STATE COLLEGE – The Pennsylvania Department of Aging and the Long-Term Living Training Institute have heard valuable insight from experts in the aging field and older adults during a two-day conference attended by over 300 professionals and consumers. Pennsylvania has over 600 senior centers where older citizens go for support, camaraderie, meals and access to important information about programs that can help them.
“Senior centers offer a lifeline for many older residents who otherwise would be isolated,” said Department of Aging Secretary John Michael Hall. “Pennsylvania seeks to improve programs and access to centers across the state and to find innovative ways to make them more appealing, efficient and worthwhile for members.”
Discussion groups focused on the changing role of senior centers, fundraising techniques, creating a business plan and making the centers better places for older residents to go. Objectives of the meeting include improving ways to transport seniors to centers in rural and suburban areas and finding more and better ways to sustain operations in a cost-effective way.
Each year more than 184,000 older adults visit senior centers to interact and enjoy educational and entertaining programs that promote good health and a sense of belonging. The commonwealth spends $31 million each year on congregate meals provided at the centers that help to ensure older adults receive adequate nutrition.
The department will compile the information from the summit meeting and move forward with suggestions of ways to improve this valuable program for older adults.
For more information on the Department of Aging, please visit here.