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Mission Statement
The unwavering mission of New Horizons Senior Center is to provide supportive programs and services that enable older adults to live independently in their own homes, form meaningful connections with others, and engage in lifelong learning.
About This Cause
HISTORY For over 40 years New Horizons Senior Center(NH) has served seniors living alone, and seniors on low, fixed incomes in Narberth and surrounding communities located in Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties. Almost 25% of the adults living in Montgomery County where NH is located are already age 55+. NH was founded in 1976 by a geriatric psychologist who was passionate about keeping older adults independent, active and in their own homes. Originally "Lower Merion Senior Center" and first located at St. Mary's in Ardmore, we moved in 2003 to Narberth and changed our name to New Horizons. In 2011 we were acknowledged for our excellence and granted provider status by Montgomery County Office of Senior Services (MCOSS). NH then expanded programs, adding an essential Meal Program. In 2013, our building was sold and NH moved to Narberth Borough Hall. A warm and welcoming place, our Center is ADA compliant, has adjacent parking, easy access public transit, and free door-to-door van transportation via TransNet. The Center is inviting to even the frailest elders and liveliest of boomers because of its accessibility, its core mission, and the camaraderie of the volunteers and members. Over 1,200 unduplicated area seniors are now reliant on the caring support system and essential services we provide. Most are alone and many have children who live outside the local area. All are experiencing dwindling resources and social networks. NH offers seniors the opportunity to develop new relationships and become part of an active community that can support and sustain them. Recent data for Montgomery County* shows the age 55-64 cohort has grown by 40% since the year 2000 (p.5). Over 43% of the county's aging population lives in Eastern MontCo., where NH is based (p.6). The 55-64 cohort is the largest of the three over-55 cohorts, and it is projected to show the largest growth rate from 2000 to 2025 – 54.7% (p.11). (*MCOSS, 4-Year Plan, 2012). We have seen the demand for our programs grow significantly, mirroring the changing demographics just cited above. ACCOMPLISHMENTS In the last eight years, NH has doubled the number of seniors served, and over 5 years, we've more than tripled utilization of services. Our statistics mirror the dramatic increase in the area senior population and the resultant need. We've seen dramatic growth by every measure – not only individuals served, but also number of members, number of services, best practices, volunteer hours, overall budget, visibility, funding diversity, and number of supporters. Our unique non-profit organization is run by 4 staff (3 are part-time) and 160 volunteers. In the last fiscal year volunteer corps completed 6,663 Volunteer Hours. Their devoted service effectively doubles our budget and our impact! In the last fiscal year we saw an increase of 25% in the utilization of our Programs & Services--they were utilized 27,657 times! Our Meal Program alone provided thousands of meals to seniors in Montgomery County and the number of meals we served increased by almost 33%! For long-term mission-impact and sustainability, NH has launched a search for one or more partners in a Wellness-based strategic alliance. The search garnered key stakeholder support and identified several partner prospects at differing priority levels. After numerous preliminary meetings, Lower Merion Township – the top prospect – formally approved an architectural feasibility study to explore renovating their Ashbridge mansion property for occupancy by New Horizons. OVERVIEW OF CURRENT PROGRAMS The Center provides services in four program focus areas: Recreation and Socialization, Educational Programs, Health and Fitness, and Supportive Services. NH’s SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, for example, include Daily Lunch (on a pay-what-you-can basis), Grocery Shopping Assistance, Low-cost Wills, Free Medicare Counseling, Free Private Counseling, and a Variety of Support Groups, in addition to thousands of information & assistance referrals each year. All of NH’s programs and services “enable older adults to live independently in their own homes, form meaningful connections with others, and engage in lifelong learning.” NH programs are selected to align with its mission and address at least one of the four essential needs for Seniors, to provide an engaging and comprehensive service array, to be research and evidence-based, to be presented by a credentialed presenter and/or to meet exemplary quality standards, to respond to community needs and interests, and to demonstrate effective leadership and advocacy in senior life issues. A glimpse at a selection of the Center's 2019 programs – in the remaining three focus areas – clearly demonstrates New Horizons' remarkable scope and human dimension: HEALTH and WELLNESS: Healthy Steps in Motion (Weights/Balance Training), Gentle Yoga, Tai Chi and QiGong for Seniors, Nutrition Workshops, Free Health Screenings, Healthy Cooking Demonstrations, Walking Club, Ask the Doctor Seminar Series, Chair Massages, Shiatsu Treatments, Fall Risk Reduction Programs, Dance Fitness, Silver Sneakers, and Flu Shot Clinics. EDUCATION/LIFELONG LEARNING: Book Club, Creative Writing Class, Art Corner, History Lectures, Music Appreciation, Current Events Discussion, Computer Classes, One-on-one computer tutorials, Ask the Financial Advisor Series, Film Discussion Group, World Affairs Discussion, Jewelry-Making, Author Series Presentations, and more. RECREATION and SOCIALIZATION: Award-winning Glee Club, Game Time (Bridge, Mah Jongg, Pinochle, Scrabble, Puzzles), Monthly Day Trips, Holiday lunch parties, Music performances, Coloring Club, Birthday Parties, Knitting and Crocheting Group, Dessert Socials. Special Topics this Year: ‘Clutter Free Living’ with an Interior Designer; Veteran’s Assistance Information Session, ‘Safely Aging in Place’ Workshop, New Years’ Wellness Retreat, Self-Publishing Workshop, Combatting Stress Seminar, Healthy Sleeping Seminar, Narberth Improvement and Clean Up Information and Engagement, Music Week (August 2019) and International Active Aging Week (September 2019).