Director's Message
Watch Your Language September 2005Watch your language!
September 2005
I have been following with interest a discussion on an internet chat site for senior center directors about whether to continue to call their centers “senior centers.” One side of the conversation is concerned that using the term “senior” turns people off. We know that the definition of a senior is anyone 10 years older than oneself! Therefore, people won’t go to a senior center because it is for “old people, not me.” How do we attract the upcoming Boomers as they retire? We live in a culture that denies aging as the natural course of events. One only needs to look at the profits of the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, medical, fitness and entertainment industries to find confirmation of the billions that are spent to look and feel youthful. Listen to the language used on talk shows and in check-out counter magazines which tout new ways to “fight aging.” The folks on this side have chosen to call their centers “community centers” or just use the name of the building.
The other side of the dialogue argues for calling it like it is. Their participants are proud to be “seniors” and revel in their revered elder status in the community. They don’t hesitate to take the senior discounts to take public transit, shop, visit parks and historic landmarks and attend shows. They are determined to engage in civic ventures to remind the community how important seniors are in the vital support of faith communities, medical centers, libraries, schools and the many other non-profit organizations that rely on volunteer labor.
The conclusion I came to—as did many others—from this conversation and a similar one at the National Conference on Aging was that it doesn’t really matter what you call your center, it matters what you DO at that center. It matters what your ATTITUDE is about aging. Some of you call us “the Suzanne Patterson Center, ” some the “Senior Center, ” and others the “Princeton Senior Resource Center” (or some variation thereof!). Some liked the bulletin name change to “Mature Princeton”, and others didn’t. In the end, I think that our energy needs to be on what we do and our attitude. Do you find activities that are fun, informative, or make you feel better about yourself? Have you made new friends or deepened relationships? Have the staff been respectful and helpful? Have we helped you when you had a problem to resolve? Do you feel that your voice is heard?
The core values of the Princeton Senior Resource Center are to be inclusive-to assist all in the community who are 55 and older, regardless of income, education, ethnicity, or ability. We do this in a way that respects the dignity of those we serve, supporting aging in place in the community as long as possible and helping people make transitions when necessary.
On September 16 at 10:30 am, we will hold our annual participant forum. Come have a cup of tea and share with staff and board members your thoughts about PSRC and your ideas for what we can do in the coming year.
Susan W. Hoskins LCSW |
Previous MessagesJune 2013 - Age Friendly Communities May 2013 - Navigating a Changing HealthCare Landscape March 2013 - Navigating Life’s Transitions February 2013 - Partners in Caring Princeton January 2013 - Men as Caregivers December 2012 - The Safety Net October 2012 - Documenting Your History September 2012 - A Journey of Transformation July - August 2012 - Gratitude & Moving March 2012 - Patient-centered Care February 2012 - Can you Spare an Hour? January 2012 - Challenges & Opportunities December - Are you Prepared for Emergencies? October - Chocolate for Memory September- Looking Back and Looking Forward Lessons and Legacies, March 2011 Independent Living February 2011 Witness to my Life December 2010 Elections, benefits and open enrollment November 2010 Strategic Planning September 2010 Hiring Home Care December 2009 Annual Giving by Sharon Naeole November 2009 Flu Pandemic 2009 October 2009 Healthy Memory, Healthy Mind September 2009 A Personal Perspective on Caregiving July/August 2009 Wei Ji: Crisis, Danger and Opportunity April 2009 Write your own obituary March 2009 Hope and Vision in Challenging Times Medicare Changes 2008: Take A Look! December 2008 Scams, Frauds and Rip-offs November 2008 Engaged Retirement: Beyond Financial Planning October 2008 September 2008 Caregiver Dilemmas Finding Rhythm and Purpose July/August 2008 V + OA = ER (Volunteering + Older Americans=Engaged Retirement)May 2008 Have You Had the Talk Yet? March 2008 Get Moving with FitRhythms™! February 2008 What Are Social Services? November 2007 Plan for the Future September 2007 The Up-side of Aging Summer 2007 National Conference on Aging: Let's ReThink Aging April 2007 Season of Giving December 2006 April Hill McElroy October 2006 Civic Engagement September 2006 White House Conference on Aging May 2006 Are You Prepared? October 2005 Watch Your Language September 2005 The End of the Journey May 2005 New Dietary Guidelines February 2005 Civic Engagement with GrandPals October 2004 The Challenge of Giving Care May 2004 Seniors On The Move April 2004 Random Acts of Kindness December 2003 Civic Engagement November 2003 |