Does your city/town/area have a Senior Center?

[Mizmo]

It's funny - our community college district offers a "class" for Seniors and it's basically just times when people come to class to discuss current events. They also have another class for talking about The Old Times.

The reasoning for these groups is simply because so many studies have shown that isolation is bad for Seniors, and others, and so the discussion groups are ways to get people out of the house, away from the TV, and out talking. They are handled by a facilitator, of course. Maybe the facilitator is to prevent people from getting hopping mad at one another if, God forbid, the Topic of the Day is an Election?

I think it's a great idea, but I have not gone. IDK if I will. I think if I'm going to commit my time to something I'd rather learn something or volunteer.

My centre has all types of classes but get a bunch of seniors age 70, 80, and more discussing the subject of the day...hmm well enuff said about that.
You would have to attend one to get the picture.
They also have sit down yoga classes which are quite good if you can handle a hard seat chair.
After the yoga big race to the lounge for a nap

I volunteered in different environments for over twenty years after retiring. It gave me a purpose in life.
I met lots of people, made friends with many and in the process learned a few things of interest.

But...to each his own as they say

 

[Georgiagranny]

Used to have several in the area, but they all closed during the pandemic and never reopened. The only ones now are connected with churches. They all have dues and charge for extra activities. I guess the preaching is free, though. Thanks, anyway.

 

[Marie5656]

Yes.. right across the street from this apartment building. They offer bingo, other games, lunches and other things. I do not go as my apartment building offers many of the same activities, most of which I do not participate in. I go down to the community room often, which is nice to just sit and chat
Not related to the building function, but the senior center also happens to be out polling place. I can walk there which is good as parking is not great

 

[Nathan]

There are at least two senior centers in this Tri-community area, operating in county parks & rec owned buildings. The local gym- Anytime Fitness has a 3 day per week class called Active Aging. With close to 40 seniors attending, they are probably larger than the county sponsored senior centers.

 

[LoveTulips]

Yup fantastic Seniors Centre but people there look ancient. My mom who was 80 when she passed away did not look ancient at all nor acted ancient, but a lot of these people do. I went to a few groups and could not relate - too much talk of being sick and death or about grand children, was bored out of my mind.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Yes! Three of them.

 

[Olivia]

If so, what does it offer and what do you think of it?

My local one offers a few classes and free lunches, but they have no email newsletter and don't update their website in a timely manner, so I guess the only way to get info is to go there in person? Rather an old-fashioned, pre-pandemic, gas-burning way to handle communication.

Yes. I don't know much about it. My dad went, not me. The ladies thought he was too skinny and kept filling up his plate at lunchtime. They did crafts and things like that and had speakers once in a while.

The only problem was when Covid 19 pandemic came around, No more meetings. They would send emails to keep the members informed. It was kind of sad though. Imaginary or not, Covid really messed around with people's lives and their activities.

 

[Rossana]

Yes, we do have one in the city. It offers quite a bit of activities. Our 55 plus communities have a social hall, some (like mine) even have a social director that organizes the activities, trips, and dinners. Then, we also have our seniors clubs that are very popular in my community.

 

[officerripley]

Some years back when thinking about how we don't really have a seniors center in this town, I thought maybe some of our local 55 plus communities would allow people who don't live there to participate anyway in some of their activities for a reasonable fee. Turns out, at that time anyway, there were no 55 plus communities other than expensive independent/assisted living places. I've tried more than once to search for "55 plus communities" in my area and it never turns up anything, only that "A place for mom" site that wants money to search. I guess, again, since this is a university town?

 

[dilettante]