Activities for Senior Citizen Centers

The types of available activities for senior citizen centers vary, depending on funding and their target clients. Many senior centers cater to a wide age range, starting at age 55, with some participants over age 75.

City, state or local governments manage some centers, using taxpayer funds. Other centers have funding from religious organizations or charitable groups.

There isn't a national model for the operation of senior centers. However, gerontology researchers have begun to study the best practices that are in use by various centers.

The most popular senior centers host a variety of activities that seniors want to participate in regularly. Successful senior centers focus their main activities on meeting seniors' needs for community interaction, recreation, physical fitness and mental stimulation.

Quality facilities offer many core activities.

Maintaining good health is important to most seniors. People at this age who are familiar with the adage "use it or lose it" make an extra effort to stay physically active. Most senior centers have some exercise programs for their clientele.

A few go beyond the traditional gym exercises and offer yoga, tai chi and martial arts classes. Seniors who participate in tai chi programs typically have fewer injuries from falls, and according to some research, they sleep better. As seniors age, exercise can help them retain physical flexibility and improve coordination.

Almost all senior centers offer recreational activities. For some seniors, craft projects and games will not be as appealing as recreational activities that let them draw on and apply life skills in a real-world situation. For these seniors, indoor and outdoor activities such as movie nights, current affairs lectures, travel programs, and even day trips to museums and other special attractions cater to many interests. Centers can also take advantage of senior citizen discounts to make outings more affordable.

Senior centers can develop gardening programs to let participants use their green thumbs and nurturing skills. This activity not only allows experienced gardeners to share their knowledge with others at the center, but also to contribute to local service agencies that distribute food to the hungry. A gardening area can be a gathering place for all participants to meet and share their best techniques and wisdom.

• In some cases, centers will need to provide raised beds so that seniors with limited mobility can participate without difficulty.
• Senior centers can help clients who have a passion and talent for gardening to participate in a local Master Gardening certification class.

If a center has limited outdoor space, or local restrictions that prevent the establishment of an outdoor garden, hydroponic gardening is an excellent alternative.

• Many edible foods adapt easily to hydroponics techniques.
• Hydroponic gardens use water or a soilless growing medium like moss or coir (coconut fiber).
• Most of the other equipment for a hydroponic garden can be made with recycled materials.
• Home improvement stores and garden centers are often excellent sources for donations to senior garden projects.

For this activity, the center will need a dedicated space for the indoor garden. It should be a sunny area with large windows or skylights. Indoor grow lights are useful, if the best available space does not have direct sunlight.

Most seniors are very concerned about staying mentally sharp. Senior centers can help them keep their brains in shape. Activities that require critical thinking, problem solving and memory recall help seniors meet this need.

Learning new skills such as playing a musical instrument or practicing a new language help older people keep brain cells alive. Many seniors also want to learn about and use computer technology. Computer training courses are beneficial for seniors of all ages. Even if they are not interested in surfing the Internet, many do enjoy being able to master basic tasks like sending e-mail, downloading family photos and participating in age-related forums.

Tutoring and mentoring are excellent mental stimulation activities for seniors. So, providing opportunities for interaction with other age groups is becoming a popular trend at senior centers. The centers match their participants with volunteer tutoring and mentoring activities in their area. These placements can take place at the senior facility, at a local school, or after school site, depending on the age of the senior volunteers.

The volunteers benefit from having an outlet for their wisdom and education. The students get homework help and individual attention from a caring adult. Senior volunteers and students develop bonds that may last beyond the volunteer placement period.

Providing one-stop information resources for seniors is easily one of the most valuable activities for senior citizen centers in any community. Seniors appreciate being able to easily understand and apply for local and federal government benefits, find affordable recreation and even assistance with legal matters and taxes.

Additionally, participants at senior centers need trusted sources of help when they are trying to navigate the red tape that often accompanies senior services. Over time, many seniors develop a relationship with senior center staff. They often expect the center to help them stay abreast of new information that can improve their lives or help their budgets.

• Written by Carol Luther

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