Page 8 - Demo

Sunday, October 19, 2025 | Special Advertising Section8at her center. Classes at the ShorelineLake Forest Park Senior Center include conversational Spanish, yoga and fivedifferent levels of line dancing. %u201cWe offer opportunities for things theyhaven%u2019t tried before, maybe due totime constraints, family obligations and other commitments,%u201d says the seniorcenter advocate. %u201cNow they have more freedom to explore new things.%u201d When searching for a new seniorcenter, she recommends that curiousolder adults first check out whatclasses and activities are offered. %u201cCenters aren%u2019t in competition with each other,%u201d Jones says. %u201cWe complement each other.%u201d For example, while some centers may focus onfitness and wellness, others may hostmore day trips and social groups.Don%u2019t forget to look at the lunch menu, too, she advises. %u201cDepending onthe communities they serve, centers offer Community Dining meals thatare cooked-from-scratch and culturallyrelevant, as well as observant ofparticular holidays.%u201d And while thelocation of a center can be important, it shouldn%u2019t be a deterrent, as public transportation and Sound Generations%u2019 Hyde shuttles are often an option.Most centers strive to create a safe, welcoming space for all older adults tocongregate. %u201cThere%u2019s no judgment ordiscrimination,%u201d says Jones. %u201cAging is aprivilege, and we celebrate it!%u201dWhile the Shoreline-Lake ForestPark Senior Center SeaMar programprimarily serves Spanish-speaking olderadults, Rainbow Bingo and trivia nightsregularly attract crowds of all ages. Thecenter also partners with ShoreLake Arts to offer workshops like watercolorand acrylic painting, which are crowd favorites, and recently hosted abouquet arranging class as well.%u201cGita, who is 72 years young, originally came to the center whenshe was referred to our social workerby another agency,%u201d says Jones. In theprocess of working with the center%u2019s social worker on enrollment in thereduced utilities program for lowincome seniors, Gita learned aboutthe variety of activities and servicesoffered at the center. That led her to attend a free presentation one week,then stop by the center for the groupdining lunch the following week.Gita then heard about their grocerygiveaway program, and before sheSPONSORED CONTENTPROVIDED BY SOUND GENERATIONSAs adults age into their later years,senior centers throughout thecommunity can help to keep themactive and engaged with activities andyear-round programming. While seniorcenters are often dismissed for beingdrab or dull, Emily Jones, director ofShoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center, believes that one visitto your local senior center can quicklydispel that theory.%u201cThe senior centers we work with arevibrant, lively and full of activity,%u201d saysJones. Ensuring that every membercan age with dignity and support,centers within the Sound Generationsnetwork acknowledge that every agingjourney is different while aiming to provide a %u201ccomprehensive safety net of affordable, care-centered services.%u201dThe benefits of being active withinthe senior center community are numerous, including staying energetic,engaged and connected to others.Studies show that social isolation andloneliness can even have an impacton the length of a person%u2019s lifespan.%u201cWhether you come to the center for tai chi, knitting or lunch,%u201d she says,%u201ccoming together with others combatssocial isolation through new friendshipsand community.%u201dJones shares that she is aware ofthe common misconception that olderadults are hesitant to learn new skills,yet she doesn%u2019t find this to be the caseKing County senior centers help create vibrant lives for older adultsSound Generations is King County%u2019s safety net of services for older adults. Since 1967, our services address food security, transportation, health/wellness and more at free/reduced rates. Call 888-435-3377 to see how you or a loved one can get involved. Learn more at soundgenerations.org.Two guests at the East African Senior Center, a unique SG-affiliate site that takes a \(Michael B. Maine / Sound Generations)A special presentation takes over Community Dining at Sno-Valley Senior Center. (Michael B. Maine / Sound Generations)knew it, visiting the center two or three times a week had become part of her weekly routine. %u201cShe visits for lunch with friends,for presentations and for groceries,%u201d Jones says. %u201cShe told our program coordinator that he may not fully realize how impactful the center is,sharing that the center has given herpurpose and a sense of belonging.%u201dJones is frequently asked about herfavorite part of working at the center, and she%u2019s emphatic about the heart ofher job. %u201cMy favorite part is watching the students come out of Rock n%u2019 Roll Aerobics,%u201d says Jones. %u201cThey are sweaty, giggling like schoolkids, chatting in groups or still moving theirbodies in time with the music. Olderadults can be themselves here, try new things without ridicule, and make new friends along the way.%u201d %u201cAs we age, it is so important to stay active and engaged. Why not have funat the same time?%u201d