September is National Senior Center Month and this year's theme is "Building Momentum." Before we get into the importance of senior centers and giving them recognition, it is probably best to start out with some history.
History of Recognizing Senior Centers
The recognition started out as a week of observance in May 1979. Aging organizations quickly adopted and supported this week of commemoration, and found strong support from the Senate and the House Select Committee on Aging.Shortly after, the U.S. Conference of Mayors Aging Task Force made several mayoral proclamations celebrating Senior Center week. As support grew, President Ronald Reagan signed the first Senior Center Week Presidential Proclamation. In 2007, the week-long celebration was moved to September and is now an entire month long.
Importance of Senior Centers
Senior centers play an important role for today's older adults. They are a place for older adults to engage, learn new things, socialize, and help them lead a productive life in retirement.Most Senior centers provide classes like:
- cooking
- dance
- technology
- disease prevention
- financial management
- continuing education
- arts & crafts
- and more!
Addressing Hunger
Hunger is another major issue that senior centers assist with. Today, 1 in 6 older adults face hunger. Through SNAP, congregate dining centers, home-delivered meals, and more senior centers help to provide a supplement to older adults nutrition.
Aging in Place
Many senior centers help keep older adults in their homes longer, and they offer a variety of minor home repairs and seasonal care services to older adults who may not be able to complete these tasks on their own.
How We Help
GA Foods have been working with senior centers for over 40 years with older adult nutrition. Learn more more by clicking the link below.
