Making A Splash: City's Elderly Services’ New Pool Program For Seniors Going Swimmingly

NEW HAVEN, CT — Everybody in the pool!

The city’s Department of Elderly Services’ new Golden Swimmers program, is a 5-week aquatics education program offering free water aerobics and swim lessons for New Haven residents ages 60 and up.

Responding to requests from seniors for swimming classes, the program is being offered in partnership with the non-profit LEAP, which hosts the program at their community pool, facilitates the fitness classes, and provides swim instructors and lifeguards.

Golden Swimmers provides seniors with opportunities for physical activity, water safety, and social connection with water aerobics classes on Mondays and swim lessons on Thursdays.

The first cohort of Golden Swimmers participants took classes in September and October and the second cohort begins on Monday.

The Golden Swimmers program is part of the City’s broader efforts to expand swimming opportunities for residents, and also part of its broader investments to provide programming and community spaces for senior residents.

According to reporting by the New Haven Independent last month, classes have a cap of 14 participants each. The program is supported by $15,000 in grant funding approved by Alders earlier this year. Officials said that there are more applicants than space, pointing to the need for additional swim opportunities for seniors.

Low-cost lessons for children and adults also offered through the New Haven Youth & Recreation Department at newhavenct.gov/yard

There are also free open swims Wednesdays, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hillhouse High School and John Martinez School.