| Senior centers play an important role in helping older | | | | assisted living residence can actually range from a |
| people live meaningful lives. Basically, senior centers | | | | small residential house to a very large facility providing |
| aim to promote the physical, emotional and social | | | | services to numerous residents. Living spaces at |
| well-being of seniors by offering basic services such | | | | assisted living communities are specially designed with |
| as meals, transitional and permanent affordable | | | | emergency-call devices, wheelchair accessible rooms, |
| supportive housing, physical and mental health care | | | | custom handrails and other amenities. Most of these |
| services, and social services such as counseling. Senior | | | | communities also have personal care professionals to |
| centers also offer education and recreational | | | | assist residents in performing activities of daily living. |
| programs such as art and crafts, computer and | | | | In addition, assisted living communities offer a wide |
| exercises classes, volunteer opportunities, trips and | | | | variety of fitness and leisure activities, as well as |
| outdoor recreational activities. | | | | services such as laundry, housekeeping and local |
| Senior centers usually foster a sense of community | | | | transportation. |
| among senior citizens. In addition, senior centers ease | | | | One of the issues that has to be addressed in |
| the isolation felt by older people and help promote | | | | connection with population aging is health care for |
| positive outlook in life. In fact, studies revealed that | | | | older people. Seniors have to be given the proper |
| seniors who participate in senior centers have less | | | | health care. Medical, nursing and allied health |
| mental problems, such as depression, and exhibit | | | | professionals should be able to provide services that |
| healthier behaviors. | | | | can help prevent, treat and manage diseases or |
| Physical layouts of assisted living residences vary. An | | | | disorders of the elderly. |