Future Challenges for Senior Center Programming to Serve Younger and More Active Baby Boomers

ABSTRACT

Misconceptions and myths regarding the image of senior centers need to be overcome especially among the baby boom generation. Although past research and programming have addressed the traditional model of senior centers, little attention has focused on senior center programs and activities that address the needs of younger and more active older adults. Aging and adult services, specifically, senior centers, face challenges in maintaining their role in the community through and beyond the next decade. This article discusses the challenges senior centers face and suggests new approaches for programming and activities that will enable senior centers to make the transition whereby they engage baby boomers in utilizing their services while continuing to address the needs of the present users of senior centers.

KEYWORDS:

• Challenges
• senior center programming
• active baby boomers
• activity professionals

The authors wish to acknowledge the helpful suggestions and comments from an anonymous reviewer of a previous submission.