Sex Ed, Books & Brews, and Field Day: Senior Centers Are Breaking the Mold

Older adults can benefit from participating in programs that promote social interaction, physical and mental wellness, and creative expression. If you haven’t recently explored the senior center programming in your local community, it may be worthwhile to take a look at the latest offerings. Many senior centers and organizations that serve older adults offer unique programs that you or your aging parents could benefit from taking part in.

Read: Uncover the Benefits of Senior Centers (no, They’re Not Nursing Homes)

Discover: A Vacation Rental for Retirement Income? An Expert Shares Pros and Cons

Last month, through its National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC) initiative, the National Council on Aging (NCOA), revealed its 2026 NISC Programs of Excellence award winners. Each year, the organization recognizes senior centers and senior-focused organizations that are creating impactful programs that improve the lives of older adults.

“We are thrilled every year to recognize the innovation and creativity of senior centers as they improve the lives of older adults in their communities,” NCOA’s Associate Director of Network Development and Engagement, Dianne Stone shared.

She continued, “These programs impact the lives of older adults in so many ways and provide example and inspiration for senior centers across the country.”

This year’s award categories include:

• Visibility and Communications
• Social and Support Services
• Health, Wellness, and Nutrition
• Cross-Generational Connections
• Social Connection and Engagement
• Resource Development and Sustainability
• Governance, Operations, and Innovative Management
• Advocacy and Policy
• Modernizing Senior Centers Innovation Award

Let’s take a closer look at some of the 2026 winners and the programs they offer:

Visibility and Communications

The following winners were celebrated for communication strategies that increase the visibility of senior centers and their perceived value in their communities:

• MiGen’s MiGen Communication Pillars
• Westlake Community Services’ Bloom, Blush & Bravo campaign
• Colchester Senior Center “Be Like Bacon” campaign

MiGen, a Michigan LGBTQ+ network for older adults, focuses on the following four pillars of communication: inclusion, affirmation, community, and news. The group utilizes inclusive, authentic messaging with real photos and content centered toward the LGBTQ+ community.

The organization rejects stereotypical aging imagery, keeps community members informed on LGBTQ+ community events, provides important updates on local and national policies, and honors older adults in the state who are making the state more inclusive and affirming.

Health, Wellness, and Nutrition

The following organizations were recognized for promoting programs that improve older adults’ physical and/or mental wellness:

• Woodie Fite Senior Center’s Grown Folks Talk: Sex Education for Older Adults
• Colchester Senior Center’s Unleash Your Joy
• West Cobb Senior Center’s Let’s Have a Field Day

The Georgia-based West Cobb Senior Center won an award for its Let’s Have a Field Day competition. The event featured indoor, accessible games for active older adults of all abilities. All activities and games were low-impact, modifiable, and encouraged participants to work as a team. Participants could register individually and be placed on a team or sign up to compete with their friends.

Social and Support Services

The following senior centers were recognized for having programs that address basic life needs such as housing, food security, benefits access, transportation, case management, legal services, and financial services:

• Solon Senior Center’s Safe and Sound
• Edina Senior Center’s Books and Brews
• Amherst Center for Senior Services’ Senior Center on the Move

Minnesota’s Edina Senior Center was honored for its collaboration with local coffee shop Edina Coffee Roasters. They teamed up to create a welcoming space for adults ages 55+ to gather for its Books & Brews program. The shop opens its doors after hours for the monthly event, but participants are also welcome to gather during regular business hours.

Local community members, including those who don’t attend Edina Senior Center, can hang out, discuss what they’re reading, exchange book recommendations, and build social connections in a relaxed environment.

Social Connection and Engagement

These organizations were recognized for creating programs that helped to increase social connection:

• Whitney Senior Center’s Dementia Friendly Film Series
• Preble County Council on Aging’s See the World from Our Backyard
• Gathering Place 50 Plus Community Centers’ Veterans Peer-to-Peer Luncheon

Located in rural upstate New York, the Gathering Place 50 Plus Community Center’s Veterans Peer-to-Peer Luncheon initiative was created to address isolation and reduced access to resources among aging veterans.

The program provides organized monthly veteran-led engagement and connection luncheons. Veterans gather to have lunch, share stories, and offer mutual support in a trusted environment.

Senior Center Programming is Evolving to Meet the Different Needs of Aging Adults

It’s exciting to learn about some of the more unique programs that senior centers and organizations providing resources to older adults have created to better support their residents and community members. This is just a sampling of the meaningful senior center programs honored by the NCOA. To learn more about impactful programs that exist for older adults nationwide, visit the NCOA website to review the full list of 2026 award winners.