Your local senior center

[tmm99]

We've got senior citizens centers, and they do a big business providing lunches.

The Seniors at our church is also a large bunch. Even though we're seniors and of real retirement age, those seniors at the center and church are so . . . . . . . old.

We're young for our age.

One local community centre I go to for volleyball has some kind of senior program going on in another room - I don't know what the program was for, but the people there looked so very old and they looked kind of.... depressed...

 

[daylatedollarshort]

We live in a big metro area, so there are around 8 different senior clubs near us and several branches of a nonprofit seniors group not government affiliated. People tend to go to the clubs that have the activities they enjoy rather than where they live. The centers themselves, if you go during free lunch or bingo times, may have some of the older members, but the more active activity groups, like hiking, skiing and softball, tend to attract a younger and more active crowd. So I wouldn't judge a group entirely on what you see at the center itself on one visit and instead try one of the activity groups that might interest you.

We usually have membership in 3 clubs for the various benefits, like subsidized ride share programs, but are only currently active in one. We've met all our retirement friends there and most of our friends are active in a variety of activities or other clubs. I think for us that takes the place of going to work and having a place to socialize, only better since there are no deadlines, you can go when you feel like it and most of the activities are tax payer funded.

We tend to do the drop in activities as I don't like having a set schedule. We're also in several seat filler organizations and I like to be free to take advantage of those events when they pop up, like symphony, ballet or play tickets. Then on slow weeks if we don't have any activities planned with friends or family or there aren't any good event tickets, the senior club drop in activities are always good for back up.

We don't do the trips but the clubs here go places like China and the Amalfi coast, so the members here are pretty far from all seniors sitting around in rocking chairs. The day trips through the clubs are kind of expensive so we haven't done those either, but when we are older and don't want to drive or navigate BART on our own anymore, it is nice to know we can still go on day trips to places like Sausalito and Napa through the clubs.

 

[Pellice]

One local community centre I go to for volleyball has some kind of senior program going on in another room - I don't know what the program is for, but the people there look so very old and they look kind of.... depressed...

Well, they may be depressed because they aged out of volleyball ... I guess that day does come for us all. There's a question for us all - do we have interests and hobbies that will delight us when we are physically frail? I mean to take up video games and become a Fearless Female Warrior when I'm 90 or so. Do video games have age categories - my fingers are already arthritic! I could relearn some card games. I've always meant to read more I have a bag of fancy embroidery stored behind my couch. I think I'll still love to cook.

But, who knows what happens, except that the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley.

 

[tmm99]

Well, they may be depressed because they aged out of volleyball ... I guess that day does come for us all. There's a question for us all - do we have interests and hobbies that will delight us when we are physically frail? I mean to take up video games and become a Fearless Female Warrior when I'm 90 or so. Do video games have age categories - my fingers are already arthritic! I could relearn some card games. I've always meant to read more I have a bag of fancy embroidery stored behind my couch. I think I'll still love to cook.

But, who knows what happens, except that the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley.

They looked like they quit playing volleyball/basketball, etc decades ago. It looked almost like they were dragged out there; maybe a bus or something picked them up at some kind of home and dropped them off? I've seen similar-looking seniors in the same room before the pandemic and a guy up front was playing the piano and singing oldies. They had the same bored, depressed look on their faces then too. I dread to become one of those folks, but I may not have any choice...

 

[John Galt III]

They looked like they quit playing volleyball/basketball, etc decades ago. It looked almost like they were dragged out there; maybe a bus or something picked them up at some kind of home and dropped them off? I've seen similar-looking seniors in the same room before the pandemic and a guy up front was playing the piano and singing oldies. They had the same bored, depressed look on their faces then too. I dread to become one of those folks, but I may not have any choice...

At my senior center there is one of those rooms full of very old looking depressed folks. They are playing cards, possibly bridge. But I'd be surprised if they can still play, since it has so many rules. Anyway, yes, we have one of those depression rooms. But all the other rooms have happier old folks, most younger than the depressed ones. I would say 'cheerful' is the general mood of the place, outside of the depression room.

