Worcester Senior Center

The Worcester Senior Center houses a full time Division of Public Health nurse funded through a generous contribution from UMass Memorial Health Care*. The nurse staffs the clinic and ensures that an array of fitness, health education, health screening and medical care services is provided for Worcester's seniors. The older segment of the age 60+ population can be so respectful of physicians that they are reluctant to "bother" them when they have health concerns and questions. The Senior Center nurse may be more approachable for these individuals, and she can act as a liaison with their physicians. The younger cohort are often more enthusiastic about taking charge of their health and utilize the Senior Center to learn, exercise and receive medical screenings in an effort to prevent disease and maintain good health. Individuals with minimal income and health insurance benefit from the accessibility of the health and wellness services at the Senior Center. Certain services are targeted to cultural groups who have linguistic barriers and/or a high prevalence of certain diseases e.g. (SHINE health insurance counseling for Latino seniors).

*In addition to the primary support from UMass Memorial, specific health and wellness programs were provided by AARP, Alzheimer's Association, American Cancer Society, Amethyst Point, Better Ending Partnership, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Care Alternatives, Community Healthlink, Evercare, Fallon Clinic, Wellness Works Yoga, Arbour Counseling, National Kidney Foundation, DPH Keep Moving, Lifeline, MAB Community Services, Massachusetts Falls Prevention Coalition, Mass Medline, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Quinsigamond Community College Nursing Students, Senior Whole Health, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Valley Psychiatric Services and others.