Town Resources: Senior Centers
Senior Centers
Senior centers are one of the most widely used services among America’s older adults.
- Today, almost 10,000 senior centers serve over 1 million older adults every day.
- Senior centers serve as a gateway to the nation’s aging network – connecting older adults to vital community services that can help them stay healthy and independent.
- Research shows that older adults who participate in senior center programs can learn to manage and delay the onset of chronic disease and experience measurable improvements in their physical, social, spiritual, emotional, mental, and economic well-being.
- Today’s senior centers are reinventing themselves to meet the needs and desires of the aging baby boom generation. Boomers now constitute more than two-thirds of the 50+ population.
Excerpt from NCOA: Senior Centers Fact Sheet
Focal Points
Focal Points are community organizations who provide critical information and services to older adults. Senior centers, access agencies and residential facilities are some examples of organizations who could serve as a focal point. By definition, Focal Points:
- Provide information, referral and assistance, connecting individuals with resources to help meet their needs, and
- Provide, identify or refer to community organizations or aging network partners for seamless delivery of various programs and services. Such services include but are not limited to: Meals and Nutrition Health, Fitness, and Wellness Transportation Public Benefits Counseling Employment Assistance Volunteer and Civic Engagement Social and Recreational Education and Arts Every few years AOASCC solicits the addition of new Focal Points throughout the South-Central region and engages in the recertification of our current Focal Points as part of our Area Plan process.
If your organization is interested in being a Focal Point, please fill out our Focal Point application here Focal Point Application
Senior Centers as Focal Points
Connecticut senior centers are as diverse in what they offer as the communities they serve. Not only do centers provide a wide array of options for recreation, wellness, socialization, life-long learning, and enrichment, but most of the senior centers in south central also serve as focal points (as indicated by a * on the list of senior centers - click on the link above).
Under the Older Americans Act, senior centers are designated as a focal point if they provide information & assistance, connecting older adults with community services and benefits. Many also provide Older American Act services, such as transportation and senior cafes. For a list of senior cafes in south central Connecticut, click here.