Community centers have much to offer senior residents
The Houston Parks and Recreation Department provides recreation and leisure activities for seniors, age 55 and older, at community centers across the city. Activities include specialty and creative crafts classes, fitness and walking clubs, cultural events, field trips, and senior forums. They are free, except for field trips or special programs.
“The parks department provides a variety of programs for seniors through our 61 Community Centers. Programs like line dancing, senior fitness and walking clubs, as well as creative crafts and social clubs encourage seniors to stay fit, involved and active. We encourage seniors and people of all ages and abilities to visit www.houstonparks.org to find their neighborhood community center, sign up for a class and stay active,” said Steve Wright, director of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department.
Wright works to fulfill the department’s mission: To enhance the quality of urban life by providing safe, well-maintained parks and offering affordable programming for the community.
The HPARD operates the community centers and the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center for the City of Houston. Programming at these centers includes the Senior Adult Program and the Adult Arts program.
People generally tend to slow down, and become more sedentary as they get older.
Contributing factors for this might be health problems, pain or weight issues. Some may be worried about falling.
But, staying active is important for seniors and has many benefits. It reduces the risk of depression, and enhances social connectedness. It also can slow the process of mental decline and helps seniors avoid feelings of isolation. All of these things are essential to quality of life.
Community centers offer programs and services that promote active engagement and enjoyment of life by older adults.
They take into account the needs and desires of the baby boomer generation when they develop programs and activities.
This is important because boomers now make up more than two-thirds of the over-50 population. Studies have shown that successful aging is more likely when individuals are actively engaged in life.
Some of the specific offerings at the centers includes arts and crafts, ceramics, bingo, senior fitness, senior artist crafts, dominoes, chair fitness, jewelry, quilting, open table tennis, Zumba, and Photography 101.
The most popular programs offered to seniors, according to Nikia Lewis in Recreation, are line dancing, senior fitness, senior specialty crafts, and walking and social clubs.
For many seniors, participating in the activities and programs at the community centers can be social events. It’s possible that many of them will have things in common, such as having children and grandchildren.
While doing water aerobics, creating a craft, or line dancing, they can talk with each other and enjoy the social aspect of the classes.
Seniors who are focused on taking care of their health are more optimistic about aging. A United States of Aging Survey showed that nearly two-thirds of optimistic seniors have set one or more specific goals to manage their health. This may be to lose weight, walk at least 10,000 steps a day, or to start exercising in some form again.
Contact or visit a community center near you for information on programs and activities offered.