Via Health, Fitness and Enrichment Center - Services and Outreach for Seniors

Via Health, Fitness and Enrichment - Background

Senior Citizens Services (now Via) was established in 1970 to respond to the needs of the elderly, helping them to live independently in their own neighborhoods, with access to the resources they need.

Via is a community-based, multi-purpose senior center with a gymnasium, fitness center, health clinic, classrooms and activity rooms, auditorium, computer lab and cafeteria. Via’s focus is to facilitate older adults focus on preventative health objectives, physical fitness, continuous learning, socialization and recreation.

Current programs and services include:

• education and enrichment programs
• social activities to combat isolation
• home care services
• adult daycare (Grandfriends)
• transportation
• emergency assistance
• health outreach programs to the elderly living in public housing

SCS-Via has a comprehensive menu of programs and services. But, as all strong agencies do, the organization asks itself what kind of impact is it really making on improving the quality of seniors’ lives? The SCS-Via clients say it best:

“I love the Senior Center and the programs Carol and the staff do for us. I would be at home, alone without the program. People forget us elderly folks sometimes. We do education classes, group trips, fitness, safety and a lot more.”

- Annie B. Davis, Boykin Towers, Age 86

Adult Health, Education and Recreation (AHER) senior outreach program

“Last week, we learned self-defense. I am going to take what I learned back to Boykin Towers and tell all my friends. I might save someone’s life.”

- Claire Young, Emerson Gardens, Age 84University of South Alabama Generational Studies Course

“Lunch at the Center is my only hot meal of the day.”

- Willie Hill, Age 63 Daily Center Patron

“After my dad died there was a void in my mom’s life because they weren’t going to church anymore and there was just an emptiness… So we thought that getting her with people her own age, you know, and being able to converse with them may kind of put a little spark in her life. And it did. They really understand the needs of the elderly.”

- Caregiver survey comment on Grandfriends adult daycare program