A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I went dancing—something we never do. There was a 14-piece big band, a crowded dance floor, and more bow ties and sequins than I’ve seen in my kids’ dress-up bin. It was also a frigidly cold Thursday morning in January. Yes, morning, because that’s when they dance at the Peabody Council on Aging’s senior center. I’m not a senior or even a big dancer, but it was truly one of the best things I’ve ever attended.
Before our dancing date, I’d never known this type of fun existed. Turns out these dances aren’t a once-in-a-while affair. Both the Peabody and Danvers senior centers host them every week, and Lynnfield dances once a month. Even if you’re not a dancer, it’s worth going for the music, coffee and donuts, and 50/50 raffle.
Like a lot of people, I thought “senior center” meant “sedate center.” Sure, they’re great for rides and inexpensive meals if someone doesn’t want to eat alone, but for fun? I’m guessing I’m not the only person who doesn’t know about all the resources our local Councils on Aging have to offer.
Dances aren’t the only thing Peabody hosts. They have a full list of activities every day—exercise classes, card games, model boat building, and oil painting. They also have a well-equipped fitness center, a flea market style gift shop, and a café.
Swampscott’s center, located at the high school, has a similar agenda of fun—poker, Zumba, creative writing, golf, and more. (The weekly calendar is published in The Swampscott Reporter.)
You can go to Lynnfield for pampering (their weekly offerings include manicures, hair stylists, and clothes alterations), Italian classes, or watercolor painting. Marblehead hosts tap dancing, quilting, and yoga. Beverly offers computer instruction, help with iPhones, even Facebook 101.
Almost all of the centers host day trips to places I’d actually want to go—the Boston Public Library, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Mohegan Sun, local restaurants … Marblehead even has a trip to Ireland planned!
Caregivers, our local senior centers offer resources for you as well. Getting your loved one out of the house to an event (I highly recommend the big band dance) will undoubtedly make your day brighter and their mood better. Almost every center also offers support groups if you want to talk to others about their experiences in caring for a sick or aging loved one.
If you’re a senior and you’re not active in your local senior center (you can go to any of our local ones without being a member), you’re missing out. It’s not all rides, inexpensive meals, and sedate fun (although they have that, too). They also offer energetic, heel-kicking, finger-tapping fun to keep you happy and active during the winter months so you’ll be fit and healthy come spring.
Also published in The Swampscott Reporter
Molly Rowe owns FirstLight Home Care with her husband, Steve, and lives in Swampscott with their two sons. FirstLight provides non-medical in-home care to adults in Swampscott, Marblehead, Lynn, Salem, Peabody, Danvers, Beverly, and Lynnfield. For more information and help caring for your loved ones in the comfort of their own homes, please visit FirstLight’s website at www.salem.firstlighthomecare.com or contact Molly at 781-691-5755/[email protected]
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