Initiatives empower older adults to stay healthy, engaged, and connected in their communities

Contact:
Simona Combi
Public Relations Manager
571-527-3982
simona.combi@ncoa.org

May 22, 2024, Arlington, VA—When you think of your neighborhood senior center, you may not imagine the setting for an educational podcast or a mobile van pulling into to your local park or alleyway. But these are just two examples of the innovative programs happening at senior centers across the nation as they work each day to empower older adults to age well.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has announced its annual Programs of Excellence Awards, a peer-reviewed competition offered through its National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC). From helping participants re-discover their inner purpose, to teaching older adults how to create and produce an educational podcast, to taking vital programs and services on the road (literally), this year’s honorees inspire their peer organizations to even greater heights of creativity and impact.

“Senior centers are every community’s best-kept secret,” said Dianne Stone, NCOA’s Associate Director, Center for Healthy Aging.

“As evidenced by our winners, senior centers are vital hubs of activity that are constantly reinventing themselves to keep pace with the needs and desires of today’s older adult.”

The 2023 Programs of Excellence winners in each category include:

Marketing / Public Relations

• Winner: The CSC Discovery Network—Colchester Senior Center, Connecticut
• Honorable mention: Talk of the Town—Bernardston Senior Center, Massachusetts

Intergenerational

• Winner: A Visit with our Transition Academy Friends—Berlin Senior Center, Connecticut
• Honorable mention: Passing the Torch—Motion Picture & Television Fund, California

Health and Wellness

• Winner: Pride in the Park—Center in the Park, Pennsylvania
• Honorable mention: Life Purpose Wellness Challenge—Progress Village Senior Center, Florida
• Honorable mention: Wellness Space & Mental Health Program—ONEgeneration Senior Enrichment Center, California

Nutrition

• Winner: HEAL (Healthy Eating, Aging, Living) Nutrition Education Program—City of San Antonio, Texas
• Honorable mention: Golden Bites: Fun and Flavorful Nutrition Education—Lee Davis Community Resource Center, Florida

Technology, Virtual, and Hybrid Programming

• Winner: Stories from the View Podcast—East Longmeadow Council on Aging, Massachusetts
• Honorable mention: Technology Training and SKYPE WITH SCOPE—SCOPE Senior Services of Trunbull County, Ohio

Social and Support Services

• Winner: Creation of a Social Services Division in a Senior Center—Forsyth County Senior Services, Georgia
• Honorable mention: Senior Advocate Program—McMinn Senior Activity Center, Tennessee
• Honorable mention: Veterans Coffee Club—Muncie/Delaware County Senior Citizen Center, Indiana

Modernizing Senior Centers Innovation

• Winner: Wellness on Wheels-Mobile Senior Center—Center 50+, Oregon
• Honorable mention: Silver Pride—Senior Friendship Centers, Florida

NCOA celebrated each winning program with a cash prize during its Age+Action Conference in May. Additionally, winners are featured on ncoa.org and in NCOA’s Programs of Excellence webinar series.

About NCOA:
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. We believe that how we age should not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or zip code. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more at www.ncoa.org and @NCOAging.