Reinventing Senior Centers: Virtually By M. Jean Keller and Franziska Sprinkmeyer L ess than 60 years ago, the first senior center opened in New York City. Today, there are more than 15,000 senior centers across the country serving more than 10 million older adults annually. Research by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) indicates older adults who participate in senior center programs delay the onset of chronic disease and enjoy measurable improvements in physical, social, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, and overall life satisfaction. So why aren't greater numbers of older Americans engaging in senior center programs and services? Today, one in three Americans is age 50 or older. Never before in human history have there been so many older people. NCOA's National Institute of Senior Centers supports the reinventing of senior centers to serve 50 million aging baby boomers whose numbers will increase to 77 million by 2030. 50 Parks & Recreation | J A N UA R Y 2 0 1 6 | W W W. N R PA . O R G