Celebrating National Senior Center Month
Powering Possibilities and Flipping the Script
September is National Senior Center Month, a time to celebrate the vital role senior centers play in helping older adults thrive. This year’s theme - “Powering Possibilities: Flip the Script” - challenges outdated stereotypes about aging and highlights the energy, creativity, and connection that define today’s centers, including Aster’s own Mesa Downtown and Red Mountain Senior Centers.
A Legacy of Growth and Evolution
The first senior center in the U.S. opened in 1948. Federal support later followed through the Older Americans Act of 1973, which recognized the importance of these hubs for health, independence, and community.
Today, more than 11,000 senior centers serve over 1 million older adults every day, offering programs that support well-being, build friendships, and spark purpose.
Why National Senior Center Month Matters
This annual celebration is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a chance to:
- Highlight impact: Show how centers transform lives through meals, activities, and resources.
- Challenge stereotypes: Reframe aging as a season of possibility.
- Build engagement: Invite new participants, strengthen partnerships, and connect with the wider community.
Bringing the Theme to Life
This year’s theme, “Flip the Script,” reminds us that senior centers are not quiet gathering places of the past - they are dynamic spaces for growth and connection. At Aster, that means:
- Combating isolation with meaningful social activities
- Promoting health with fitness classes, wellness programs, and support groups
- Providing stability through financial education and benefits assistance
- Encouraging creativity with art, music, storytelling, and intergenerational programs
- Expanding access with technology training and digital resources through our partnership with the AARP Foundation
Celebrate with Aster’s Senior Centers
For over 46 years, Aster’s Mesa Downtown and Red Mountain centers have welcomed thousands of older adults. Here, participants come together for games, exercise, nutritious daily lunches, and, most importantly, friendship.
This September, we invite you to:
- Join us for special events and themed activities throughout the month
- Bring friends, family, or local leaders to experience the centers firsthand
- Share your ideas for programs you’d like to see - we grow stronger when our participants help shape what comes next
Be Part of the Celebration
This September, let’s flip the script together. Visit your local senior center, join an event, or simply stop by for lunch and conversation. Senior Centers aren’t just places to pass the time - they’re places to power new possibilities.
Learn more about National Senior Center Month at NCOA.org
