Did you know September is National Senior Center Month? Senior benefits centers are often overlooked as a vital source of support for our older loved ones. Here’s what you should know.
1. How to Find a Senior Center
As of 2024, there are an estimated 11,000 senior centers in the U.S., serving roughly 1 million older adults every day. In contrast, there are roughly 58 million Americans over the age of 65, meaning that many are neglecting the benefits of the services available at these centers.
One of the biggest reasons these centers are underutilized is because not everyone knows how easy they are to find. A simple Google search for “senior centers near me,” can redirect you to your town’s office of aging and disabled services, or you can also visit the website for your local Area Agency on Aging. Both resources can provide you with plenty of options and information about the senior centers nearest to you.
2. A Senior Center is a Community Hub
Senior centers not only provide older adults with a community hub to interact with other people of the same age, but they also provide productive outlets to keep our older loved ones engaged. From fitness classes and health screenings to organized social events and parties, a senior center can provide a lifestyle similar to what you’d find at an upscale country club.
3. Senior Centers Combat Isolation
One of the biggest risks to older adults is isolation. Isolation can expedite the aging process and is a leading factor behind depression in older adults. Senior centers offer the perfect social outlet to avoid these threats by providing older adults with a wealth of group-centric entertainment options to choose from.
4. Senior Centers Promote Health & Wellness
Many of these group activities are centered around fitness and health. From group yoga to swim classes to readily available health screenings, there is no shortage of options to choose from for a person to stay in shape at a senior center.
5. Senior Centers Provide Support and Services
Senior centers can also handle many day-to-day needs for older adults that they may not feel comfortable doing on their own. Some centers come with in-house nutritional programs and meal prep to keep diets balanced, while others also provide transportation assistance and direct access to other nearby social services. The ultimate goal of these senior centers is to provide the everyday assistance that an older adult may need in order to continue living independently.
SYNERGY HomeCare offers many services that complement those found at a typical senior benefits center. Both outlets are designed to provide much-needed respite for everyday caregivers, meaning your local SYNERGY HomeCare office likely has a close working relationship with nearby senior benefits centers.
If you want to tap into SYNERGY HomeCare’s professional in-home caregiving services, visit our website here, or call (877) 432-2692. Conversely, if you need information or guidance on how to get your older loved one some out-of-home help, the professionals at your nearest SYNERGY HomeCare location are happy to point you in the right direction.
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SYNERGY HomeCare offers no obligation home assessments. Find a location near you or contact us.
