What's in a Name?

[dawnwhite]

What are your feelings about having the word "senior" in the name of your center?  Here is an article about that in the news.  The director of this senior center claims that there won't be any centers known as "senior" centers 5 - 10 years from now.  What are your thoughts?

http://www.startribune.com/local/south/18861679.html

[aaron]

Dawn:  I don't agree that in five years there won't be senior centers, however, we incorporated as The Monroe Senior Citizens Center, Inc. in 1970.  About 1995 we set up a DBA as The Monroe Center and dropped the senior center designation.  We have just rebranded and set up a DBA as The Monroe Center for Healthy Aging.  There has always been a struggle in the Senior Center arena to overcome the negative connotation of the word "Senior" .  While many are o.k. with it, lots of folks refuse to be associated with "those old people".  Speaking as an older adult born in 1946, the Boomer generation will never be "seniors".  We will age until we die, but we'll never be "old".  My arguement is that if older adults in general won't agree on what they want to be called, don't call them anything or you will certainly offend some of your market.  aaron

[Linda C.]

Dawn;
I disagree also that there won't be any "senior centers" in the near future. However , I do think that we need to try to eliminate the negative connotation of the phrase. We have been the September Days Senior Center for more than 30 years, but our motto is to "provide quality programs and services for mature adults." We are working to be a "wellness" center to attract the more active "boomer" generation.

[Larry Erlandson]

I also think many will hang on to the words "senior center."  An additional problem we have, beyond people not wanting to admit they are seniors by going to a "senior center", is that no one has yet come up with a common word or words to connect people to us, i.e. what to look for in the yellow pages or on a google search.  I think people still query for "senior center."

[lorisuewells]

  Seems in our Center we are split on this topic.  some seniors say, "call it what it is - a Senior Center" people don't know what you are otherwise.  I, myself, am leaning more toward the Healthy Aging, Wellness Center concept.  the concern I have is name recognition in a sea of aging products.  now, we are simply listed in the phone book "senior center" easy to find, easy to know.  would be best if we could somehow just change the impression to some of what a senior center is, because we are certainly not what we were 40 years ago.

[Ecumenical Senior Center]

As a newbie (to Kalamazoo, the Ecumenical Senior Center, and senior services in general), one of my greatest challenges is a declining census.  Whether due to attrition, politics, the economy, or whatever, the 60+ crowd that I've interviewed invariably tell me that they don't see themselves as seniors and consequently, are not interested in "senior" activities.  The dwindling number of attendees has also made it more difficult to secure funding.  I had the pleasure of attending the Elder Rights Summit at MSU last week, and the luncheon speaker, Colin Milner, made this very point.  He asked how many people in the room were under 70 years old.  Nearly everyone raised their hands.  He then asked of those who responsed, how many considered themselves to be seniors.  No one raised their hand.  At this point, I tend to agree with those who have, or are considering, the removal of "senior" from their organization's name.  Getting the staid board of directors to accept this is another issue.

Joe Scott

[alice]

Our advisory council recently decided to stay with the name Hartland Senior Center.  We have a very active center.  Our numbers have tripled in the last three years.   We realize that the best marketing is word of mouth and when you offer a good product people will come.  Fitness activities and sports is what attract the "new" people  55 - 69 years of age.  They come in spite of the name senior center.  I hear many people say "I never thought I would come to a "senior center," but they do.  I am of two minds
I believe to continue to grow we may need to tweak our name but I also believe one of our jobs is to celebrate aging and to encourage people to move forward with healthy and creative aging.

[aaron]

"The Monroe Center for Healthy Aging"?  What happened to the "Senior Center"?  We often get asked why we call oursleves "The Monroe Center" instead of "The Monroe Senior Citizens Center."  Over a decade ago we switched our "doing-business-as" name to better reflect the growing sentiment that, right or wrong, "senior" meant being frail, disabled, and wrinkled beyond belief.  In fact, most seniors are active, alert and contributing citizens.  Even those who have physical disabilities often are the ones who are more energetic in mind and spirit. 

We all know 40 somethings who "veg' out on the couch and 75 year olds who swim at the Y and take care of grandchildren.

As we've listened to national and state experts and trends, it's more about "boomer mentality".  Boomer mentality is active, interested in learning, and doesn't necessarily let health issues devour life and perspective on life. 

We are all aging in different ways so it doesn't make sense to segregate the ages.  Studies and books abound that show the consequences of segregation and none of them have happy endings. 

When America's first generations of older people in large numbers came of age they, by and large, came from a communal culture, dependent upon each other and surrounded by their extended families.  The Boomer generation grew up and are working in an individualist world, many have more parents than children and the days of everyone meeting at grandma and grandpa's for Sunday dinner are memories of a bygone era.  Consequently, there is no "one size fits all" approach to programming for our rapidly aging communities.  Diversity in aging requires diversity in programming.

I believe that Center's are morphing from Center's for Seniors toward Centers for healthy aging.  We want to stay inclusive to the boomer mentality, while attending to those who need help aging in their own home.  Multi-purpose senior centers are uniquely qualified to do this no matter the name..............

[Sue L.]

I have taken a pole and many of our clients don't care one way or the other. The one's I poled said it wouldn't matter if we changed our name people would come.  We have a large population of younger seniors anyway.

[aaron]

Sue L.  When you survey participants I suspect that folks who are attending a senior center for the most part do not care what you call it or if they do, it's not enough to keep them from coming.  It would be more enlightening to survey those who do not attend senior centers.  I've seen surveys indicating that senior centers are not for everyone.  Many folks do not need or want what we offer and others simply are not social joiners.  However, when the Monroe Center for Healthy Aging surveyed a segment of the older population (over 60) who did not attend a senior center, a significant number stated that they didn't feel like they were old enough to go to a senior center or were offended by the name and associated it with "those old people".  Even people in the late 80's and 90's seemed to equate senior center with nursing homes.

Having said that, every community decides what they want no matter the name.  All senior centers are not multi-purpose nor will all centers be accredited and every center I've visited over the past 33 years has been completly unique.  What's in a name?  The beauty of the senior center arena is that every "center" gets to decide for themself.

[RhondaZiethlow]

Another center in our county called and asked what it would take to be called something else if you are incorporated as a "Senior Center." 
You can obtain a DBA (doing business as) name and operate promotionally under that name.  Register it with the state though, not your county clerk.

[RhondaZiethlow]

Also - our local newspaper was informed and now every reference of us is consistent - "The Monroe Center for Healthy Aging."

[tcommet]

Because we have 2 senior centers and 6 congregate meal sites throughout Jackson County, we incorporated the name of "The Gathering Place" for all of them.  Participants really liked the name because instead of inviting their friends to come to the congregate site, they refer to the gathering place where they come for a great meal and fun 

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