Baltimore County, MD Time of Your LIfe, 4 Nov 2022

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From YouTube: Fun Parties and Events at Baltimore County's 21 Senior Centers

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Precious Agubuzo, Director, Arbutus Senior Center
Baltimore County Department of Aging

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Welcome back to the time of your life., I'm your host, ethel rasmussen., the baltimore county department of aging offers programs, classes,.

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And many other options for your leisure time and lifelong learning, pursuits.

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Here to talk about the many exciting programs and events planned is precious agubuzo.

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Director of the arbutus senior center at the baltimore county department of aging.

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Welcome to the show precious. hi ethel.. Thank you for inviting me..

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Let's start by sharing information about bcdas,.

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21 senior centers throughout baltimore, county.

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yes., just like you said,.

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There are 21 senior centers in baltimore county.

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Senior centers are a very important staple for older adults and with.

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Baltimore county having one of the largest older adult populations in the state,.

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It's very important to have senior centers accessible to them.

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Our senior centers are spread out across the north, east,.

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And west regions of baltimore county and each center offers a variety of services,.

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As well as classes, programs, and activities that are social,, recreational, and educational.,.

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Precious, I understand bcda also offers a diverse selection.

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Of virtual online programs for adults, known as the opal center.

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Can you talk about the opal center? yes.

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The opal center,, which stands for online programs for adult learning,, is our 21st and newest senior center.

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today,. A lot of older adults are still working.

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There are several others who are full-time, grandparents or caregivers.

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A lot of them are home-bound and.

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There are some who are just occupied with multiple other activities.

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The opal center is a great option for older adults with busy schedules,.

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But still want to participate in the benefits of the senior center.

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The opal center offers,, just like the in-person senior centers,, a variety of services and programs that are also recreational,, educational, and social..

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It's also a great option for bad weather and in maryland,.

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We all know how that can be sometimes.. The opal center allows older adults to either come to the senior center,.

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Participate in person or virtually in the comfort of their own home.

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On those snow days which we are coming up on in maryland,.

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Members can join using either a zoom link or a webex link, and it's.

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Very simple and there's also a tech support available for members who need the help.

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We talked about all the wonderful programs that senior centers provide,.

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But senior centers offer a lot of opportunities to socialize and fun special events too.

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Precious,, can you share some of the regular parties that senior centers host?.

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Parties are the best parts of senior centers.

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There's always an excuse to throw a party.

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this month, alone,, I'm pretty sure every senior center is offering a halloween party,.

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Which is always fun, because sometimes the senior centers do a trunk or treat which is really cool and everyone's outside or indoors, and we're having.

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Costume parties or costume contest and that's always fun.

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Obviously, with the year winding down,, there's friends, giving lunches and the very festive holiday parties,.

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Which are always exciting to go to,, because every senior center has their own way of celebrating and.

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Doing their own decorations and parties, and giveaways.

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I know at the arbutus senior center we had an ugly sweater contest,.

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Which is a lot of fun.? I've never seen that many ugly sweaters in one room, before.

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Holiday parties are a great way to wind down the year and then,.

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Of course, there's the mother's day and father's day, celebrations.

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Some centers have teas, some have brunches.

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Some have things for the dead. there's just always something going on at a senior center.

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like I said,, there's always an excuse to have a party..

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I think that those are the best parts, because there's such a social aspect of the center and it gives members something to look forward. To.

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Everyone gets so excited once the parties around the corner,.

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You get a lot more people coming through the doors because everyone's really excited to get in and have a great time..

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In addition to the parties mentioned,.

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What other special events can viewers anticipate?.

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There are so many special events that I can't even count.

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The jacksonville senior center,, as well as their arbutus senior center,, have very large pickleball groups,, which is all the rave right now among older adults in maryland.

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I know the ateaze senior center has a really successful opening day. Cookout.

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The catonsville senior center offers a very successful and really exciting cash bingo at least twice a year.

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There's always so much that's going on., there's fashion shows,, there's teas,, there's brunches,, there's excursions through their travel committees.

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There's so much to do. there's so many exciting, non-traditional things that go on at senior centers now..

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It's not just bingo every day., it's so much.

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There's a lot of card games., there's some guitar groups, they're singing groups,, some centers even have piano lessons, so you can learn a new skill and probably play the piano at near centers, next holiday, party.

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For those viewers who may learning for the first time.

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About all the happenings at bcda's senior centers, but are not members,.

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What is the criteria to join?? That's very simple.

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Joining the senior centers,- I don't know if it's ever been more simple.

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with senior centers,. Everyone is so welcoming, and the members always.

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Love having new members joining the centers, so there really isn't a reason to join.

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All you have to do is be 60 years old or at least 50 years old.

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In a few of the senior centers and once all the registration paperwork is fill it out,.

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You're automatically a member at all 21 senior centers.

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It's just that simple. of course. precious,.

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Thank you so much for sharing such fun information.

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Who doesn't love the opportunity to meet new friends??

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Any last-minute information you would like to offer?

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yes, definitely.

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Like I said, senior centers and the members,, everyone is so welcoming, and everyone is looking forward to having new members join the center.

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Don't hesitate to give a senior center a call or even dropped by.

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Members would love to give you a tour..

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Newsletters are also available online, so you can always read about. What's going on at specific senior centers.

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give them a phone call., the staff or volunteers would love to give you more information about. What's going on,.

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Explain things or how certain things work at that particular center.

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But absolutely do not be shy., everyone is so welcoming,. Everyone is so friendly., it's a great opportunity to socialize and have another social outlet to look forward. To.

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Please do not hesitate to join a center as soon as you can.

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Precious,, thank you for being on today's show.

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Thank you for having me.. That's today's show..

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Thank you for spending your time with us..

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Please remember,, you can call the department of aging's information line called.

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Maryland access point of baltimore, county or map at 410-887-2594,.

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With questions pertaining to older adults and persons with disabilities.

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This show may also be viewed anytime on the internet at.

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Www.Baltimorecountymd.Gov/Videos with open captioning.

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On behalf of baltimore county's department of aging,, we wish you a very happy holiday season with health and happiness in the new year.

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That brings us to the conclusion of this edition of the time of your life,.

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A national mature media award winner about the services and contemporary topics that keep you in the know.

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Until next time.