PHILADELPHIA, PA — Pennsylvania officials on Thursday unveiled the results of a statewide initiative aimed at increasing awareness and participation in the Commonwealth’s more than 400 senior community centers, part of a broader effort to address the needs of the state’s growing older adult population.
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging released findings from a partnership with the National Center to Reframe Aging that examined how senior community centers are perceived and how messaging can be improved to encourage greater use of the facilities. The initiative supports Aging Our Way, PA, the Shapiro administration’s 10-year strategic plan for aging services and supports.
Pennsylvania Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich discussed the findings during a Community Conversation held Thursday in Philadelphia, where state officials and aging advocates reviewed recommendations developed through the project.
The research found that many older adults and community members continue to associate senior community centers with institutional care settings rather than viewing them as community-based resources that support active and independent living. The project recommends positioning the centers as neighborhood gathering places similar to libraries or parks that provide social engagement, activities, and access to services.
“Senior community centers are vibrant social hubs where active older adults find what we all need at every age – friendship, activities, support and a sense of belonging,” Kavulich said.
As part of the initiative, the Department of Aging released two new resources: the Senior Community Center Framing Recommendations Report and the Reframing Senior Community Centers Quick Start Guide. The materials are intended to help senior centers and aging-service organizations improve outreach and community engagement efforts.
The project was conducted in partnership with the National Center to Reframe Aging and included participation from Area Agencies on Aging, the Pennsylvania Association of Senior Centers, senior center staff, and older adults across the state. Researchers conducted a statewide assessment, stakeholder interviews, and focus groups to evaluate perceptions of senior community centers and test alternative messaging approaches.
Patricia D’Antonio, executive director of the National Center to Reframe Aging, said the initiative could serve as a model for other states seeking to increase awareness and public support for senior community centers.
Pennsylvania’s senior community centers provide social, educational, recreational, and support services designed to help older adults remain active and connected within their communities. State officials said the centers serve as an important component of the Commonwealth’s strategy to support healthy aging and independence.
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