Saratoga Adult & Senior Center
Contact: Lois Celeste
Title: Executive Director
Phone: (518)584-1621
Email: lois@saratogaseniorcenter.org
Since 1955, the mission of the Saratoga Adult & Senior Center has been to empower seniors to achieve and maintain personal independence and individual well-being by providing program structure and support services necessary for healthy recreation, companionship, social involvement, and program solving. Located at 5 Williams Street in Saratoga Springs, the not-for-profit organization serves adults and seniors 50 years old or older in Saratoga County by offering a wide array of affordable dinners and lunches; fun and interesting van/bus trips and excursions; and social, educational, recreational, artistic, and culturally stimulating programs.
The center is similar to a non-residential community center for adults and seniors. With 10,000 people a day aging into Social Security Administration over the next 18 years, agencies like this will have greater demands on its programs, staff and infrastructure. Seniors are staying in their homes longer, but need access to programs that can provide socialization, physical and mental activity, as well as assistance with a variety of needs including advocacy with social services, health care, home care and housing options in a safe, nurturing environment.
Research has shown that senior centers help the elderly remain active and integrated in their community; staying socially connected lowers depression promotes aging in place and keeps seniors physically and psychologically active. The Saratoga Senior Center strives to provide an environment that is safe, accessible, informative and socially active to community members.
With 1,200 members and growing, the center has a small staff and utilizes volunteers to run as many of its programs as possible. There are more than 44,000 seniors 60+ in Saratoga County, and more than 6,000 seniors in Saratoga Springs alone. One of the greatest needs the organizations has is finding volunteers to help seniors with everything from transportation to and from the center, appointments, chores, shopping, information and referrals, respite help and check-ins for seniors who are homebound. To answer this need, the center is starting a “Volunteer Match” program to help pair community volunteers with seniors who need help.
If you are interested in volunteering or supporting one of the many fundraisers, including the organization’s annual “Music & Mingling” gala in May, call 518- 584-1621.