title: Senior centers: traditional and evolving roles.
abstract: The first senior center in the United States, the William Hodson Community Center in New York City, opened its doors in 1943. Its purpose was to reach out to people who had retired but needed a place to gather to stay connected to others. Senior centers serve as an entry point for the aging service network and protect against social isolation. One popular perception-that senior centers are welfare programs-has inhibited many elders from seeking services, and it needs to be dispelled. These centers do not just offer low-cost meals, nor provide institution-like services; they are diverse and vital institutions. Recent studies indicate that participation in senior centers has been declining, and center personnel are looking for new ways to reach the "young-old" who have yet to participate and the "old-old" who may face challenges getting to the center. Pharmacists are in the ideal position to offer health and wellness programming and caregiver education in this setting. Senior centers are also good places to train students, who are often surprised at the range of seniors' interests and cognitive abilities.
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, Storrs, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Jeannette Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wick
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007899:Leisure Activities; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*