Assisted living doesn’t mean being stuck at home with nowhere to go. Today’s elderly citizens demand adventure and leisure activities to keep them physically and mentally engaged. Check out the different engagement activities that you can find at your local senior center.
Activities at a Senior Center
Art, Music, and Dance Classes
Drawing, sketching, and watercolor art provide room for your artistic expression. There are also classes for music and dancing.
Walking Clubs, Yoga, and Tai Chi
Some communities allow seniors to walk around the neighborhood or in a nearby park. Group exercises such as tai chi and yoga are interesting and social ways to improve your balance and flexibility.
Chronic Disease Self-management Classes
Some communities provide lectures and classes for seniors to help them self-manage chronic diseases such as arthritis, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Nutrition and Other Workshops
They may also provide on-site lectures on the right nutrition for the elderly and workshops on activities of interest to seniors.
Benefits Screenings (Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, Etc.)
As you age, health screenings become an integral prevention mechanism for the early detection of potential health conditions. Your local senior center may partner with health practitioners to provide various screenings, such as visual and auditory tests, at its facility.
Technology Classes
You can learn computer training at your local senior center. With the proliferation of smartphones and tablets, you may also need to learn how to use these new devices. And by learning social media, you can easily connect and share ideas with family and friends as well as senior communities from other regions.
Recreational Trips
Some centers offer recreational tours to local attractions or participate in volunteer work locally. This allows you to give back to your community.
Transportation
Some senior centers may provide transport to and from your home to the center. This allows you to stay connected with other seniors.
Lunch (And Maybe Breakfast)
The senior center may provide hot meals for members, including breakfast and lunch, so you don’t have to worry about carrying packed food or figuring out where you will eat when you leave your home.
Holiday and Birthday Celebrations
Most senior facilities organize parties and birthday celebrations for their respective members. This gives you something fun to look forward to. Plus, nothing compares to the feeling of sharing a special occasion with friends.
If you’re looking for a senior center in NY, there’s a variety of options to look at. Read on to find out.
Senior Centers NY
1. Dyckman Senior Center
3754 10th Ave, New York, NY 10034
212-569-7790
The Center serves seniors of various ethnicities and boasts over 1,500 members. It provides a social environment for seniors to interact with each other, engage in recreational activities, and enjoy meals.
2. LaGuardia Good Health and Happiness Senior Center
280 Cherry Street, New York, NY 10002
212 -732-365
The Center serves seniors from all five boroughs. It is sponsored by NYFSC and boasts over 7,100 members.
It offers tons of fun activities representing a blend of eastern and western cultures. These include morning exercises called “Lok Tung Ken,” music, arts and crafts, bingo, and health promotion. Seniors also get to enjoy nutritious breakfasts and lunches.
3. Mott Street Senior Center
180 Mott St, New York, NY 10012
212-966-5460
Members at the Center enjoy fun-filled activities such as knitting, sculpting, ceramics, dancing, and painting, among other activities. Other big draws are the facility’s spectacular décor, hot breakfasts and lunches, holiday celebrations, and recreational excursions outside the city.
The Center is sponsored by NYFSC and boasts over 5,400 members.
4. Forest Hills Senior Center
108-25 62nd Drive Forest Hills, NY 11375
718-699-1010
The Center provides a variety of opportunities for seniors to pursue their interests.
You can, for example, enroll in computer classes at the Computer Learning Center or go on day trips to historical locations and live performance venues. The facility also hosts special events, like the health and wellness lecture series.
5. Rego Park Senior Center
93-29 Queens Blvd. Rego Park, NY 11374
718-896-8511
The Center offers a fun social environment for adults aged 60+. Some of the activities provided include language learning, health screenings, art classes, dance exercise, and daily lunches prepared at the facility.
6. Kew Gardens Community Center
80-02 Kew Gardens Road, Suite 202 Kew Gardens, NY 11415
718-268-5960
The Center is open to the elderly aged 60 years and above. It offers leisure games, fitness classes, music, dance, creative writing, computers, theater workshops, and more.
Recreational trips include museum visits and boat rides. If you love to volunteer, the Center offers such community service opportunities. It also celebrates holidays with delicious luncheons and entertainment.
7. Pomonok Senior Center
67-09 Kissena Blvd. Flushing, NY 11367
718-591-3377
The Center serves seniors age 60+ who live in Flushing and neighboring communities. The Center is open from Monday to Friday 8 am-4 pm. It has a daily meal program where seniors are served a nutritious breakfast and lunch. Other programs offered include:
· Exercise classes: yoga, Zumba, full-body workout
· Recreational programs
· Health and nutrition education
· Art classes
· ESOL classes
· Excursions
· Volunteering opportunities
· Social events
8. Queens Center for Gay Seniors
37-06 77th Street Jackson Heights, NY 11372
718-533-6459
The Center offers the following services and programs to older adults in a culturally rich environment:
· Hot breakfasts and lunches served every day at affordable prices
· Transportation to and from the Center at no cost
· Field trips
· Exercise classes, such as Zumba, yoga, and chair aerobics
· Educational workshops
· Access to various free services such as ESOL classes and Immigration support services
9. Stein Senior Center
204 E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010
646-395-8083
This facility has a lunch program that runs from Monday to Friday. It also provides educational and recreational activities to members.
Its health and wellness program includes yoga and Tai Chi. Other special services include health screenings and early-stage Alzheimer’s support.
10. Touching Hearts at Home
100 Duffy Ave Suite 510, Hicksville, NY 11801
516-737-1618
The Center focuses on lower-level companion care for seniors. They provide:
· Dedicated senior transportation
· Specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care
· Light housekeeping
· Basic companionship
Conclusion
Local senior centers provide a social environment for seniors to interact with their peers and avoid social isolation. They also provide a variety of opportunities and activities to enhance the life and independence of seniors in NY.