Walnut Creek Arts + Rec Emphasizes Senior Programs For Wellness Month

WALNUT CREEK, CA— This August, in celebration of National Wellness Month, Walnut Creek Arts + Rec is highlighting its programs dedicated to people 50 and older. The programs emphasize the importance of wellness at every age and provide an array of opportunities for seniors to enhance their physical, mental and social well-being, city officials said in a news release.

"National Wellness Month is the perfect time to emphasize our commitment to seniors," Vannessa Cendejas, program coordinator, said in the news release. "Seniors have so much to contribute to our community, and we believe in contributing to their livelihood right back."

Walnut Creek Seniors Club & Travel Club

The Walnut Creek Seniors Club, a nonprofit organization and longstanding partner to Walnut Creek Arts + Rec, offers wellness-focused activities to promote a healthy lifestyle for 50+ older adults. Along with Arts + Rec program offerings, the Seniors Club boasts many recreational and volunteer opportunities, including classes, special events and a monthly newsletter. There are drop-in classes for a variety of interests like bridge, bingo, book club and gardening, as well as for physical wellness activities such as qigong and bicycling. The club has a walking group, a trivia team and an intramural softball team called the Creakers.

Arts + Rec offers a Senior Travel Club through which it builds community and provides enriching experiences like pop-up outings, day trips and extended travel opportunities. In upcoming months, for instance, seniors can sign up for a day trip to Angel Island, a five-day Philadelphia visit or a week in Cuba. The travel club is a great way for solo travelers to meet new people and establish strong friendships with each excursion. All trips are graded on a walking difficulty scale and fully organized by the group.

"We offer many services for seniors, but the Travel Club and the Walnut Creek Seniors Club are really standout pillars that go beyond serving people’s basic needs," Cendejas said. "These programs have so many social and emotional benefits, giving folks an important sense of community and purpose and continuing to enrich their lives."

Lifestyle Services

Seniors in the Walnut Creek area can also benefit from a wide variety of resources that help them navigate their later years, from legal services and senior peer counseling to programs like Meals on Wheels and local transportation to the store or doctor’s office. Arts + Rec frequently collaborates with nonprofits and city, county and state agencies to maintain a thorough resource list for community members of all ages, available at the Civic Park Community Center's resource wall or on their website.

"Our partnerships are crucial in delivering a holistic approach to senior wellness," Cendejas said. "No matter what a person’s needs are, we can help them and navigate the resources available to our community members, everything from basic mobility to helping find friend groups that boost their well being. Our wellness efforts are meant to serve people throughout their entire lives, no matter what age."

Seniors and their families are invited to stay connected with Walnut Creek Arts + Rec for the latest information on programs and events. Visit the website Walnutcreekartsrec.org/seniors for more details.