Today’s senior centers are delivering vital connections to help older adults age well. Senior centers offer a vibrant, action-packed combination of social activities, fitness and health and wellness classes, volunteering opportunities and community events. Senior centers also provide local formal and informal support systems for the older and disabled adults, which can help them stay as active as possible in their community. During the pandemic, senior centers pivoted to provide virtual services such as online fitness, fun activities, support groups and occasionally grab-and-go meals.
September is National Senior Center Month, which emphasizes the tremendous potential that senior centers offer their communities. The Centralina region benefits from having more than 15 senior centers serving our older citizens. From financial planning workshops to cooking classes, dances and technology webinars, our senior centers are community connections where older adults find friendship, meaning and purpose. To share the power of these connections, many centers are organizing special events to celebrate Senior Center Month.
“Older adults who go to their local senior centers are finding opportunity and strength every day,” said Linda Miller, Centralina Area Agency on Aging Director. “They demand the opportunity to continue connecting. Our centers provide fun and engaging programs, while also providing practical tools and resources to help older adults stay healthy and independent.”
Empowered by the Older Americans Act, Centralina Area Agency on Aging staff works closely with local centers to negotiate their SCOPE (Senior Center Operations and Program Evaluation) certification process, approve budget plans, ensure programmatic compliance, provide technical assistance and more.
