AgeWell at the JCC

Senior centers do far more than provide activities. They reduce isolation, connect older adults to essential resources, support nutrition and wellness, and strengthen communities across Pennsylvania.

Advocacy matters. Sustainable funding matters.

Learn more about how you can advocate for sustainable funding for older adult services here: https://pascconnect.org/public-policy-advocacy/toolkit/

Check out this article about Virtual Senior Academy facilitator Joe Brosky! Joe hosts "Cupa Joe With Joe" biweekly on the Virtual Senior Academy. Join him to learn more about his adventures! See the VSA course schedule and learn more at https://virtualsenioracademy.org/

These Pittsburghers explored every Pennsylvania state park and found more than nature Inside a gift shop, the Broskys spotted the Pennsylvania State Parks and State Forests Passport. The book became a yearslong quest.

If you open a letter with a plastic Medicare card in it, don't "activate it." This is a scam. Medicare is not sending plastic Medicare cards. Report this to the SMP.

Good news! The 2026 Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program application is now open 🙌

For 2026, vouchers will be mailed to you—no lines, no pickups. Just apply, and we’ll take care of the rest . Allegheny County residents, 60 years of age or older, who meet income guidelines can receive $25 to spend on fresh, locally grown produce 🍎🥕

Check to see if you qualify and apply today at: bit.ly/SeniorFarmersMarketProgram or text “FARMER” to 987987 to learn more!

Each May, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) leads the national celebration of Older Americans Month. This is a time to recognize the significant contributions of older adults in communities across the county & to highlight aging trends. For service providers, it is a time to reaffirm commitments to serving older adults.

This year’s theme is Champion Your Health. This theme focuses on prevention, wellness, & personal responsibility as cornerstones of healthy aging. It promotes taking an active role in managing your own health, advocating for yourself, accessing preventive care, & making informed decisions to support independence & well-being.

At the JCC, this theme comes to life each day. Whether attending to fitness classes, accessing preventive screens like blood pressure monitoring, or participating in educational lectures, AgeWell members are actively engaged in their health & wellness. We challenge you to try a new activity this month to take another step towards championing your own health!

This week, AgeWell at the JCC staff members attended the American Society on Aging On Aging conference. This year's conference theme was "The Power of Belonging", which presented a perfect opportunity to share learnings from AgeWell's Memory Cafe program. The Memory Cafe provides an opportunity for participants with cognitive changes and their care partners to be in community with others experiencing similar circumstances. In partnership with Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania, we presented "Memory Cafe Building Blocks," sharing information, lessons learned, and best practice tips with other professionals across the country seeking to start a memory cafe or build upon an existing program.

If you're interested in learning more about Memory Cafes, we hope you will join us for Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania's June 2 webinar, "Building Community Through Memory Cafes". You can register for the webinar here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/4nQ9kut7QO2aMyC0AnmWdw #/registration

Do you have what it takes to solve this mystery? Join us in Squirrel Hill on Thursday to find out!

On Friday, Ann Talarek from South Hills Interfaith Movement - SHIM joined AgeWell at the JCC South Hills to host a floral arranging workshop. Beautiful arrangements were created and a fun time was had by all!

Happy Passover from the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh!

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful and meaningful holiday filled with tradition, connection, and renewal. May your Seder table be full of warmth, laughter, and delicious matzah, and may the spirit of freedom and hope shine brightly throughout the season.

חג פסח שמח ✨