Chatham County Commissioners Proclaim September 2016 as Senior Center Month

Click here to see the official proclamation: September Senior Center Month Proclamation

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners has joined communities across the state and nation in designating September as Senior Center Month. As Commissioner Chairman Jim Crawford noted in the proclamation, “We urge all residents of Chatham County to take time this month to discover the offerings of Chatham’s two outstanding Senior Centers and the Chatham County Council on Aging. We are proud that Chatham has two State-designated Senior Centers of Excellence, and we hope all will explore ways to further support their work.”

The 2016 national theme for this special month is “Find Balance at Your Center.” This theme reflects the wide array of opportunities offered at Chatham’s two Centers for residents all across the county.

As Lindsay Hickling, coordinator of the Eastern Center in Pittsboro, notes: “Our programs include senior meals, exercise classes (including arthritis exercise), Tai Chi, Mah Jongg, line dancing, quilting, needlework, field trips, falls prevention and other educational classes. Faye Tillman, coordinator of the Western Center in Siler City, added “Participants of our Centers also enjoy walking and travel groups, Friday night dances, basket weaving and photography groups, fitness rooms, as well as Senior Games and Silver Arts—and recently we started a choral group. With the support of Carolina Meadows, we also now have computer tablets for use by those attending our Centers.”

This is just a sampling of what is available through the Council on Aging. Other services range from health insurance/Medicare and tax assistance counseling, information about community resources, help with learning about long-term care services, respite and support groups for family caregivers, help with transportation to medical appointments, in-home personal care, and Meals-on-Wheels.

“What makes much of this possible is the great support from our large corps of volunteers,” said Rhonda Hampton, the Council’s Volunteer Coordinator.

To learn more about the Centers’ programs and to explore ways to volunteer and otherwise support the work of the Council on Aging, you can visit or call the Centers. The Eastern Chatham Senior Center is in Pittsboro at 365 Highway 87 N, next to the Community Library and Community College campus. The Western Chatham Senior Center in Siler City is located at 112 Village Lake Road in Siler City. Their respective phone numbers are 919-542-4512 and 919-742-3975. You can also visit the Council’s website at www.chathamcoa.org to learn about programs, activities and special events by accessing the calendar under the Activities tab.

Clearly, there is much to enjoy and gain from becoming associated with Chatham’s Senior Centers.