6 minute read
Senior Activity Centers
here does one go when they want to participate in an exercise or dance class, have a meal with friends, learn a foreign language, hear about historical events, listen to a live musical performance, take exciting trips, volunteer, or work on their fine arts and crafting skills, all in one place? To your local senior center, of course! You can do all that and more at all seven of Anne Arundel County’s Senior Activity Centers.
Today’s senior centers are multi-dimensional, active, dynamic and progressive; a community focal point. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), there are over 11,000 senior centers serving over a million older adults each year in the United States. Most centers offer services and programs such as meal and nutrition programs; health and fitness classes; volunteer opportunities; social and recreational activities; lifelong learning programs; options for travel; participation in the arts; transportation; intergenerational activities; information and assistance and a range of other social services for older adults. Senior center programs are as diverse as the members they serve. There is so much to do at your local senior center that you could spend all day, every day there and still not do it all.
The first senior centers were established to combat social isolation among older adults by bringing people together to share a meal. While that is still a huge benefit of senior centers, they have so much more to offer! Senior centers are continually evolving to meet the changing needs of the population they serve. Every generation that enters older adulthood brings new challenges and exciting opportunities for senior centers to grow and innovate. The advent of computers? Take an introductory computer class at your local senior center. New to using a smartphone? Your senior center will offer a class on how to text and what emojis are. What’s the latest craze in exercise classes? Try Zumba, belly dancing or yoga at the senior center. A global pandemic? Not to worry, we offer virtual classes and programs online! Senior centers are fun places to go to with lots of programs and activities to participate in, but did you know that people who attend senior centers are healthier, have greater life satisfaction and more social interaction than those who don’t attend centers? As stated by the NCOA, research shows that older adults who participate in senior center programs can learn to manage or delay the onset of chronic disease and remain living and thriving in their communities longer. The health and wellness programs and screenings and fitness classes offered at the center contribute to that. Surveys have shown that a significant number of older adults who participate in activities at a senior center state that their quality of life has improved since they joined the center. They enjoy the friendly people, the atmosphere and being with their peers, and the activities and programs are engaging and fun. NCOA also states that older adults who participate in senior center programs experience measurable improvements in the seven dimensions of wellness: physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, environmental and economic well-being.
The Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities operates senior activity centers throughout the county. Locations include centers in Arnold, Annapolis, Brooklyn Park, Pasadena, O’Malley Senior Center in Odenton, Pascal Senior Center in Glen Burnie and the South County Senior Center in Edgewater. Membership at the centers is free and gives you access to activities at all of the county’s senior activity centers. Many of the programs and activities offered at the centers are free, but we also partner with the Anne Arundel Community College to offer continuing education classes for a moderate fee. Center members may take part in classes encompassing multiple subject areas, including: exercise, dance, fine arts, crafts, history, foreign languages, current events, music and use of technology. Special interest groups and clubs are another popular choice of activity at the centers; for instance, knitting and crocheting, quilting, genealogy, crafts, ceramics, technology use and many more are offered at many of the centers. Workshops and seminars on specific topics of interest are also available at the centers. Community organizations
ANNAPOLIS Wiley H. Bates Heritage Park, 119 South Villa Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401; 410-222-1818; Fax 410-222-1216; annapoliscenter@ aacounty.org
ARNOLD 44 Church Road, Arnold, MD 21012; 410-222-1922; Fax 410222-1924; arnoldcenter@aacounty.org
BROOKLYN PARK 202 Hammonds Lane, Baltimore, MD 21225; 410-222-6847; Fax 410222-6846; bpcenter@ aacounty.org
O’MALLEY 1275 Odenton Road, Odenton, MD 21113; 410-222-6227; Fax 410-222-6229; omalleycenter@aacounty. org O’Malley Annex, 1270 Odenton Road, Odenton, MD 21113; 10-222-0140
PASADENA 4103 Mountain Road, Pasadena, MD 21122; 410-222-0030; Fax 410222-0032; pasadenacenter@aacounty.org
PASCAL 125 Dorsey Road, Glen Burnie, MD 21061; 410222-6680; Fax 410-2226685; pascalcenter@ aacounty.org
SOUTH COUNTY 27 Stepney Lane, Edgewater, MD 21037; 410-222-1927; Fax 410222-1989; southcenter@aacounty.org
such as non-profits, healthcare facilities, financial organizations and local businesses are invited to the centers to present educational programs and workshops for the participants and provide information that we might not even know we need! Each center has their own classes, programs and activity offerings, and members are invited to participate at any (or all) of the centers if they choose. Special events are always an exciting opportunity for center members to gather with their friends and celebrate the holidays, milestones and recognize significant observances such as Older Americans Month every May and National Senior Center Month in September. Senior centers are superb at celebrating and throwing parties! Since the global pandemic began, much has changed in the world, including senior centers. Our centers have been closed for over a year. We have been able to provide classes and programs virtually, but our participants are eager to return to their centers to see their friends and participate in their favorite activities again.The status of the senior activity centers will continue to be evaluated and will abide by the guidelines given the Anne Arundel County Department of Health. Our priority is to keep all members and staff safe during the reopening phases of the centers.
Once the centers begin to reopen, many folks want to give back to their communities after they have retired and senior centers offer excellent opportunities for older adults to volunteer and share their knowledge, skills and experiences with others. If you enjoy interacting with other people in a helpful and friendly manner, why not be a front desk volunteer and sign new members up for the center, answer the phones and questions from center members and help with clerical duties? Do you want to represent and advocate for your fellow center members? Each center has a non-profit organization that advises center management on programs and activities and runs fundraisers for the center. Do you have a special talent or skill that you would like to share with others? You can teach a class or join a performance group. Senior centers have a myriad of volunteer opportunities for you and will gratefully accept your support and assistance!
