How to Find a Good Senior Center

Well it's time to find some activities and social events for the senior in your life. Perhaps it's time for you to find these yourselves. Being able to pick out just the right senior center is important. You need to consider several factors to get just the perfect one. A senior center is a place that seniors can go for activities and fun. It is not a nursing home or assisted living facility. The needs of the elderly at a senior center are different then the ones at a nursing home or assisted living facility.

LOCATION: How close is the center to the senior's home? You don't want a center that is far away. The travel back and forth will get boring. They will not want to go as much.

BUILDING CONDITION: There are some senior centers that look absolutely horrible. You don't want to go up to a depressing and yucky building for fun things. Find a center that has an attractive lawn and has been taken care of by the staff.

SECURITY CHECKS: It's sad to say but some people just like to abuse and treat the elderly badly. Talk to the director and find out if security checks are run on the staff. Some facilities do not do security or background checks. Find some place else if the center doesn't do criminal checks.

TRANSPORTATION: Does the facility offer free transportation to members? Does the facility have a handicapped accessible and equipped van for outings and events? What are the qualifications of the staff members that will be driving and riding on the vans? You want a facility that has a van so the members can go on bus tours and other events.

USE OF NAME: Does the staff use members name when speaking to them? Do they make direct eye contact? Do they talk to the members in baby voice or as adults? You want staff that uses names because it shows that they remember who everyone is. You also want staff that respect the elderly and talk to them as adults and not toddlers.

SNACKS AND DRINKS: Everyone needs snacks and drinks available to them. It is important that the center have machines for these or offer them during social events.