Welcome to the Office for Older Adults. Established in 1978, the mission of the office is to facilitate opportunities for older adults to be healthy, engaged and vibrant citizens. To achieve this mission, the Senior Center offers the following:
Cognitive stimulation – through card games, craft activities, Bingo, puzzle exchange, free reading materials/book nook, Mah-Jongg, bi-monthly trivia Tuesdays and a regional annual trivia tournament.
Physical fitness/wellness maintenance – through Adaptive movement/yoga, CardioDance, indoor and outdoor walking, monthly blood pressure checks, flu shot clinic, A Matter of Balance & diabetes empowerment seminars offered free of charge through Fairhill Partners.
Socialization - opportunities for conversation and socialization, meals, including special programs such as the Men’s Breakfast and Ladies Brunch that offer entertainment or community speakers (Lorain County Public Library, Department of Health, Lorain County Office on Aging, LCCC lifelong learning opportunities).
Essential services – Meals on Wheels, transportation and other social supports for older adults to stabilize or improve their living situation; as well as partnerships with Ohio Senior Health Insurance Program for Medicare counseling and AARP Taxaide tax preparation services, both of which are offered free of charge.
To illustrate the intangible value the senior center provides, some of our participants have shared the following messages:
“The center is my reason for not being a couch potato. Through the pandemic I had no place to go, so I had very little enthusiasm. The center is a place for being social, exercise, cards, meals when available, it keeps me younger and it keeps me healthy.”
“Before I moved to NR, I checked out the Senior Center. It saved my life. I’ve been a widow for several years. Having somewhere to go and spend time with people doing some things that I love is awesome.”
A 2020 report from the National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine revealed that:
Social isolation significantly increased a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.
- Social isolation has been associated with about a 50% percent increased risk of dementia.
- Poor social relationships (characterized by social isolation or loneliness) was associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.
- Loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.
- Loneliness among heart failure patients was associated with a nearly 4 times increased risk of death, 68% increased risk of hospitalization, and 57% increased risk of emergency department visits.
Simply put, senior centers offer multiple opportunities for socialization, a key health prevention strategy for the older adult population. The North Ridgeville Senior Center is dedicated to providing a variety of opportunities to reduce social isolation for adults age 55 and older. Please check out all of the activities and services we have to offer on the city’s website, or stop by and pick up a newsletter. For questions, please contact our office at 440-490-2056.
Emily