This new year, live

older adults stay healthy, active and independent. Many senior centers today offer a variety of activities, from nutrition and wellness programs to social and recreational activities.

“Our activities range from musical presentations, arts and crafts, games, social discussions, and much more,” added Maldonado.

“Many of our programs are geared toward bringing residents together as a family.”

TreVista Antioch

At TreVista Antioch, services and amenities include professional staff on hand 24/7 with nurse oversight, healthcare supervision and medication administration, bathing and dressing assistance, chef-prepared meals and restaurant-style dining, and family events and support programs. Community amenities include multiple dining options, a coffee bar, theater room, salon, and spa, in addition to van and Towncar shuttles allowing for residents with wheelchair needs. Additionally, TreVista in Antioch was named Agemark’s “Rising Star Community” in 2021 and 2022.

“The team here in Antioch really works hard to ensure a family-like environment and serve as an extension of a resident’s already-established family,” said Agemark Senior Living Vice President of Marketing and Communications Ashley GloysteinKlatt. “There are several things that really make TreVista in Antioch special. The first is our overall Wellness philosophy. We really work to focus on ensuring great physical, social, intellectual and spiritual health for all see Facilities page 12B residents. A great way to address this is our Life Enrichment offerings. Our “Seasons” curriculum includes both group and individual activities that address all areas of wellness. Our entire staff contributes to life enrichment and treating residents like family – this is huge for Agemark communities.”

Antioch Senior Center

The Antioch Senior Center provides many activities, including a lunch program, physical fitness and dance classes, specialinterest classes like ukulele, knitting, and resources for seniors who need assistance with Medicare information and legal services.

Open since 1988, the Antioch Senior Center was built as an addition to the Nick Rodriguez Community Center, and through a partnership with Tri-Delta and Contra Costa County, provides transportation to and from the senior center if one participates in the daily lunch program.

“Our senior center is an important asset to the Antioch community because it provides a space and opportunities for seniors to connect with others, get physical exercise and opportunities to learn new things,” said Hilda Pacheco, Recreation Programs Coordinator for the Antioch Senior Center. “These opportunities are beneficial to seniors because it gets them involved in the community and adds to their longevity of life and improves their quality of life. We also do our best to connect our seniors to the resources that help them with what they need.”

Merrill Gardens

Merrill Gardens in Brentwood offers many amenities, including a library, theater, heated swimming pool, beauty salon, restaurant-style dining, as well as in-house home care with nurses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Merrill Gardens also provides transportation for weekly shopping, happy hour, and special occasions like ice cream socials for Valentine’s Day and veterans group dinners, where other veterans from Antioch and Oakley are also invited to attend.

“It’s easy for seniors to become isolated, and that’s dangerous not only from a social and emotional standpoint but also from a safety standpoint,” said Jennifer Birkland, Community Relations Director at Merrill Gardens. “Senior living communities, like Merrill Gardens at Brentwood, offer a vibrant social program for residents to connect with peers and to get back in touch with hobbies and activities they once enjoyed. It’s also a great opportunity to develop new skills and interests. When seniors no longer need to cook, clean or maintain their home and property, it gives them so much more time and energy to do the things they love and live a more fulfilling life.”

Oakley Senior Center

In nearby Oakley, in addition to senior citizens, their senior center also has served anyone in town who is in need for the past seven years.

“Anyone in need is given resources to help or suggestions of where to get help,” said Oakley Senior Citizen Group Member

Donna Baker. “We have developed strong connections with each other and the community. We have become an extended family that looks out for each other; for better or worse.”

Every Thursday from 1-2:30 p.m. since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, fresh, canned and frozen food from the Food Bank, White Pony Express, McDonald’s, Safeway, WinCo, and Raley’s are handed out to anyone in need. Volunteers pick up most of the food and distribute it at the center, according to Baker.

“Our numbers have been slowly dropping as we now feed only about 150 families weekly,” said Baker. “We maintain a food pantry for anyone in need. “

Meals on Wheels has an office in the building and distributes their meals Wednesdays and Fridays. Costa Cafe serves lunches every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at a coast of $6 for those younger than 60 years old and $3 for those older than 60, or $15 for a five-day frozen meal plan. Lunch must be ordered in advance.

Additionally, the center offers exercise classes on Tuesday and Fridays from 9:1510 a.m., a fiber arts class including sewing, quilting and all crafts on Wednesdays from 10 a.m-3 p.m., and a Cane Defense and Square Dancing for a fee to instructors. Both the exercise classes and fiber arts classes are free with membership. Additional activities also include a monthly potluck luncheon and meeting for our membership, a monthly flea market the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., as well as birthday cards, sympathy cards, and get-well cards for each member. Since Oakley’s Senior Center is not part of the city and is a nonprofit club, they must pay for all of their own expenses and utilities. As a result, Baker says that they are requesting help and donations.

“We need all the help with the following; advertising for upcoming fundraisers, tax-deductible monetary donations, flooring for a small kitchen without seams, donations for our upcoming spaghetti feed on March 25, including frozen meatballs, pasta, salad, salad dressing, bread, beverages, items and gift cards to raffle, and sewing and fabric supplies, and a defibrillator-with training.”

Birkland meanwhile, reiterated the importance of creating an environment and community for seniors to where they can feel safe and live their happiest life possible.

“Senior living isn’t a fountain of youth,” said Birkland. “Our goal is to provide seniors with a more fulfilling life to where they can live their best life possible, and provide a sense of security for their families, and have peace of mind knowing that they are taken care of 24/7.”

Further information on the senior centers for respective cities can be found at the following links:

♦ Antioch https://bit.ly/3XHYROp

♦ Brentwood https://bit.ly/3InjmdQ

♦ Oakley https://bit.ly/3KvzvAe

♦ Information for Merrill Gardens can be found here https://bit.ly/3kb7p2z

♦ TreVista Antioch can be found here https:// bit.ly/41bKUer