Colorado Springs Senior Center––“Where Everybody Knows Your Name”––Colorado Springs Senior Center

 

Colorado Springs Senior Center––“Where Everybody Knows Your Name”

By Mendy Putman and Jody Barker, Colorado Springs Senior Center, Colorado Springs LIVING WELL Magazine

Remember the old TV show, “Cheers”? We like to think of the Colorado Springs Senior Center as the “Cheers” hangout for older adults. The mission of the Senior Center is to offer quality of life experiences to those 55 years of age and older, and is a place to connect with people and engage in a community “where everyone knows your name and they are always glad you came.”  If you ever listen to the words of the song––it fits us! As human beings, we all have an innate desire to connect with other people. It’s good for our health. Did you know that when you are engaged and active with others, you can increase your life by 5.5 years? That’s what the experts say and we believe them.

The Colorado Springs Senior Center offers classes, trips, education, events and services for you to get involved, stay active, meet new people and have some fun! There are so many different things to choose from we think you might have trouble deciding. Over 250 activities, each season, are what you will have to pick from and how exciting is that? The benefits of getting involved are endless. We went dogsledding in February––don’t miss out on our summer adventures this year. Trips like the Paint Mines of Calhan, whitewater rafting, and the Wolf Rescue Center are all planned, along with several Rockies games and dinner theater performances.

There are fine arts and crafts, computer, and lifelong learning classes. Along with entertaining special events each month, you will find dancing to live bands every Thursday afternoon from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and the third Sunday of each month from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. We have several support groups along with basic health screening services, such as foot care, dental and blood pressure checks and body massage. Another popular service available to adults age 60 and over is the Golden Circle Nutrition Program that offers lunch Monday through Friday. Thousands of meals are served throughout the year for a suggested donation of only $2 for those ages 60+.  The menu is posted monthly on our website. We encourage you to visit the website––csseniorcenter.com––to view all the class schedules or come by and pick them up.

Are you looking for a way to get in shape for the summer while the weather is nice outside? Join one of our many levels of exercise classes. From sitting in a chair doing cardio chair dancing, to Zumba, salsa, tai chi, yoga, and Pilates; there are so many choices for all ability levels. Don’t be afraid! We welcome you to try out a class before registering for it. If cost is an issue, please ask about our scholarship program sponsored by the Senior Resource Council. You can receive a 50% discount if you qualify.

The Colorado Springs Senior Center operates entirely on endowments that were left to the program in the 1980s. Those funds have been slowly depleting over the past few years with the downturn in the market and investment returns. It is a goal for a NEW endowment to be established through our non-profit organization, The Friends of the Colorado Springs Senior Center, to prosper and grow toward supporting future operations. If you are interested in becoming a “Friend” or would just like to donate to the group, please give us a call. We are getting braver about asking for everyone to think of us for memorial donations and “in lieu of flower” donations.

Don’t just sit at home and wonder about us. You are invited to walk through the door and be amazed at what you find! We pride ourselves in saying that we “try to please all the people, all of the time.” You will find something that will excite you, we promise. Please do not allow yourself to think that the Senior Center is “just for old people.” Let us show you around and help you out of that stereotypical thinking. Call us at 387-6000 to register for our next Newcomer’s Orientation.