Improving senior lifestyle at the Western Addition Senior Center

Editor's Note: Following is an addition to the July story about the Western Addition Senior Center that gives a brief perspective by Director Robin Bill about the center and her priorities for the senior center.

The Western Edition spoke with Robin Bill, the director of the Western Addition Senior Center on August 15 about the center’s activities and what she would like to do for the seniors at the center.

Bill stated that she is working on getting more exercise classes so that more seniors can engage in more physical activities. She mentioned that they have done surveys which have indicated that the seniors want cooking classes and more outings. “However, we need more funding for this,” Bill said.

“We get donations, and organizations have donated; Safeway has donated,” Bill pointed out. “The city has been helpful, but since we are a nonprofit, we have to raise some of our own funding.” She added that many individuals have also helped with the funding for the senior center.

Bill would also like to see more seniors come to the center. “Some are afraid to go out of their homes,” she said. “What I would like to see would be for people to be more aware of what we have for them here and not stay at home — many of them are alone — to just get out. It makes you feel so much better. I would like to see more just come here and engage in conversation and be more active.”

“So we want a safe place for them to be and not worry — a safe haven — that is my goal,” Bill emphasized. She said that senior also want to be treated with dignity and respect. “They love the way we treat them.”

Bill said that she likes doing what she does and wants the seniors to enjoy the center as much as she does. "I love working with seniors,” she said. “I learn from them and they learn from me — just seeing their smiles on their faces when they come in the door makes me happy."

The Western Addition Senior Center is located at 1390-1/2 Turk St. Their phone number is 415-921-7805.