A Change in Name
A recent name change from Joyce Raye Patterson Senior Center to the Joyce Raye Patterson 50+ Activity Center may have caught the attention of some residents wondering why the name change was considered.
The age in which a person is considered a senior citizen varies depending upon the person or place. For most people, when they think of the age when a person becomes a senior citizen, they think of someone who is older than themselves. For example, most places that give senior discounts on food won’t give them to people until they are between 55-65 years of age. Eligibility for Medicare is 65 years old and Social Security is 62 years old. To become a member of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) a person must be over 50. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines senior citizen as “an elderly person especially: one who has retired.”
The Joyce Raye Patterson Center is open to people aged 50 and older. Attendance for the 50-65 age group is the lowest age demographic at the center. One of the reasons this age group doesn’t participate in activities at the center was determined they don’t identify themselves as a senior. It was also discovered that some 65 and older residents also didn’t identify with being a senior. Some people even thought the center was an assisted living facility or a daycare center for those who were unable to take care of themselves. The reality is that the center is a vibrant facility with a variety of activities taking place every day. Given those reasons, it made sense to provide a name for the facility more closely representing what the facility provides including physical fitness, wellness and recreation.
If you are 50 and older, you are invited to visit the center, located at 100 South 10
th Street, to learn more about the opportunities available. All ages, however, are invited to come enjoy lunch at the center on Tuesdays-Fridays from 11am-12:30pm. Come explore and see what the Joyce Raye Patterson 50+ Activity Center has to offer.
