Less than 60 years ago, the first senior center opened in New York City. Today, there are more than 15,000 senior centers across the country serving more than 10 million older adults annually. Research by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) indicates older adults who participate in senior center programs delay the onset of chronic disease and enjoy measurable improvements in physical, social, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, and overall life satisfaction. So why aren’t greater numbers of older Americans engaging in senior center programs and services?
Today, one in three Americans is age 50 or older. Never before in human history have there been so many older people. NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers supports the reinventing of senior centers to serve 50 million aging baby boomers whose numbers will increase to 77 million by 2030.
Older adults are often described by subpopulations: young old (65–74 years); old (74–84 years); and oldest old (85 years and over). The fastest growing segment of the total population is the oldest old — those 85 years and older. While senior centers are responding with new facilities and programs to meet the diverse, dynamic lifestyle and activity needs of older adults, flexibility is another key area that will be important to serving this growing population. One possible way to offer flexibility to older adults is through virtual senior centers.
Connected Programming
Virtual senior centers make it possible for older adults to take part in classes, meet with renowned artists in residence, interact with peers on current events, chat with senior center friends, learn new facts from respected healthcare providers, or discuss a bond issue for a new senior center with the city mayor while at the same time traveling to another country, staying home to prepare for a visit from grandchildren, or rehabilitating after a knee replacement. The flexibility of this option, which could be called a senior center distance program or, more appropriately, a senior center connected program, allows older individuals who are not able to be physically present but want to engage in meaningful services and programs provided by senior centers to continue to do so. The programs and services of virtual senior centers may be delivered either asynchronously or synchronously.
An asynchronous delivery enables communication and collaboration over a period of time through a “different time-different place” mode: emailing, videotaping programs, creating a media library for access any time, hosting blogs and streaming audio and video without the opportunity to interact are just a few examples of an asynchronous delivery of programs and services. On the other hand, a synchronous delivery enables real-time communication and collaboration in a “same time-different place” mode: videoconferencing, chat rooms and instant messaging for example. Most often, virtual senior centers provide Internet accessibility from computer platforms, which makes access easier and more available to many. Today, the Internet and compressed video have allowed distance learning to occur in real time and to connect people. Live video exchange is the most popular and fastest-growing education delivery sharing mode in the United States.
Virtual Benefits
Virtual senior centers may offer diverse programs and services, including music, painting, woodworking, armchair yoga, tai chi, educational programs, exercise, cooking and special events. They can also provide services like medication management, health and wellness checkups, social services connections such as registering for Medicare or help with utility costs, and religious services. NCOA research shows that participation in virtual senior centers benefits older individuals in much the same way as being present. Also, older adults who engage and stay active with technology have higher self-esteem and greater social interactions over their lifespans. Let’s look at a few older participants who engage in virtual senior centers and the benefits they receive.
Sixty-nine-year-old Maria regularly socializes with friends and stays active in numerous programs and events at her nearby park and recreation center. After a shoulder injury, she was not able to drive her car for six months. She lost her social network and meaningful activities, became depressed and experienced unhealthy weight gain. Maria and her physician call the virtual senior center her lifesaver. She interacts with her friends, keeps up with current events, participates in healthy cooking classes and increases her physical therapy exercises by partaking in multiple physical activity classes via her computer screen each week, instead of sitting idly in front of her television.
An architect presented a session on “Transgenerational Design” at a local senior center. Louis, a 71-year-old recent retiree, was unable to attend the session because he was volunteering at the state Special Olympics event. He is keenly interested in the session, however, as he and his wife are building their dream retirement home. Louis’ wife, who accompanied him out of town, engages in the presentation at the senior center via streamed videoconference at their hotel and asks questions online. The presentation is posted on the center’s website for all to review. Louis and his wife view it several times after the actual event and are able to share design ideas with their home builder.
A senior center in an urban area had served older residents for more than 35 years. When a new senior center was built in a newer, nearby neighborhood, staff realized that many former participants were not attending because many were in their 90s, had some sensory losses and were unable to drive. With the help of a virtual senior center connection, popular programs were shared and former participants were able to connect with old friends and make new ones. A centenarian who had been a member of the senior center for 35 years was able to join her “Sittercise Class,” a chair exercise program, from her home along with her 76-year-old daughter.
According to NCOA, even though participation in senior centers is well documented to have positive effects on older adults, there are multiple reasons why older adults do not engage. Reinventing senior centers and offering their programs and services in a virtual manner may be a way to engage this growing segment of the population in community parks and recreation centers.
New Technologies
In a February 2015 blog on ValueEd, the author Athena Kennedy, Ph.D., shares about the array of tools for online and distance learning. In the future, new digital technologies, such as self-paced learning modules, simulations and video tutorials along with new partners, such as insurance companies, healthcare providers, social media and digital retailers, will allow virtual senior centers to expand. New software, like Google Hangouts, will increase opportunities for senior center participants to interact by sharing computer screens, browsing webpages and viewing YouTube videos, all while recording the session for those who were unable to join the group in real time. Additional innovative programs, such as Goggle Glass wearable technology, will allow users to share their experiences, from first-hand perspectives, with others.
There are promises and problems with virtual senior centers. Potential problems may involve quality instruction suitable for virtual instead of face-to-face learning, known and hidden costs associated with technology hardware and software, misuse of technology and attitudes of senior center administrators, funders and participants. However, the promises of virtual senior centers seem to outweigh the problems. The growing, diverse population of older adults will demand flexibility, and new technologies will make programming for older adults, both near and far, more connected, engaged, exciting and fun. As senior centers are reinvented for the soon to be 77 million older adults, the designing of comprehensive virtual models will need to be flexible in meeting their needs and interests.
M. Jean Keller is a Professor of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation at the University of North Texas. Franziska Sprinkmeyer is a graduate student in the Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation at the University of North Texas.