Providing a focal point for resources, opportunities to extend independent living and enrich the quality of life for older adults in Alexander County.
There are three senior center locations: Taylorsville, Bethlehem, and Stony Point.
Programs and Services Include:
- Health & Wellness Programs
- A variety of programs are offered to help older adults remain healthy as well as develop and maintain strength, balance and agility. These include exercise classes, yoga, Tai Chi, A Matter of Balance class, health support seminars, dancing, and a variety of health and wellness resources, including a lending library of videos, books and periodicals, and internet access.
- Partnering with the local Health Department, Frye and Catawba and Hospitals, the center is able to offer various screenings, mammograms, flu shots, monthly blood pressure checks.
- Each year in the Fall they host a Senior Health Fair.
- Educational Programs
- A wide range of experiences including a Musicians’ Jam, art & crafts, use of modern technology in our computer lab, a lending library that includes large print books and audio books – for free! They have speakers that do presentations on a wide-range of topics related to senior health, Medicare issues, nutrition, exercise, and services.
- Each year between October through December, they help seniors with Medicare Open Enrollment to pick the best Drug Plan for them.
- Social Recreation
- Social interaction is very important for people of all ages!
- At all three senior center locations (Taylorsville, Bethlehem, and Stony Point) they have a wide variety of activities purely for fun (social recreation). We have woodcarving, painting, card making, scrapbooking, several types of exercise classes, free monthly Bingo, puzzles, and simply talking in the lobby with “the group”.
- They do van trips between March and September (shopping trips, dining out, entertainment, botanical gardens, tourist or educational sights, Crawdad’s games) to name a few.
- Plenty of people enjoy card & board games, and Wii bowling if you choose.
- Each month we host a $5 catered Birthday lunch with groups being able to reserve a table.
- Monday mornings the Musicians’ Jam fills the center with Blue Grass and Gospel!
- Watch the newsletter for special events for an extra variety to just have fun.
- Special Senior Groups
- AARP Local Chapter 4068 meets in the Taylorsville Senior Center. Anyone interested in joining this local group is invited.
- Calling all music lovers. Do you play an instrument or just like to listen? The Taylorsville Center hosts a great musicians’ jam twice a week.
- Pinochle players, Back Alley Bridge players, and other card players are invited to meet at the Taylorsville Center each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. Bethlehem Center invites card players to come join them on Tuesdays and Thursday afternoons from 1-4pm for Hand & Foot (sometimes Dominoes). They are eager to teach new people how to play Hand & Foot! See the calendars and newsletter for details and times.
- Program Partners
- Senior Center programming is a cooperative effort. Many individuals, government agencies, civic clubs and organizations, service providers, health providers, businesses, religious organizations, and the media work together to make it all happen.
- Information and Case Assistance
- There is a specially-trained staff person available to provide this service along with a computer data base of resources for such things as nutrition, transportation, employment, in-home services, adult day care, housing, health care providers, veteran’s services and organizations, and volunteer opportunities, to name a few.
- SHIIP Senior Health Insurance Information Program
- Medicare and health insurance counseling is available from trained volunteers.
- Tax Aide
- Income Tax preparation is provided by AARP Tax Aide Counselors each year, during tax season.
- Legal Aide
- Legal Aid of NC provides their services twice a year (typically in July and August based on funding). Their attorney will provide simple wills, power of attorney, living will, and health care power of attorney…all at no charge.
- Information and Case Assistance
- Senior Center programming is a cooperative effort. Many individuals, government agencies, civic clubs and organizations, service providers, health providers, businesses, religious organizations, and the media work together to make it all happen.