Cactus Village Community

MANZANITA SENIOR CENTER

Jul 10, 2003

If the term ?“Senior Center?” conjures up images of nursing homes or hospitals, you might want to try a little mind-broadening exercise. Or, better yet, pay a visit to the Manzanita Senior Center at 3581 West Northern Avenue. It was very pleasant surprise for me to take a tour of their facility and see what an inviting and cheerful place it is. I was greeted immediately by some great staff members who seem to genuinely love their jobs. The facility is huge, with lots of tables and chairs for the many activities they sponsor, and some cozy corners to just relax. The 60+ year old ?“seniors?” there are a friendly group too, people who obviously want more from life than staying at home with the television.

Funded by the City of Phoenix and the Area Agency on Aging, and one of 17 such centers throughout the City, the Manzanita Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. A light breakfast is offered at 8:30 and a hearty lunch at 11:30 for a nominal $2 per meal donation.

Daily activities include crafts, cards and other games, billiards, bingo, and bridge, as well as movies. For those wishing to learn something new or improve skills, classes are offered periodically on subjects such as computers, weight loss, line dancing, painting and drawing, Spanish, and sign language. Want to see some local sights without the hassles of driving and parking? The Center offers monthly day trips (and a ?“mystery trip?” once a month!) to local attractions that cover a wide variety of interests, from the Heard Museum to casinos, for the admission price of the feature. International tours are sponsored from time to time as well.

The Center also has an eye on the well-being of seniors. A social worker is on-site daily to discuss problems seniors may be having and to offer referrals to appropriate organizations or offices. Guest lecturers in the field of health are available on the fourth Thursday of the month, and the Center periodically offers health screening exams like blood pressure checks.
For more information, call the Center at 262-4949 and talk to one of their friendly and helpful staff members. Or just stop in and pay them a visit?—you?’ll like what you see!. . .☺