{"id":28524,"date":"2016-06-21T20:25:14","date_gmt":"2016-06-22T03:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spijue.wpengine.com\/news\/kenaitze-indian-tribe-welcomes-new-elder-center\/"},"modified":"2016-06-21T20:25:14","modified_gmt":"2016-06-22T03:25:14","slug":"kenaitze-indian-tribe-welcomes-new-elder-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/news\/kenaitze-indian-tribe-welcomes-new-elder-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Kenaitze Indian Tribe welcomes new elder center"},"content":{"rendered":"
KENAI \u2014<\/strong> The Kenaitze Indian Tribe has been able to reach more members of its elder community with the opening of a new center for the elderly at its Old Town Kenai campus.<\/p>\n The Tyotkas Elder Center opened in March, and an official grand opening ceremony was held last weekend, The Peninsula Clarion reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Shayna Franke, the center\u2019s manager, said the campus is a great location for the elder center because it brings them closer to other services.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough the Dena\u2019ina Wellness Center, we have our family services, our social services and our tribal court all in the same campus, so everything is within walking distance,\u201d she said. \u201cUnfortunately a lot of our elders aren\u2019t able to drive or need transportation assistance, so that eliminates that burden.\u201d<\/p>\n The new 6,500-square-foot facility was built in response to ongoing maintenance issues that plagued the previous building where elder services were provided.<\/p>\n Franke said there has been an increase in the number of elders coming to the facility, which now welcomes 30 to 60 people a day.<\/p>\n Jaylene Peterson-Nyren, the tribe\u2019s executive director, praised the new elder center at the opening ceremony as part of the tribe\u2019s vision for improving the health and wellbeing of its members.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a vision that came from our elders and our council, and they took a long time to go through what it is that we want to see, what does success look like for our community?\u201d she said. \u201cWe believe in not just health for our people, but overall wellness.\u201d<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Related stories:<\/p>\n New Huna Totem Corp. president to be installed Oct. 1<\/a><\/p>\n