Opinion: When senior centres close on weekends, many older adults are left isolated

Opinion: They're not just a place to play bingo, they provide a sense of community and social connection.

“We hate weekends, long weekends, and four-day weekends.”

For most people, weekends represent a time for relaxation, fun, and spending time with friends and family. But for older adults who rely on their local senior centre for social connection, weekends can be a time of loneliness and isolation due to facility closures.

Senior centres are much more than just places where older adults go to play bingo or make crafts; they are welcoming and inclusive spaces that provide a sense of home and community for their members. The social connections members develop through participation can create opportunities for shared learning, increased social connection, and ways to discover meaning and purpose through engagement with others.

Read the full Op-Ed in the Vancouver Sun here.