14 Active Aging Week September 22-28, 2013
Find Your CentrE
You may be surprised at the range of activities, services and social events at your senior or community centre.
Variety of services spice up life at community hubs By Kathryne Cardwell For the Free Press S ocialize with friends, take a class, join a sports team — when you discover senior community centres, you open doors to new opportunities. “I see such a need for people to connect,” says Connie Newman, executive director of the Manitoba Association of Senior Centres (MASC). “As human beings, we need shelter, we need food, we need clothes and we need people. And a senior community centre provides people.” MASC works to develop new senior centres, support existing ones and promote communication, networking and planning among 35 centres across Manitoba, including 20 in Winnipeg. It also collaborates with other senior-serving organizations such as the Active Living Coalition for Older Adults in Manitoba (ALCOA-MB), Transportation Option Network for Seniors and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Older and retired individuals who find themselves with more time on their hands may become bored, restless and unhappy. And they’re more prone to becoming socially isolated, particularly if their social life depended on their work or their spouse’s work connections. Filling those free hours and connecting to the community are crucial to enjoying retirement years to the fullest, and senior centres offer a variety of options. Hours, programs and fees vary from centre to centre, but newcomers will be pleasantly surprised by the range of services on offer, from exercise classes to social networking groups to current- events lectures. And most activities, be they cooking classes or walking clubs or health seminars, have social benefits. One of the most popular events at centres across the city is Lunch and Learn, a series of luncheons that feature speakers on a variety of topical subjects. The luncheons have gained a wide following because, as Newman says, “We love to eat and we love to learn!” Centres often host seminars and classes on subjects like money management, cooking, computer usage and crime
prevention. And they often partner with programs that provide core health services, or collaborate with organizations such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba to provide a wider range of services and ensure that members have access to important information. Those looking for a new hobby might try their hand at woodcarving, stamp collecting, quilting, choir, recorder, harmonica, book clubs, Toastmasters, creative writing, watercolor and acrylic painting. You can play bridge, dominoes, cribbage, Scrabble or any other game where you want to flex your strategizing skills. There’s a growing awareness of the importance of remaining active and healthy as we age, and most senior centres provide exercise classes, activity groups and team sports. Activities may include aerobics, water aerobics, swimming, tai chi, yoga, line dancing and even belly-dancing classes. Zumba dance is one of the most popular exercises these days, and many centres offer beginning, intermediate and even advanced groups. Many activities are tailored to seniors who may have health issues, such as heart concerns or arthritis, and groups specifically aimed at older seniors include chair aerobics and classes featuring low-impact exercises. And those who just want to have fun with their friends can enjoy walking clubs, golf parties, badminton, billiards and more. Sports and games are popular, with pickleball, a racquet sport combining elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis topping the list. Senior centres have traditionally attracted more women than men, but they’re reaching out and creating men’s breakfast groups, team sports and other programs. Good Neighbours Active Living Centre in St. James, for one, offers Men in the Kitchen, a cooking class just for men. Everyone will enjoy special events such as holidays teas, bake sales and dances. And since you don’t have to drive or find parking, excursions to casinos, museums, art galleries and other destinations are convenient and conducive to expanding your social horizons. “It’s a basic need from birth for people to connect with one another,” Newman says. “I see such value in that community.”
To find a senior community centre near you, visit www.manitobaseniorcentres.com.
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