Senior center
The term senior center has two different meanings. It can be used as a meeting place for older people - comparable to a youth center . Here, attempts are often made to bring people of different ages together across generations. Most of the time, however, it is used for residential or nursing homes .
Senior meeting centers
The focus here is on the collective action of the visitors. Are offered z. B. joint meals, craft courses, singing and playing , joint walks or short trips , internet courses and general information. The meeting places are mostly close to the city district, if they are church sponsored, also close to the church. A distinction must be made between meeting places for “young and old” who dedicate a large part of their work to children and families (student tutoring, etc.). Facilities of a cultural nature for older people with a migration background , for example centers for Greeks or Turks who previously entered the country as guest workers, are also becoming increasingly important .
Retirement homes
The term senior center is here to avoid negative associations with the word "age". However, “center” also indicates a larger offer than simple old people's or nursing homes. Short-term places for the temporary accommodation of elderly people in need of care, for example to enable caregiving family members to take a care break, are also part of the offer. Particular attention should also be paid to external contacts, a café as part of the facility can be opened for senior citizens from the area, cultural events enable contact with other facilities and the adjacent community area.
The term senior center is also occasionally used for assisted living facilities for senior citizens. Often there are different offers for inpatient, possibly also for outpatient care ( social station ).
Residential and meeting place for seniors
The combination of both meanings of the terms is sought by some larger institutions that want to enable the general encounter of senior citizens in addition to a residential and care area . Such senior centers are open to everyone and therefore often offer a restaurant and numerous cultural offers not only for home residents.
See also
- Elderly care
- Buurtzorg , Netherlands
- Multi-generation house
- Day care center
Web links
- Senior Centers of the City of Heidelberg in Heidelberg (a district-related form of meeting place)