Center 50+

Facts About the Senior Center

The Salem Senior Center serves as a gateway to senior citizens and their families to local programs and services.  It's the only designated full-service focal point senior center in Marion County. Senior users report they use the Center because of meals, recreation, volunteer opportunities, and education.  The Center has a Friends of the Salem Senior Center to aid in securing funds for improvements and operations.

More than 600 seniors use the Center daily, and more than 500 senior citizens annually utilize the health screening clinics at the Center.  Partnerships generate over $500,000 of added value programs and services at the Center, which also leverages community support. Some of those programs and partnerships include:

• Partner Senior Townhouse, I nc., serves more than 48,000 meals annually through this congregate meal-site and home delivery program.
• Over 40 Chemeketa classes are held monthly at the Center.
• The Center houses the Salem Police Department interagency Gang Response Team.
• The Center is home to the only social activity model group day Alzheimer Respite Program in Salem.

Over 325 registered volunteers give more than 45,000 hours of service annually at the Center.  Cherriots buses stop at the Center six days a week and over 2,000 times a year.  More than 70% of the Salem Senior Center users are 70+ years of age.

A new facility is in the process of being built: more information  The Grand Opening is scheduled for October 6, 2008. Join us at Center 50+, City of Salem Senior Center, 2615 Portland Rd NE, at 2:00 pm.

Salem Senior Center Receives National Accreditation

The City of Salem Senior Center received accreditation by the National Institute of Senior Centers. Of more than 15,000 senior centers across the country, only 120 are accredited. The Salem Senior Center is the first senior center in the state of Oregon to receive this recognition.

National accreditation is the end result of a rigorous process including an agency self-assessment and on-site inspection by a peer reviewer from the National Institute of Senior Centers, a division of the National Council on Aging. The accreditation process is a quality assurance program that examines nine different standards and requires community involvement in the self-assessment process. The standards reviewed include:

• Community
• Administration
• Records and reports management
• Governance
• Evaluation
• Facility
• Purpose and planning

The Administration on Aging and the National Council on Aging recognize that focal point senior centers are operating in an increasingly complex environment. Centers must serve the fastest growing population of both well and frail older adults; reach out to the under served, low income, and minority older adults; provide information and access to services; raise and manage funds from multiple sources; and be responsive to a broad range of community needs.

"Being nationally accredited is quite an accomplishment and makes an important statement to our community that the Salem Senior Center offers quality programs and services with accountability. This achievement is the result of many years of dedication and support from senior center patrons, community partners, and Center leadership," stated Bob Wells, City of Salem City Manager.

The Salem Senior Center opened its doors in 1976. Today the Center offers more than 100 programs and services for adults age 50 and older. Approximately 600 older adults participate in programs on a daily basis. The Center employs five full-time staff and part-time staff to manage the 20,000-square-foot, ADA-accessible facility that contains a licensed commercial kitchen, hobby rooms, classroom, meeting rooms, an auditorium, and offices.

The Center’s $600,000 budget is funded 50% by the City of Salem general fund and 50% by donations from area businesses, individuals, fund-raising activities and grants. For more information about the Salem Senior Center, call 503-588-6303.

Volunteers

The Center has a very small paid staff, so most tasks are done by volunteers from the community. Volunteer work can be very rewarding, both for the volunteer and the Center. Anyone with a little extra time and/or expertise is encouraged to contact the Center and offer their services. If you want to do some volunteer work at the Center, call the Volunteer Coordinator at 503-588-6303.  More information

Getting Here

The NEW Center 50+ is located about half of a mile northeast of Salem's city center at 2615 Portland Rd NE. The new facility opens October 6, 2008.

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