REDMOND,OR -- The Redmond Senior Center celebrates its newly- remodeled kitchen Thursday.

“The building was built in 1990; that's when the original kitchen was installed. Things were falling apart faster than we could fix them,” the Center board's chair Diana Barker says almost everything was replaced, “I believe the dishwasher was the only thing that was still fine to use.”

Barker tells KBND News it’s an important gathering spot, “I think it would be safe to say that one of the leading problems with people who begin to decline into dementia and Alzheimer's is that they lose contact with other people. A lot of seniors are beginning to experience depression and some other things that come from isolation. So, the Senior Center in Redmond is just becoming more and more a place where people can get together.” She says they are always busy, “We have a large group of Meals On Wheels drivers that serve around 150 people a day. And then we have between 30 to 50 other people who come to the center for lunch.”

Funding for the $500-thousand project came from Deschutes County and the City of Redmond, along with Hayden Homes pledging a donation for future operating expenses.

Today’s open house at 325 NW Dogwood Avenue starts at 4:30, and includes specially prepared food from the renovated kitchen.