The Center at Belvedere

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The Center at Belvedere The Center in Charlottesville, VA, is an award-winning independent nonprofit organization that promotes healthy aging for adults 50+.

The Center in Charlottesville, VA, is an award-winning independent nonprofit organization that has been a leader in involving, enriching, and empowering seniors for 50 years.

There's so much happening at Active Aging Week, we can hardly fit it into one frame!All week long we have FREE and open ...
10/05/2026

There's so much happening at Active Aging Week, we can hardly fit it into one frame!

All week long we have FREE and open to the public programming addressing every area of wellness as you age.

Get your fall vaccine boosters on Monday, then work on developing a positive mindset with local mental health activist Candace Schoner.

Test your functional capacity in an interactive workshop with bestselling author Scott Fulton on Tuesday, followed by a presentation with .

Enjoy live music by the Ragged Mountain Quartet with the Wednesday Music Club. Then, Wednesday evening, renowned end-of-life doula Diane Button shares her lessons and insights in What Matters Most, presented in partnership with the Haney Compassionate Care Collaborative.

On Thursday, screens the documentary Beyond Zero followed by a panel discussion. We also have a special hands-on opportunity to try out membership for an afternoon with Experience the Center, and a presentation by Jeanita Richardson, PhD, on Speaking Up for Your Health -- advocating for your needs with health care professionals.

We'll have a full house on Friday morning for our popular Building Better Bones seminar. You can also pick up financial wellness tips in Giving from Your IRA with Arkwise Wealth or admire local art in an art walk and talk with Tom Tartaglino.

This is all in addition to the 100+ healthy aging programs our members enjoy every week. Come and discover your own path to more years in good health!

Tomorrow’s the big day! The Active Aging Expo will have The Center bursting at the seams with:🩺 dozens of local healthy ...
10/02/2026

Tomorrow’s the big day! The Active Aging Expo will have The Center bursting at the seams with:

🩺 dozens of local healthy aging resources
🦻 free health screenings
💪 functional fitness assessments
🪗 live music and games
🎁more than 40 prize giveaways

Come and discover how you can spend more years in good health.

Did you know that the strength of your grip is one of the best markers for how you’re aging?A stronger grip is often see...
10/01/2026

Did you know that the strength of your grip is one of the best markers for how you’re aging?

A stronger grip is often seen in people who have a stronger body overall, stronger bones, and a stronger immune system. A weak grip can be a warning sign for higher risks of chronic disease and fractures. There is even a link between grip strength and cognitive health!

Not to mention the many ways having strong hands directly benefits you. Opening jars without help is a small daily win for living independently. And with a strong grip, you could have an easier time catching yourself to prevent falls.

We’ll be measuring grip strength at the Active Aging Expo on Saturday, October 3! Come find out where you rank, and what exercises could help you improve.

We don't just see exciting healthy aging programs come through The Center. We also regularly see friendships forge over ...
09/30/2026

We don't just see exciting healthy aging programs come through The Center. We also regularly see friendships forge over casual conversations and gatherings.

Here are just a few things Center members have shared with us recently about the connections they make here:

"I don't know what I would have done if The Center wasn't here. I would have no social life whatsoever." -- Nancy D.

"Aging is not what I thought it was going to be when I was 13. It's full of aches and pains, but it's also vibrant and exciting." -- Rea E.

"...it's the people in the building that make my life more meaningful. From staff to volunteers to members to new members - we are all in this together and it's beautiful." -- Anonymous member

We're always eager for new faces to join the mix! How many connections might you find here?

An AMAZING bone density win from Center member Friz Bennett!With a previous DEXA scan showing her to be at risk for oste...
09/29/2026

An AMAZING bone density win from Center member Friz Bennett!

With a previous DEXA scan showing her to be at risk for osteopenia, Friz started taking strength training classes at The Center. “I love [Christy Graff’s] class,” Friz says. “She comes in with such great energy. She makes you want to work and you work hard in her class.”

Two years in, she’s worked her way up from 3–5 lb weights to 8–10 lb weights.

