As a commuunity cornerstone for more than 40 years, the Altadena Senior Center was a beloved place to gather. 

Closed as a precautionary measure on Jan. 7, 2025, the center was tragically destroyed by the Eaton Fire that devastated much of Altadena the next day.

"We are sharing in the loss with all of our neighbors as we, too, experience that level of devastation by losing one of our anchor senior centers," said Laura Trejo, DSW, Director of the Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department, in a CBS News/KCAL interview days after the fire. "It's affecting over 700 older adults who came to participate in activities and services there on a daily basis. It's affected our staff who had worked there, some of them, for decades."

Senior centers are the definition of resilience

Despite the loss, the county's commitment to its older adults remains unwavering. There was an immediate response to restore services. This resilience highlights the enduring strength of the aging network, ensuring that even in the face of catastrophe, support systems for older adults in the community remain intact and active.

"I can tell you, one of the things that makes me extremely proud is to see the resilience of not only the older adults we are in communmity with, but also our teams, our county family, and our partners," Trejo said. "We've had almost no interruption of services because everybody has been so dedicated to being sure we are there for those that need us."

Working with libraries, other nearby senior centers, and community partners, the agency is ensuring free meals are being offered and older adults have support.

"We are reaching out, basically, to everybody in the community that we know to make sure that we can continue to provide our services," Trejo said.

Senior centers foster community among older adults, offering essential services and social engagement opportunities. In times of crisis—like the Eaton Fire—their importance is magnified as they become hubs for information dissemination, resource distribution, and support networks, like Los Angeles County's other senior and community centers.

In mid-January, California Health & Human Services Secretary Kim Johnson toured the nearby Pasadena Senior Center, an alternate site serving older adults after the Altadena Senior Center was destroyed in the Eaton Fire. Johnson and leaders from the YWCA of San Gabriel Valley and the Pasadena Senior Center talked about the critical needs of older adults impacted by the fire, particularly in areas such as nutrition, mental health support, and emergency coordination.

Leaning on each other and looking to the future

Both the Altadena Senior Center and the Altadena Community Center are closed (the senior center due to fire damage and the community center as it supports the ongoing emergency response effort). The area has 11 other senior and community centers to help provide services and support.

According to an article posted on the Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department website:

"Despite the devastating loss of the building, the department swiftly responded to ensure that members received ongoing support. The center had closed for precautionary measures on January 8, 2025, and staff immediately began reaching out to all active participants, providing updates and connecting them with available resources. Center staff continues to follow up with those they have not yet been able to contact. While some members were relocated or staying with family, tragically, six members reported losing their homes in the fire. Those affected were referred to other meal sites and support services, including the Jackie Robinson Park & Community Center, where they can pick up grab-and-go meals.

Diana Lee, a longtime participant at the Altadena Senior Center, shared a heartfelt reflection on the profound impact the Center had on her and others. “We’ve been multigenerational at the Altadena Senior Center. My grandmother would go to the Center. When she stopped driving, I’d drive her there and she would go to the gym. That’s how I started going and became a regular,” she said. Diana, who frequented the center for classes, social gatherings, and fitness activities, emphasized how crucial the community connection was. “I’d be there Monday through Friday, taking classes like Tai Chi, Zumba, and working out in the gym. I enjoyed the holiday parties. I’d go on the trips. The social connection has been so important.”

Reflecting on the bonds formed at the Center, Diana continued, “About twelve of us ladies became close. We call ourselves Ladies of the Round Table. The connection was like a lifeline during this disaster. It was really a good thing to know our friends were OK and where they were. Three of the ladies lost their homes.” She also shared a deeply personal moment during the fire, “I got to see firefighters save my home. They are heroes. For me, it was Battalion 91 from Fresno. I’ll never forget them.”

Trejo said the hope is strong that the Altadena Senior Center will rebuild.

"Right now, that is something that we're still looking at," Trejo said. "I'm hopeful."

Still not a member of the National Institute for Senior Centers? Join today, membership is free. 

If your center has completed a recent study or assessment or is trying out some new programming approaches, we’d love to hear about it. And if you haven't already, we'd encourage you to join the National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC). Free to all senior centers (and their personnel), NISC supports senior centers with best practices and innovations in programming, as well as networking and training opportunities. Find out how you can become a NISC Affiliate today. 

Photos from CBS News Los Angeles video and courtesy Altadena Senior Center