My advice: “Shop around for an 'interesting' site!"

     When looking for a senior center that best suits the needs of you or your family member—shop around for an “interesting” site! 
     “Senior centers each have their own personality,” according to Nancy Martin, Executive Director of the Mineral Wells Senior Center.  “Don’t go into one and think they are all the same.”
     To find the best fit, look for a site with activities that you or your loved one used to enjoy doing.  Some centers feature more crafts or music or field trips.  These things can “revitalize” older adults.
     “I suggest people look for a center with multiple activity rooms instead of one large area,” Martin said.  “It gives you choices—not just one thing to do at a time.  At my center, I may have men playing pool in one room, a group making beaded crafts in another room, and individuals working at computer stations.”
Martin finds that her younger clients (“the boomers”) like more diverse activities, physical fitness, mind-triggering games and even more food varieties.   
     Finally, once you decide on a site that is most captivating, what’s the best way to convince a reluctant family member to move in?  
     “Be devious!” Martin said with a laugh, and then explained.  “Don’t just dump them off and drive away.  I tell people to come as a family for lunch a few times.  Acclimate them.  Get them used to it.  Let them see people being busy at things they like.”
     By selecting a senior care facility that meets the “interests” of older adults, new residents are more likely to be involved and revitalized. 

Interview and article by Amy Dee Stephens

Senior Centers provide programs and services for the socialization, recreation, and education of older adults. To learn more about the Mineral Wells Senior Centers, visit www.mineralwellstx.com.