After being a stay-at-home mom for 16 years, Katrina Goldsmith became a senior citizen mom.
“It’s like having a house, and these are my children,” Goldsmith
said.
As the only employee and the director of Seward’s Lied Senior Center, Goldsmith does a lot more than event organization. She is the center’s mediator, counselor, protector, caregiver, adviser, cook, cleaner and fixer.
“Many of them call me ‘Boss’,” she said, referring to the senior citizens
who spend time there each day.
“You have to be able to multitask a lot,” Goldsmith said. “You have to be able to handle a lot of personalities.
The Lied Senior Center, located at 1010 Manor Drive in Seward, is a community center for individuals age 60 and older living in Seward County. The center provides meals, activities, social and educational programs, medical clinics, an exercise room and a shuttle. Goldsmith has worked at the senior center for almost two years. She spends her days organizing events, driving the shuttle, cooking food and enjoying her time with the seniors.
On average, Goldsmith works with 1,000 senior citizens monthly.
“My goal is to keep them living at home as long as possible and safely as possible,” Goldsmith said.
She also writes a monthly newsletter to provide information about
the senior center.
Goldsmith enjoys working with older people.
“I just like old people, I don’t know why,” she said. “Old men are my favorite, grumpy old men.”
“I just love them … I just like them when they’re grumpy and then I can get a smile out of them or a kick out of them.”
Ruth Walsh is a senior who volunteers at the Lied Senior Center as a secretary. She met Goldsmith when she became the director. Walsh said Goldsmith does an amazing
job.
“She’s just good with the elderly,” she said.
Walsh said if anyone ever needs anything, Goldsmith is there to get it.
Working at the senior center is rewarding for Goldsmith. She loves taking care of others, whether it’s her kids, someone else’s kids or those in need.
Goldsmith is 46 years old and plans to work at the senior center until she retires. She said she knows the importance of the senior center and plans to use it when she becomes a senior.
“I have no intentions of leaving anytime soon,” she said.
Goldsmith was born in Omaha and raised in Wahoo. She married her husband, Larry, in 1993 and moved to Seward for his business in tree service.
Together Katrina and Larry have four children: Bryanna, 23, McKenna, 20, Alayna, 16, and Larson, 12.
Katrina spent her time taking care of her children and also had an in-home daycare. Once her children were older, she began working at an assisted living home as an activities director.
“I fell in love working with seniors,” Goldsmith said.
She worked at the assisted living center for three years when the director position opened up at the senior center. She applied and got the job.
Once Goldsmith arrived at the senior center, she faced a large challenge.
“When I started working here, everything broke,” she said.
The furnace, the heating, the refrigerator and exercise equipment were just a few of the items she needed to replace.
In the first year, she spent around $47,000 on repairs and replacements.
“It was stressful starting the new job and having that happen all at once,” she said.
It’s important to Goldsmith to be able to include her personal life with her work at the senior center.
Goldsmith’s husband and children volunteer for activities, play games and cook food.
“They love it just as much as I do,” Goldsmith said.
Walsh said she always sees Goldsmith’s family helping.
“That’s just her family, I think they all do this,” Walsh said.
Goldsmith sees the seniors and the volunteers at the center as her family.
“We really are a family down here. We all look out for each other,” she said.
She said they are able to trust each other and help each other out like a normal family would.
The seniors at the center appreciate the work Goldsmith does for them. Senior Wilma Luth said Goldsmith does an excellent job. “She’s willing to help anyone who needs help. She’s so softhearted,” she said.
Senior Elonna Gesch agreed that Goldsmith is always willing to help.
“She cares for every single one of us,” Gesch said.
Charlotte Murphy volunteers at the senior center and enjoys working with Goldsmith.
“She truly has been a blessing for the center,” she said.
In her free time, Goldsmith enjoys reading, golfing, traveling and spending time with her family. Goldsmith said she also enjoys helping the seniors in her free time. Outside of work Goldsmith helps people in their homes with their personal needs.
“I’m glad that they feel comfortable to call me for something like that. Generally I will call someone else to do it, but when I can’t find anyone, I am willing to do it,” she said.
“My husband says sometimes I do it too much, but that’s OK,” Goldsmith said.
Originally Goldsmith never saw herself doing this job, but now she believes it is the perfect job for her.
“I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else,” she said.
“She’s really met her calling,” Walsh said. “She does what she enjoys and she’s good at it.”
