Senior center
Hot Springs Mercy Senior Center, 210 Woodbine, and McAuley Senior Community Center, 5010 Highway 7 north, are operated by Mercy Hospital Hot Springs and primarily funded through the Area Agency on Aging of West Central Arkansas. The centers are open from 8 a. m. to 3 p. m. Monday- Friday. Membership is free of charge for those 60 and older and visitors are welcome.
A nutritious, well- balanced lunch is served from 11: 30 a. m. to 12: 30 p. m. at both facilities. No reservation is required. A modest donation is requested to help cover the member’s share of the meal cost; $ 3 has been set as a suggested donation at each center. Any and all donations are appreciated. Those under 60 are required to pay $ 6 for each meal.
Each center offers a library, pool tables, ping pong, games area, weekly exercise and wellness programs, socialization, recreation, health screenings and educational presentations. There is a SeniorNet computer training site at the Hot Springs location. There are intergenerational activities with children from area schools, local Head Start programs and the North Garland County Boys & Girls Club.
Oaklawn Center on Aging, administered by the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, is a community partner located within the Hot Springs Mercy Senior Center. It provides center members and the community with health information resources and education pro- grams including weekly tai chi, Zumba Gold and Healthy Aging presentations. For information, contact kapackard@ uams. edu, 623- 0020.
Unique to the communities they serve and reflecting the interests of their membership, each center schedules special activities. Hot Springs Mercy Senior Center boasts an Art Gallery Wall, creative arts classes, tai chi, Strong Men and Strong Women strength training classes, Zumba Gold, dulcimer lessons, Nell’s Resale Shop, bean bag baseball, line dancing, AARP Chapter 3 monthly meetings and a monthly educational series – Health Chat.
McAuley activities include line dancing, tutoring for area youths, intergenerational O. W. L. program, Strong Men and Strong Women strength training classes, tai chi, Zumba Gold, everyday exercise, rubber stamping, rug hooking and crochet, thrift shop, painting and craft classes, AARP Driver Safety classes, AARP tax aid during tax season, continuing education classes through National Park Community College and Senior Olympics award winning ping pong and billiards.
This week’s special events include: Hot Springs center: Not available McAuley center: Not available For information on times, activities and events, contact Hot Springs Mercy Senior Center: 624- 0838 or judy. rowe@ mercy. net; or McAuley Senior Community Center, 984- 5594 or amanda. maness@ mercy. net.