PA Department of Aging Explores Needs of Older Adults at Senior Center Summit

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania
Department of Aging and the Long-Term Living Training Institute have heard
valuable insight from experts in the aging field and older adults during a
two-day conference attended by over 300 professionals and consumers.
Pennsylvania has over 600 senior centers where older citizens go for support,
camaraderie, meals and access to important information about programs that can
help them.

"Senior centers offer a lifeline for many older residents who otherwise would
be isolated," said Department of Aging Secretary John Michael Hall.
"Pennsylvania seeks to improve programs and access to centers across the state
and to find innovative ways to make them more appealing, efficient and
worthwhile for members."

Discussion groups focused on the changing role of senior centers, fundraising
techniques, creating a business plan and making the centers better places for
older residents to go. Objectives of the meeting include improving ways to
transport seniors to centers in rural and suburban areas and finding more and
better ways to sustain operations in a cost-effective way.

Each year more than 184,000 older adults visit senior centers to interact and
enjoy educational and entertaining programs that promote good health and a
sense of belonging. The commonwealth spends $31 million each year on
congregate meals provided at the centers that help to ensure older adults
receive adequate nutrition.

The department will compile the information from the summit meeting and move
forward with suggestions of ways to improve this valuable program for older
adults.

For more information on the Department of Aging, please visit
www.aging.state.pa.us

CONTACT: Jane Crawford
(717) 783-1549

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Aging

Jane Crawford of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, +1-717-783-1549