 

[tmm99]

At my senior center there is one of those rooms full of very old looking depressed folks. They are playing cards, possibly bridge. But I'd be surprised if they can still play, since it has so many rules. Anyway, yes, we have one of those depression rooms. But all the other rooms have happier old folks, most younger than the depressed ones. I would say 'cheerful' is the general mood of the place, outside of the depression room.

I looked into it further and found that what I saw was "a senior day program that offers older adults with health and mobility limitations a place to enjoy fun activities and get more support." for $16 a day.

 

[MichaelB]

I looked into it further and found that what I saw was "a senior day program that offers older adults with health and mobility limitations a place to enjoy fun activities and get more support." for $16 a day.

That is a good option for couples where one spouse requires some care and the other spouse is the primary caregiver.

 

[eytonxav]

We do have brand new sr canter that opened earlier this year. It provides many activities and services so there is something appealing for all ages of seniors, with the starting age at 50 and some members are in their 90s. Annual dues are only $10, so we get seniors coming from other surrounding towns. The biggest draw is pickleball which tends to attract the younger set. Also there is basketball and volleyball in the gym part of the facility. There is a study like room with lounge chairs, books and a pool table. Also a well equipped gym with both machines and free weights. There is an art and craft room that covers many hobby type crafts such as wood carving, ceramics, etc. College level courses are offered onsite by a local university. Very large lunch room, kitchen and free or subsidized meals are offered daily and that is a big attraction for many of the seniors. Day trips and longer trips are periodically offered as well.

 

[Dtail]

Can't see going to a senior center currently at 62 y.o.
Tons of Pickleball by me and that is my main hobby 6x weekly.

 

[harllee]

I looked into it further and found that what I saw was "a senior day program that offers older adults with health and mobility limitations a place to enjoy fun activities and get more support." for $16 a day.

A good deal --gives the caretaker of older people with physical and mental issues a break while the elder is in a safe place. Day care for the elderly.

 

[TheWizard]

I'm only 72, so not really ready for my town's senior center.
I spend a fair amount of my free time doing yard work and chainsawing logs and splitting them into firewood for future winters.
Maybe when I get old, we'll see...

 

[Dash man]

My 89 yo FIL goes to the local senior center. He says there’s too many old people hanging around.

 

[garyt]

We have a pretty nice one in our city. I just use it to play basketball and pickleball, but they have all.the usual lunches, card games, dance for the older seniors

 

[Amethyst]

People with dementia usually have a "look" about them, a combination of peevishness and fear. It stems from not being entirely sure where they are, or why they are there.

One local community centre I go to for volleyball has some kind of senior program going on in another room - I don't know what the program was for, but the people there looked so very old and they looked kind of.... depressed...

 

[Pointby2]

The local one in Yorba Linda is very nice. My mother in law used it a lot, especially for the art classes. I used to go view their art shows with her.

I've been thinking about enrolling in one of the art classes too, but honestly, I think I'm going to feel out of place and too young.

 

[GaryInCO]

I might just be missing opportunities, but I haven't seen any pickleball going on here in the Chicago area.

A Google search turns up plenty of potentials. Give it a look!

I just visited the senior center last week to find out about pickleball. I haven't played it yet but it sounds like fun ... We have at least two centers offering pickleball in this small city of 175k.

 

[SimpleMom]

There's a great drop-in senior center in our town that offers lots of classes. The cut off age is 50 and older. I take line dance classes on Wednesdays with a friend of mine. We're both mid-60's. $5 a class and you don't have to sign up, just show up. The class is very popular and the teacher emails the dances to us each week the Friday before. They have computer labs, ukulele, yoga, Zumba, Spanish, bridge, ping pong, Pilates, watercolor, scrabble, Legal consultations, Tai Chi, etc. Construction was funded in large part by a local philanthropist.