This year marks a milestone for the Nashua Senior Activity Center, its 40th anniversary. Since its creation, the Center has been the only place in Nashua solely dedicated to seniors. While the mission of the Center has never changed, its programming has been ever-changing, continuing to meet the needs of seniors. The Center and its staff have tirelessly served the needs of seniors in the greater Nashua community – growing from a small, local senior center to the leading regional senior center for southern New Hampshire. Seniors, and their needs, however, have changed dramatically in the past 40 years. Just ask Margo Bell, who has been working at the Nashua Senior Center for the past 35 years. She remembers when seniors filled bus trips to Hampton Beach and Yokens.

Today’s seniors, however, are a far more diverse demographic. They are taking classes like kick boxing or Zumba; Skyping with friends and family; learning foreign languages; and traveling greater distances. And, many still work. By 2022, it is estimated that nearly 30 percent of those 65 and over will still be working. As seniors have changed, so has the Nashua Senior Activity Center. Although many traditional senior activities, such as cards and bingo, are still part of the programming, now they are joined by aerobics, tai chi, yoga and ballroom dance. Educational programs range from cooking classes to Feng shui; cultural classes open new worlds that seniors can investigate and travel to; and a variety of wellness programming promotes healthy aging. And, most importantly, the Center serves as a place where seniors can connect with seniors for, indeed, we are stronger together.

Seniors make up a significant part of the American population. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 13 percent of the population of Nashua are seniors, with 31 percent of them living alone. Twenty-six percent of them are veterans. More than 1/3 of the U.S. population is 50 and over, with a steady increase of those over 50 living alone. Much of the data out there suggests that the “Silver Tsunami” is upon us. In 2016, the U.S. hit the milestone of having more than 50 million people over 65 for the first time. To reach those still working, evening hours now offer a wide variety of educational, recreational and social opportunities. Everything from “Tech Talks” seminars hosted by industry professionals to legal seminars such as “The 4 Key Legal Documents that Everyone Needs” and “Probate,” hosted by Attorney Bob Bartis, have received a tremendous response. The Center is now offering a variety of programs on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Exercise classes such as Dance2Fit, aerobics Zumba and yoga complement ballroom dance classes. Educational offerings of “Conversational Spanish,” “Internet Safety” and “Living Your Healthiest Lifestyle” are some of the newest evening offerings, as we continue to expand to meet the needs of the “Silver Tsunami.”

We exist to serve you and your loved ones – to be a resource for health, educational, cultural and recreational programs and services. We are proud to be your community senior center! Please join us as we celebrate our 40th anniversary from 3:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday.

We encourage you to tour the facility and watch some of our classes. You can learn more about the Center by visiting our website, www.nashuaseniorcenter.org, or by following us on facebook.com/nashuasac or @nashuaseniors on Twitter. The Nashua Senior Center Spotlight is heard live every Monday morning at 7 a.m. on your local radio station, WSMN 1590. “Nashua this Morning” host George Russell and I update the community on the many educational, recreational and social opportunities at the Center as well as the many fundraisers that are necessary so that we can continue to live our mission.

The Center is proud to be a 100 percent self-funded 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that serves the seniors of greater Nashua and will continue to for many years to come.

Judy Kunz Porter is development director of the Nashua Senior Activity Center. She can be reached at jporter@nashuaseniorcenter.org.

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