Carson City Senior Citizens Center chef eager to return to work

Robert Baca is eager to return to his job as chef of the Carson City Senior Citizens Center, but knows if he does it may come with limitations.

Baca was injured in an auto accident on South Carson Street on Dec. 29. He was flown by Care Flight to Washoe Medical Center where he underwent multiple tests to determine the extent of his injuries.

Though he is expected to fully recover, he is rehabilitating at home with slow walking and bed rest.

"The doctors were most concerned with my broken pelvis and bleeding spleen, and they didn't see I had a broken arm, next to my left wrist," Baca said.

The broken arm was discovered Tuesday.

"I am feeling a lot better, but I'm still on pain drugs. When I don't take them, my whole left side aches."

The doctors casted Baca's arm Tuesday to immobilize the bones. As long as the bones do not move out of alignment any more than they did from the break, he will not need surgery to correct the break.

In the meantime, Baca calls into the senior center every day to make sure they're following recipes and USDA regulations.

"They're being great to me," Baca said of the employees. "They're trying to keep me busy. Pretty much I do all the food ordering from the house, but it's hard to a degree, I don't know what they have on stock."

Senior center Director Janice McIntosh said Baca's spirit is better.

"He's ty at the bit," she said. "We're hoping for the best, but these things take so long to take care of. The community really came together for him."

Baca said he has received many cards wishing him well and donations to keep him in his house. Without work, he has no income.

"The community and especially the seniors at the center have been really super," Baca said. "It's just unreal. Without the seniors and donations, I would have been really struggling.

"I've only been there three months and for the community to do this for me is very touching. It's amazing. They've been so good to me."

McIntosh arranged for Meals on Wheels to be delivered to Baca's home. Baca said this has helped him see first-hand what he's wanted to know about how things work. He now sees where he would like to make some changes.

"Robert and I work together on menus in the evening," McIntosh said. "He's lonesome because he likes to be around people. He is anxious to get back to work."

McIntosh said Baca is paid two hours a day for phone consultation and food orders. He has a doctor's appointment today and he should find out if he can return to work with limited or light duty.

"It's been six weeks, I'm ready to go," Baca said. "I can't stand a lot, but then I don't need to stand for eight hours. I need to be there to supervise. The crew is doing a great job there. But I would like to get back to my sanity."

-- Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.