SCAN Collaborates with California Commission on Aging to Share

Senior Centers’ Success Stories

(LONG BEACH, CALIF. – November 21, 2011) — SCAN Health Plan has partnered with the California Commission on Aging (CCoA) to identify senior and community centers throughout the state that are doing innovative work to serve the growing senior population. The need for innovation has become particularly pronounced as budgets for senior centers are being trimmed while the demand for services and more diverse programs is increasing.

A new report released last week by CCoA, “Innovation, Resourcefulness, Persistence…How California’s Senior Centers are Meeting Today’s Challenge,” includes a compilation of vignettes from senior centers around California. The examples demonstrate that centers are embracing paradigm and program shifts, moving forward with strategic plans and allowing their creativity to shine despite the economic realities facing their communities. The report was produced by CCoA and sponsored by SCAN Health Plan.

“SCAN is pleased to partner with the California Commission on Aging in its efforts to identify senior and community centers that are doing innovative work,” said Lena Perelman, director of community outreach at SCAN. “Today’s centers are facing an unprecedented demographic shift in the midst of a challenging economic environment. As budgets for senior centers are being cut, demand for services and more diverse programs is increasing.”

Among the senior centers featured in the report is the SCAN Senior Resource Center in Ventura. Since opening its doors in 2006, the SCAN center has been offering health education, exercise and lifestyle classes to older adults. Engaging in community partnerships has added to the variety and reach of the programming. The center is open to the public and is operated by not-for-profit SCAN Health Plan to improve seniors' access to important health information to help them remain healthy and independent.

“Though the times are difficult in California, the resiliency of the state’s senior centers continues to be evident in their innovations, resourcefulness and dreams,” said Sandra K. Fitzpatrick, executive director, California Commission on Aging. “From creative programming to community partnerships, centers are breaking new ground in ways that strengthen their role in the community and will help them survive and thrive.”

The report, which will be available at www.ccoa.ca.gov in mid-December, was announced this week at the second Senior Center Forum, a gathering of 300 senior center stakeholders from across California to share ideas about the future roles and needs of centers as well as to identify policy implications. The CCoA is an independent state entity established to serve as the principal state advocate on behalf of older Californians.

What will the senior center of the future look like? According to Perelman, “It will continue to reflect the increasing diversity of the community it serves, but it will also look a lot like the senior centers you see profiled in this report.”

For more than 30 years, SCAN Health Plan has been focusing on the unique needs of seniors. Further information may be obtained at scanhealthplan.com.