With no senior center, does the city of Palm Coast have any programs for seniors?

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

Editor's note: The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are solely that of the author in his personal capacity and do not necessarily represent the opinions or the views of the City of Palm Coast or the Palm Coast City Council.

A recent question from a community member: Without a dedicated senior center in Palm Coast, what ample programs do we possibly have for seniors?

Every year, the City of Palm Coast is blessed to welcome a growing number of senior residents over 55 years of age. The peace of our natural outdoor beauty initially draws them here. Yet, it’s important to note that we have many captivating activities in our Parks and Recreation Department.

Our Palm Coast Community Center at 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE has several event and meeting rooms that are most often set aside strictly for senior activities. We do have standard favorites, including tai chi, yoga, mahjongg, bridge, sewing, book club, and movies. But we also have several unique free specialty classes, quite uncommon to other Park Districts, which include:

Support Groups for Specialized Diseases – Encouragement, comfort, and understanding for the Visually Impaired, for those dealing with Parkinson’s Disease, and for caregivers for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Widow/Widower Support Group – Help with combating loneliness and meeting new friends. In fact, we recently had a local widow and widower meet in this group – and they’re married now!

Diabetes Prevention and Management Program – Partnering with the Department of Health, coaches assist with methods for staying healthy, especially for those with a diabetes diagnosis.

Sewing With Heart – Seniors choose a specific charity to be the recipients of a specially designed sewing project. They recently created dresses for the Dress a Girl Around the World Association, believing that every little girl deserves a brand-new dress.

It makes me proud, and it warms my heart to see a bustling community center full of Palm Coast residents who are exhibiting a true example of our community spirit. If you’d like to participate in these programs or others, please log onto https://secure.rec1.com/FL/palm-coast-fl/catalog.

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