everybody together and enjoying each other is what it’s about,” said Janice Brown of Lexington, who attended the event. “And you know, at this age, we need to enjoy each other more.”
Even after Hairy and the cheerleaders said goodbye, Howard encouraged everyone to move, leading a “soul train” in which members danced and followed each other around the room.
“It gives them just, first of all, life,” Howard said. “They get to socialize, they get to dance, they get to act silly. And sometimes when they’re at home, they don’t have that. And so coming here is like an outlet, and they just embrace everything.”