The L.E. Phillips Senior Center Board of Directors voted unanimously Tuesday morning to offer free memberships to all laid off health care workers who are eligible for senior center membership.
“We want to do whatever we can as a senior center to help our community deal with this extreme disruption in the lives of the affected employees and the provision of health care in the Chippewa Valley.”
The board’s action follows the announcement Monday from the Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) that it will close HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls in an exit from western Wisconsin. Prevea Health, a physician network offering primary and specialty care, is closing its locations across western Wisconsin as well. About 1,082 HSHS and 325 Prevea employees are affected.
“We know what impact this announcement will have for both the employees of HSHS and Prevea, as well as our members who depend on the two systems for their health care,” said Doug Mell, secretary of the senior center Board of Directors. “We want to do whatever we can as a senior center to help our community deal with this extreme disruption in the lives of the affected employees and the provision of health care in the Chippewa Valley.”
The senior center board identified donated funds that will be used to offset the memberships for any displaced HSHS or Prevea employee. The free memberships will be good for a year and include use of the fitness center.
Adults 50 years old and older are eligible to join the senior center. Besides a full fitness facilty with cardio and strength training equipment, the center offers two pickleball courts, pool tables, ping pong tables, fitness classes, a library, a great room and dining room for card and game playing and socializing, a computer room and other amenities.
