A senior center (or senior centre) is a type of
community center
Community centres, community centers, or community halls are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole co ...
where
older adults
Old age refers to ages nearing or surpassing the life expectancy of human beings, and is thus the end of the human life cycle. Terms and euphemisms for people at this age include old people, the elderly (worldwide usage), OAPs (British usage ...
congregate for
fellowship
A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context.
In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements.
Within the context of higher education ...
with others to fulfill many of their social, physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. A regular part of senior centers is card and board games, along with video games as that generation moves into old age. Computer services and help, including
computer lab
A computer lab is a space where computer services are provided to a defined community. These are typically public libraries and academic institutions. Generally, users must follow a certain user policy to retain access to the computers. This usu ...
s and assistance with email, Internet access and tax preparation are also provided by many senior center programs.
Field trip
A field trip or excursion is a journey by a group of people to a place away from their normal environment.
When done for students, as it happens in several school systems, it is also known as school trip in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and ...
s to out-of-town events, venues, recreation, or other pursuits such as casino gambling, are often organized by local senior centers to allow their members to have fun outside their community.
Many centers also serve
lunch
Lunch is a meal eaten around the middle of the day. It is commonly the second meal of the day, after breakfast, and varies in size by culture and region.
Etymology
According to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED''), the etymology ...
es, providing a critical community need to seniors who are still active and do not need
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels is a programme that delivers meals to individuals at home who are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals. The name is often used generically to refer to home-delivered meals programmes, not all of which are actually named ...
service, but have limited financial means to make their own lunches, and prefer companionship while eating.
In the United States, multiple cities and towns have senior centers which receive funding from private, municipal, state, and federal sources.
A senior center may often not go under that title, and often the facility also welcomes younger people, thus being known as a multigenerational center.
Activities
Activities vary by center and are based on the size of the center and funding. Activities can include:
*
Dance
Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
room
*Game Room
[
*]Computer lab
A computer lab is a space where computer services are provided to a defined community. These are typically public libraries and academic institutions. Generally, users must follow a certain user policy to retain access to the computers. This usu ...
[
*]Craft
A craft or trade is a pastime or an occupation that requires particular skills and knowledge of skilled work. In a historical sense, particularly the Middle Ages and earlier, the term is usually applied to people occupied in small scale prod ...
room[
*]Library
A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hard copies) or digital access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a vir ...
[
* Card room][
* Meeting room][
* Horseshoe pits][
*]Exercise
Exercise is a body activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness.
It is performed for various reasons, to aid growth and improve strength, develop muscles and the cardiovascular system, hone athletic ...
room[
*]Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable Human swimming, swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built into the ground (in-ground pools) or built ...
*Lap pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built into the ground (in-ground pools) or built above ground (as ...
External links
* Directory of Senior Centers based in the United States
OurSeniorCenter.com
Center for Senior Health
Notes
Community centres
*
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