Floods of local senior citizens eagerly piled through the doors of the Hamilton Township Senior Center March 1 and into the packed lobby, where they confidently navigated their check-ins on touchscreen monitors installed with a software program designed uniquely for senior centers.
More than 400 Hamilton Township senior citizens do this every day. With about 18,000 registered members in total, the nationally accredited senior center attracts visitors with a long list of volunteer-run programs, from a five-team bocce ball league to TED talks to its very own craft case that allows members to sell handcrafted items. On Thursdays during tax-filing season, the center offers a program where AARP volunteers will assist members of the center with their income taxes and homestead rebate applications, according to Kathleen M. Fitzgerald, supervisor of senior services at the center. During one Thursday in February, the program handled 42 returns in one day.
Completely funded through Hamilton’s tax dollars, the center opened its doors in 2001, and serves Hamilton Township citizens who are 60-plus exclusively. Fitzgerald said the center has given members not just a hub for fitness, health, and social activities, but a purpose after retirement.
“Our offerings empower [members] to be the best they can be,” Fitzgerald said. “I have witnessed people come into our chair exercise programs using canes and walkers and they no longer need them after participating and that value of the program is really satisfying.”
Joseph Mannino, a regular visitor to the center, shows up mainly for the chair exercise program, and boasts of how attentive the volunteers are.
“Oh, I’m here everyday that it’s open,” Mannino said, sounding proud to be apart of the program.
Throughout the day March 1, the center remained packed, especially the dining area, which houses a commercial kitchen and a newly renovated dance floor. Through the Mercer County Nutrition Program, the center offers lunch to both members of the center and to all Mercer County senior citizens for just $1. The kitchen even partners with Panera Bread’s Day-End Dough-Nation program to bring in bread and baked goods local Panera Bread restaurants did not sell the prior evening.
While the dining amenities draw many visitors, the room’s dance floor proves to be the centerpiece. The floor is never empty, Fitzgerald said, and it’s so popular, in fact, that was recently renovated to fit more dancers.
“We had to get a bigger one,” Fitzgerald said.
The dance floor also hosts classes, such as a line dancing one taught by a 90-year-old member and volunteer. The instructor once taught at a highly-regarded dance studio, Fitzgerald said.
“[Members] bring their expertise and they take ownership [of the program],” said Fitzgerald, “They bring their talents here.”
Farrell, a part-time worker and member, is one example. She began her time at the center before she turned 60 as a volunteer. Farrell spent 40 years as a Public Health Representative in epidemiology for the CDC and retired a few months before she turned 60. During that time, Farrell used her expertise as a professional to volunteer at the center doing administrative work, greeting members and working parties.
“I couldn’t wait until I turned 60,” Farrell said.
Although members are a huge resource, the center would not be possible without community partners, Fitzgerald said. In April, AARP is offering a defensive driving course at the center, where members can receive a certificate that they can submit to their insurance for a potential discount. The center also has partnerships with Walmart, Princeton Healthcare System, Capital Health, the Hamilton Police Division, Lawrence Community Band, Samaritan Healthcare and Hospice and local schools, Fitzgerald said.
Local schools team up with the center to offer intergenerational programs that involve learning different skills for both generations. Recently, the center hosted a dance, inviting a 5th grade class from Langtree Elementary School, that allowed students to teach members their current dance moves, while members offered dance moves from the past, Fitzgerald said.
The Cypress Lane facility also plays a huge role in the center’s ability to provide a broad range of activities and services. In addition to the lobby and dining hall, the center has a serenity room, a TV room, a computer room, a billiards room, a multipurpose room, a game room, an indoor pool and hot tub, a fitness center with a locker room, an outside deck, a bocce court and an outdoor quarter-mile walking trail. The center even offers transportation that brings members to the center, to their doctor appointments and to the local grocery stores.
“You have to see it to believe it,” Fitzgerald said. “You have to come in and experience it to really appreciate what we have to offer here in Hamilton Township.”
It is also the first senior citizen center in New Jersey to have an adult playground, Fitzgerald said. The playground includes low-impact exercise equipment that is safe for members to use.
With activities such as yoga and reiki, ballroom dancing, cornhole, spin classes and a walking club, the center’s employees want to foster an active environment and to avoid having the center associated with adult daycares.
“There’s a stigma of a senior center,” Fitzgerald said, “and here, it’s a very active group of people. We have a 102-year-old piano player.”
Overall, the Center has a mission to offer programs that are valuable enough for their members to take and use outside of the facility.
“We want them to take the confidence and skills they gain here and use it outside and feel good about it.” Fitzgerald said, “It gives them a lot more self worth.”
The Hamilton Township Senior Center is located at 409 Cypress Lane in Hamilton. Phone: (609) 890-3686. Web: hamiltonnj.com.
Ann Costa, Paula McGrath, (back) Christine Lawrence, Elva Thomas, Kim Walker and Carol Morea enjoy lunch at the Hamilton senior center last month. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.),
Cora McIntyre and Gwendoline Lawson enjoy conversation after lunch.,
