San Diego Master Plan for Senior Centers
Creating a Stronger Network of Senior Centers
We have begun a revolutionary campaign to raise $150 million over the next 10 years.
As San Diego County ages, we recognize the urgent need for modern, comprehensive senior centers that cater to the diverse needs of our older adults. Through the power of philanthropy and partnerships, we’re shaping a better future for all aging San Diegans dedicated to ensuring that every senior in San Diego has a place to turn to and trust.
The San Diego Senior Center Master Plan is for the community, by the community, and we need your help to make it a reality. Whether you are a senior yourself, a neighbor, a family member, a concerned citizen, a business, or a philanthropist, you have a role in bringing this vision to life.
Together, we can create a brighter future for our seniors.
Beyond Buildings: A Gateway to Well-Being
A senior center is more than bricks and mortar; it’s a gateway to a vibrant aging network. Our existing centers, some over 40 years old, face limitations in budgets, staff, and programs, leaving some communities without centers at all. We believe every San Diegan deserves access to the necessary resources to thrive.
Explore the Master Plan
Take a look at the Master Plan and see the exciting possibilities for the future of senior care in San Diego.
The comprehensive Master Plan for Senior Centers outlines specific initial improvements needed in each city and community of San Diego County to serve local seniors. It identifies $150 million in upgrades and new building costs.
The Time for Action is Now
Senior centers are vital hubs where older adults can access critical programs, far more than just places to play bingo. They are integral to our county’s public health infrastructure.
Currently, San Diego County has 28 senior centers in communities from San Ysidro to Oceanside and Coronado to Borrego Springs. Yet, existing senior centers serve only about 8% of the region’s total senior population—and many of these centers are underfunded, understaffed, and lack sufficient programming.
In response to The California Master Plan for Aging and The County of San Diego Aging Roadmap, we wrote the Master Plan for Senior Centers for San Diego which can be duplicated throughout California and the rest of the country.
With the implementation of the Master Plan, we will modernize current senior centers, and build centers where needed: allowing accessibility to all.
will be 60 or older
Help make a difference in the lives of seniors in San Diego.
Our Vision
The Senior Center of the Future
In the future, senior centers will become an essential piece of the infrastructure that supports our aging population. These state-of-the-art facilities will be attractive, welcoming, and staffed by specialists with expertise in the field of aging. A community’s senior center will be the hub for its 60-and-over residents—a place where older adults can access programs and vital resources that address the three important areas of their lives: physical, mental, and financial health.
The Role of Senior Centers
Research shows that older adults participating in senior center programs can learn to manage and delay the onset of chronic diseases and experience measurable improvements in their physical, social, spiritual, emotional, mental, and economic well-being. Senior centers are evolving to meet the needs of three generations of older adults, including Baby Boomers and Generation X, focusing on creating innovative programs and opportunities.
Senior centers are crucial in connecting older adults with essential community services that enable them to maintain their health and independence. More than 60% of senior centers serve as designated focal points for delivering Older Americans Act (OAA) services, offering older adults the convenience of accessing multiple services under one roof, such as:
- Meal and Nutrition Programs: Ensuring access to nutritious meals for seniors.
- Information and Assistance: Providing valuable guidance and support.
- Health, Fitness, and Wellness Programs: Encouraging healthy living and physical activity.
- Transportation Services: Assisting seniors with mobility.
- Public Benefits Counseling: Helping older adults navigate available benefits.
- Employment Assistance: Supporting seniors in finding opportunities.
- Volunteer and Civic Engagement Opportunities: Encouraging active participation.
- Social and Recreational Activities: Creating opportunities for social interaction and enjoyment.
- Educational and Arts Programs: Fostering lifelong learning and creative expression.
- Intergenerational Programs: Promoting connections between different generations.
By actively engaging with senior centers and supporting their initiatives, our community can ensure that older adults continue to lead fulfilling, independent lives while enriching the lives of those around them.
Help Us Make a Difference
- Advocate for senior center support in your neighborhood
- Share our Master Plan with your community
- Get involved in efforts to modernize senior centers
- Check-in with an older adult neighbor or relative and encourage them to visit their local senior center
- Support our projects through the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation
- Engage with us and suggest neighborhoods that need new or modernized senior centers
Call or email us if you would like a new or improved senior center in your community.
619-684-9114
Ways to Give
By giving to SDSCF, you can be sure that your money is going to fund initiatives, programs, and infrastructure that will directly support seniors in San Diego. Help ensure that all seniors have someone they can turn to and trust.
