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Senior
Center
programs dispel myths of aging
By
Rachel Heym, the Saratogian
October 7, 2003
Nobody
looks forward to 'getting old.' But for citizens of
Saratoga
County
, getting older is
getting better. This is made possible at the Senior Citizens Center of
Saratoga Springs (SCCSS).
The center opened on
Circular Street
in 1959 with the enactment of the Aging
Americans Act. In the 1970s, the urban renewal act moved the SCCSS to its
current location on
William Street
, where it has remained a nonprofit
organization dedicated to better the lives of seniors.
Life for the senior set doesn't have to be boring or lonely. The Center
offers programs for most interests and skill levels.
'That's why we're so successful,' says Bill Davis, the center's director.
There are enough art programs offered at the center to fill up a morning
and an afternoon. Watercolors, ceramics, knitting, crocheting, stained
glass and drawing classes are just a few of the courses offered.
Hannie Varosy, a professional sculptor trained in her native
Holland
, teaches a class in duck and songbird decoy
making. She is teaching a new class this year -- clay sculpting. For those
free spirits, there is an open art workshop for participants to work on
the projects of their choice.
The center also offers physical activities. To learn or relearn the waltz,
fox trot, or just brush up on dance skills, try taking a ballroom dancing
class.
A variety of exercise programs are also available. Aerobics, t'ai chi, and
the renowned Osteo exercise are all offered. A 'Fit while you Sit' class
instructs students how to exercise while sitting in a chair.
If it's computer skills that need the exercise, a computer support group
meets weekly.
To help seniors feel confident about driving, a safe driving course is
offered. To keep them in tip-top condition, monthly health screenings are
held.
The center doesn't let anything slip by its members. A goal is to keep the
senior community up to speed on local issues. This month, Commissioner of
Accounts Stephen Towne visited the center to discuss the reassessment of
property and how it will affect property taxes.
The SCCSS exists to make getting older a dynamic and exciting life
transition. For those suffering emotional or personal problems, there is
even a counselor on staff.
The only requirement to join SCCSS is that members are at least 50 years
old.
One look inside the center might help dispel anxieties sometimes
associated with aging.
For more information, call the SCCSS, 584-1621.
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© 2002 Global Action on Aging
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