Friz also had the opportunity to learn more about her bone health in the Building Better Bones series last spring, which brought together several medical doctors, a doctor of physical therapy, and a kinesiotherapist to share a wide range of ways to improve bone density.

From those classes, Friz added supplements to support her goals and learned about FRAX scores—your risk for fracture in the next 10 years. That inspired her to get another DEXA scan in summer 2026.

The result? She’s had a 5.8% increase in bone mineral density!

“I have built enough strength to do a lot of things I wouldn’t have done before,” Friz says. Now, in addition to multiple fitness classes each week and fun social gatherings over Mexican Train Dominos, she’s able to volunteer by picking up a monthly bread donation for The Center.

Building Better Bones is getting a reprise during Active Aging Week. You can get a free taste of this enlightening educational program on Friday, October 9. It's filling up fast but we are working on opening more spaces!

Music, dancing, and good times abound at The Center with 150+ healthy aging opportunities every week.We all had a blast ...
09/28/2026

Music, dancing, and good times abound at The Center with 150+ healthy aging opportunities every week.

We all had a blast with Soul Expressions on September 18, but a Friday night concert is just where the fun begins.

Throughout the week, year-round, we also see older adults come together to make art, play games, learn new languages, and more... all in support of enjoying longer, healthier lives.

What opportunities will you find here?

Just one week until the Active Aging Expo!Come + discover over 70 healthy aging resources including community services, ...
09/26/2026

Just one week until the Active Aging Expo!

Come + discover over 70 healthy aging resources including community services, senior living, caregiving, financial planning, safety, and more—all designed to enhance everyday life for older adults and their families.

Take advantage of free health screenings and functional fitness assessments, enjoy games and live music, and enter to win one of 40+ giveaway prizes!

This kickoff event for Active Aging Week is free and open to the public on Saturday, October 3, 10:00 am–1:00 pm.

We don’t just want long lives. We want long healthspans with as many years in good health as we can get! But how do you ...
09/25/2026

We don’t just want long lives. We want long healthspans with as many years in good health as we can get! But how do you know what to expect from your healthspan?

The answer is functional capacity!

Your ability to go about everyday activities like walking, climbing stairs, or carrying groceries is the best predictor for how well you will age.

Local researcher Scott Fulton’s bestselling book Function identifies 5 domains of functional capacity that you can use to improve your healthspan.

There are dozens of simple tests and interventions for:
Strength & Power
Cardiovascular & Recovery
Mobility & Balance
Flexibility & Structure
Neuromotor & Cognition

You can learn about all of these from Scott himself in an interactive workshop during Active Aging Week! Intro to Function Five is free and open to the public on Tuesday, October 6.

What kinds of activities help build social connections?The best place to start is something that meets regularly! Meetin...
09/24/2026

What kinds of activities help build social connections?

The best place to start is something that meets regularly! Meeting new people is just the first step. It takes time for new faces to become firm friends.

Try a weekly card game or social dance like square dancing. Monthly book clubs are popular, but if you’re not a big reader, there are other kinds of discussion groups that can scratch the same itch. The Center has programs that cover current events, philosophy, WWII history, and great films.

Lean into your interests and become a regular to start forming the connections that will support your health.

People bring a variety of goals to fitness classes at The Center and they might look different from what you see in othe...
09/23/2026

People bring a variety of goals to fitness classes at The Center and they might look different from what you see in other exercise classes.

That’s because we’re not a replacement for the gym.

Functional fitness is just one of the many dimensions of wellness Center members pursue so they can live more years in good health.

Meeting new people. Continuing to live in your current home. Enjoying outings with family. Keeping up simple daily activities like getting your own groceries.

These are the real outcomes ahead of every balance exercise practiced, every weight lifted, every yoga pose held. Nobody works out here for appearances—it’s all in the name of staying independent for as long as possible.

Drop your healthy aging goals in the comments!

Address

540 Belvedere Boulevard
Charlottesville, VA
22901

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 7pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 7pm
Thursday 8:30am - 7pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday 8:30am - 2pm

Telephone

+14349747756

Website

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