Why I Don't Go To The Senior Center

Ok, I was just reading that there are two sub-generations, Early Boomers and Generation Jones. Split at around 1954-1955. Different life experiences and different values, they don't relate to each other in the same way as within their cohorts.

That might explain the mummies. They glommed the tax funded services first and are holding on tight, leaving those younger to their own devices as always.

Life at home was more different for Gen Jones than the more traditional setting that Early Boomers experienced. More homes were being forced into having two working parents due to changes in the economy and job availability. When Gen Jones went to school, there were not enough desks or books in the classroom because the school system wasn’t ready for this large cohort. They weren’t ready to put their kids in the same situation, so families were beginning to shrink in size. The pill became available so birth control and family planning were easier than in the past. With the competitive job market and economic stresses, divorce was on the rise as Gen Jones entered their formative years, causing teens to spend more time working independently and caring for themselves.

While the economy took a nose-dive, fuel prices spiked, the oil embargo impacted the nation, and job opportunities shrunk. Gen Jones had to become more independent and learn to fight for their future, because they quickly understood that nothing would be handed to them. With the tight job market, they knew they had to put their head down and work hard, dress for the jobs they wanted not the jobs they had, and develop methods of standing out. This was important for career growth, but at the time the main focus was on simply keeping their jobs. This period of fierce competition for job stability has stayed with the Gen Jonesers, who earned their names because they were constantly striving to “keep up with the jones” or “jonesin” for something more.
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Jones has big shoulders. No big deal.
 
A community centre is only as good as its manager in organising activities/:unsure::unsure::unsure: volunteers to run the activity’s /functions at the centres or away from the centre.
Usually the manger is the only paid person ( where we go it’s the case ) becuse the people who run the dances where we go have been doing so for 22 years (unpaid) / 15 years and 10 years at others

We go to 3 different venues where we dance, they are not labeled “senior centres” they are community centres so any age can attend functions / activities .

We as a group used to dance in senior centres to entertain the older people in aged care however the organiser of those died and no one wanted to take it on to keep it going.
, we most certainly cheered the residents up with our great music and dancing skills some better than others of course.
 
Kadee said:
A community centre is only as good as its manager in organising activities/:unsure::unsure::unsure: volunteers to run the activity’s /functions at the centres or away from the centre...
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You make some very good points. Many of them might tend to prevent it working well for large populations. The effort required goes up fast the more cats one must herd.
 
The senior centers near me are funded by the national government. Since, it's the government, the locals have to account for every penny. That gets to be a hassle. They did offer a warm meal, whether you wanted it, or not(-US Gov). But I'm a diabetic and have to know what and how much I'm eating. And I didn't think one hour of Bingo was a fascinating thing to do. I liked meeting people, but the time was too early for me, and I didn't need the meal.
 
MarciKS said:
i think the senior centers are more geared for those that are older and can't get out as much and just need the company and something to do. ours has speakers that come in and various other entertainments as well as bingo i think. plus a noon meal. they come to socialize on the daily with others their age. these places aren't for everyone. just depends on a persons needs.
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This little town and the one adjacent each have senior centers. I've visited both, the current groups are older-than-me seniors, in their late 70s/and somewhere in their 80s. They mostly attend for social contact, to eat potluck and play bingo.

Our local gym has become my go-to senior center, have Active Aging fitness classes 3 days a week. Most participants are early-mid seventies, some in their 60s. One new member is 89, he also attends our Yoga class on Tuesdays & Thursdays. I like to see the seniors in our community come to the gym, the exercise is important for them...the social contact is also just as important.
 
My local senior center (which is a big one) has two parts. When I first wandered into it to look around, the lady at the desk stopped me and told me I was in the wrong section. The section I was in was for people who needed a lot of help and care. Though strangely, the SC gym was in this section also. Anyway, I needed to go across the walkway to the other part of the center. This is where they play pickled ball, take line dancing classes, the bike club starts its weekly activity and so on.

I don’t need the first section I wandered into (except maybe for the gym), but I am glad it’s there for those who need it. And, in reality, I may need it some day myself. FWIW, a lot of the people who use the second section also volunteer to help in the first section. It seems to work well for all involved.

In regards to seniors being decorated with silly hats and such, I get the point. In my 30’s my then wife and I were on a road trip and stopped to eat at a local coffee shop. In walked a senior dance group made up of what appeared to be mostly couples. They were decorated in bright orange and red outfits with little dangly things dripping off their hats, shirts and even pants. The ladies were talking and laughing. Most of the men looked embarrassed. It’s just not a good look, IMO.
 
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Hmm…. I want to add one more thing.

I think one of the reasons the older section looks like a bunch of grey haired old ladies trying to smile is that it lacks men. Even in the 70’s and the 80’s there is an energy between men and women that adds some spice to life, and generally makes things work better. (Ask anybody who’s worked in a predominately male or female environment.) IMO, The opposite sex tends to bring out the better part of us. And, it increases the energy level in group events.
 
Brookswood said:
I may need it some day myself
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We all might and by the time we get there the music and activities will be relevant to us. People looking at a photo of us may think the same thing about 60s and 70s music.

Brookswood said:
I think one of the reasons the older section looks like a bunch of grey haired old ladies trying to smile is that it lacks men.
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The lack of grey haired old men may because they probably aren’t alive. Statistics.
 
I heard that bowling alleys have gradually been turning all male. Maybe some sort of mixer might be warranted?
 
Nathan said:
Our local gym has become my go-to senior center, have Active Aging fitness classes 3 days a week. Most participants are early-mid seventies, some in their 60s. One new member is 89, he also attends our Yoga class on Tuesdays & Thursdays. I like to see the seniors in our community come to the gym, the exercise is important for them...the social contact is also just as important.
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That sounds wonderful except for the physically moving around part; about as physical as I like to get is running off at the mouth, jumping to conclusions, turning the pages of a book, pounding a computer keyboard, and falling apart! 🤣
 
The only Senior center I tried was in Lexington, KY, when I worked six months of weekend nights. I couldn’t get there consistently to sign up for classes. I had a couple card games with some nice ladies but I would have enjoyed it more if I could have gone consistently and got to know the people better.

I did feel somewhat out-of-place as a younger oldster
 
Well I guess it all comes down to if you want to get out of the house for a break we have choices ….

…go sit in shopping mall at the food court ( like allot do ) sit in the pub / play poker machines / seek out a community centre / Go to the movies ……..or stay home , I know what our preference is we have fun with our activities / we are out socialising / exercising the brain to remember dance steps / and exercising to keep ourselves active …..and that’s all it matters TO US …

When we go to Queensland for a month each winter ( July / Aug ) the venue we visit for dancing if packed to the brim with seniors playing the 100’s of poker machines or playing bingo …..it bores me to tears just watching the bingo ( it’s on in same area just prior to the dancing afternoon )

The venue is more like a a casino than a returned services club called the RSL it’s a huge 5 story building
one of our local ( in SA ) friends travels to Coolangatta ( QLD) the same time as us , she often gets invited
“ upstairs “ to the high rollers club cause she puts allot of money into the poker machine’s , We never touch them or bingo
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