Senior Center Directory

By some accounts, there may be 15,000 Senior Centers in neighborhoods across America. These are places where seniors age 50+ can visit that provides programs and services that will help them stay active and engaged in their communities.

What is a Senior Center

Programs and activities vary between centers. All programs serve older adults' needs for social interaction, intellectual stimulation, emotional enhancement, and help to improve and maintain their physical condition, wellness, and overall quality of life.

Most centers are run by local governments in cooperation with departments, area agencies on aging and other levels of government. There are many non profit Senior Centers as well. More What is Senior Center

Active Adult Center

Adult Education and Recreation Centers are for the more active 50+ and are very popular. These are similar to Senior Centers but offer programs geared toward more active and younger users.

Adult Centers are usually part of the Parks and Recreation Department and don't include congregate meals.

Assistance Programs

Senior Centers have other programs that assist seniors including transportation, assistance with government programs like Veterans benefits, Medicare, and Income Tax return prepartion.

The purpose of SeniorCenterDirectory.com is to help you understand senior centers and what they provide. At the top of this column use the drop donw box to find information about centers in your state.

Above is a photo I took at the opening of the Johns Creek GA Active Adult Center and is of a cooking demostration in their wonderful commerical kitchen. This center is located in a renovated historic school house located in Newtown Park. Adjacant is the community vegatable gardens and the new Bocce Ball courts.

Boomers Becoming Seniors

As baby boomers become seniors (boomers are turning 65 this year!) Centers will be changing to accommodate the boomer's generation and lifestyle. We have some articles about visits to Senior Centers. We have visited some impressive and then some not so impressive centers.

Senior centers can be a great resource for you as you age in place in your own neighborhood. Get out today and visit one. You are sure to receive a warm reception.

• A senior center is different than a senior community. You visit a senior center in your neighborhood. A senior community is a retirement community where you live. These are totally two different things.

• Baby Boomers do not always like the name "Senior". So some other names are beginning to be used like Active Adult Center and Adult Activity Center. Some other suggestions are Boomer Centers, Life Centers, Activity Center, Lifelong Learning Centers and Communities Centers.

Who are Users

People who stay and age in place in their own neighborhoods typically use senior centers, even though we have heard many people who move to a senior community located near a senior center, which sounds like the ideal set up to us.

Age requirement varies by location, we have seen many at age 50, many more 55 and 60, with the highest age limit requirement being age 62.

You are sure to enjoy interacting with people your age from your own neighborhood that use your local senior center. Single, widowed, divorsed and married couples all enjoy the use of their center. Some use and also voluteer at their center.

Centers are not all alike, so get out and visit the ones in your area or an area you are thinking about moving to. No better time to visit now. You will be welcomed and given a tour of the facilities and the activities provided. Just do it, it is fun! Many first time visitors sign up for an activity like the book club, walking club or yoga or even just take a one time class on something interesting.