1 R Special Advertising Section | Sunday, March 26, 2023 5 As we grow older, participating in continuing education opportunities can keep our brains engaged, minds sharp and spirits buoyed. Proven benefits of ongoing learning range from increased cognitive functioning and a long-term increase in memory skills to enhanced physical and mental health (diminished rates of depression and anxiety, for example). Naturally, attending classes and lectures on a vast range of topics — in person and online — also increases socialization and prevents isolation. The best news: Many offerings are inexpensive or free. Inside one of the city’s most historic institutions, Pike Market Senior Center (PMSC) features a bounty of feefree activities and classes. “Our programming is returning from the pandemic pause that was so difficult for older adults who already found social connection difficult,” says Programming and Member Services Manager Zoé Freeman. Current offerings range from dance and art classes to lifeskills workshops entitled Live It!, and cover concepts like budgeting and communications. Field trips use public transport and contain educational components, too; recent outings have been to the Ballard Locks, the Asian Art Museum, MOHAI, the Suquamish Museum and Chief Sealth’s grave. “Sensory experience, physical exercise and socialization need to be combined in order to create opportunities for older adults to maintain mental agility,” Freeman says. PMSC members must be at least 55 years old, and one joins simply by filling out a form and showing an ID. “We make it as easy as possible,” Freeman says. “We know anecdotally and through surveys that PMSC members feel better physically, are happier and have a more positive experience of life when they participate in the offerings at the senior center,” Freeman says. “Continued learning opportunities are essential to the well-being of older adults. It’s proven that the mind needs exercise both cognitively and socially.” Freeman says a lack of stimulation and socialization can lead to depression and sometimes confusion. “If benign, these can be reversed through increased activity,” he says. “We see people perk up and communicate more with other members as a result of the activities.” Making connections Regional senior centers also provide affordable ways to stay connected and stimulated. Wallingford Community Senior Center offers a variety of ongoing educational classes, ranging from Foliage Friday, a plant-focused lecture and conversation group, to a highly successful tech mentoring program, which gives older adults the needed tools to stay connected in the digital world. They also feature one-off and series lectures, like a nutrition education presentation this quarter by University of Washington students. Anyone can attendWallingford Community Senior Center’s programs, and most are free. Membership provides some minor perks, and sliding-scale payment is available to low-income participants. The Senior Center of West Seattle occasionally offers relevant workshops, too, like a complimentary Brain HealthWorkshop called Civic Coffee Hour on April 18. This Age Friendly Seattle gathering, in partnership with Seattle Public Library, will explore the connections between aging, race, sexual orientation and brain health. Advance RSVP is requested; folks can also tune in virtually at bit.ly/AgeFriendlyLive! TheWest Seattle center’s social worker also runs a weekly Aging Well group (focused on social interaction and mutual support frommembers), and staff members encourage lifelong learning opportunities on topics such as technology, music, games and languages. Last September, they started a new series called History Hour, with monthly lectures hosted by local speakers covering such subjects as the Duwamish River, “Frankenstein” and letter-writing duringWorldWar II. Engaging lectures The One Day University series is a popular choice among seniors, offering entertaining versions of lectures by some of the country’s most sought-after teachers. These one-hour presentations cover topics from art and film to psychology and zoology, with those addressing American history gaining the most interest. Founded in 2006, One Day University produces more than 200 events a year in 60 cities. Kevin Brennan, One Day University’s managing PIKE MARKET SENIOR CENTER SENIOR CENTER OF WEST SEATTLE Continued on page 9
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