BINGO! (And So Much More)
by Kevin Fritz
Fridays are a big deal at the Winter Springs Senior Center. That’s when three crowd favorites – chair yoga, taught by a 92-year-old volunteer; a hot dog lunch; and bingo – fill the hours from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., giving the last weekday a real TGIF vibe. And let’s not forget about the full day of activities at the center’s always-popular therapy pool.
Truth is, every day at the city-owned center at 400 North Edgemon Avenue has a distinctive feel, with senior-specific programs filling the calendar. From Monday through Friday, residents and non-residents alike can enjoy everything from arts and crafts to fitness classes. The community center for seniors is designed as a fun and safe gathering place for men and women ages 55 and older.
Dell Walker, director of the Winter Springs Senior Center, says bingo on Wednesdays and Fridays is the most popular event. Another major draw is the Sweating with Helen cardio class on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“The therapy pool is a big deal, too,” says Dell. “Some people just come here for the pool.”
The in-house pool offers aquatic therapy classes, utilizing low-impact aerobic exercise to strengthen the muscles without placing undue stress on the joints. The sessions are ideal for both healing and exercise. A doctor’s note is required to participate in the classes.
Golden Girls and Guys
Dell says the senior center has a current membership base of 800 to 900 folks, the majority of whom are between 60 and 80 years old. The center also has its share of 90-year-olds and recently hosted a birthday party for one of its centenarians.
Senior center membership for Winter Springs residents is $28 for the year, plus an extra $40 for the therapy pool. Non-residents pay $74 annually for a center membership and an additional $100 for use of the pool. The City of Winter Springs provides complimentary transportation for residents through Lynx, with prior approval.
A typical month at the senior center features no less than 18 activities to choose from each week. Lunch is served twice weekly: on Wednesdays for $8, and on Fridays, for only $2.50.
Currently, the center’s calendar of events kicks off on Mondays with line dancing, followed by Mexican Train (dominoes), bridge, billiards, ceramics, art, card games, and cardio fitness.
Tuesdays and Thursdays offer strength and fitness training, along with art, mahjong, knitting and crocheting, card games, and Sweating with Helen. Mid-week Wednesdays feature a technology class followed by lunch, bingo, and mat yoga. The week closes out on Fridays with technology, chair yoga, lunch, a painting class, and bingo. Members occasionally go on field trips as well.
A Home Away From Home
Terri Anderson, a member of the center for years, likes the hot dog meal on Fridays and enjoys the various activities she gets to participate in, such as playing bingo and cards.
“It’s fun here, and the people are like family,” says Terri, a Chicago native who has lived in Winter Springs for the past 32 years.
Although the center’s calendar is jam-packed, Dell notes that many of the seniors stop by simply to spend time with others.
“While the center is geared toward recreational activities,” she says, “many like the idea of getting out of the house to socialize. They come and meet for coffee or lunch.”
Terri, who visits the Winter Springs Senior Center two to three times a week, agrees that the people are the real draw.
“I sure have made a lot of friends here,” she says.