Hayes Senior Wellness Center

professor of Medicine at Howard University College of Medicine and chief of the Division of Geriatrics at Howard University Hospital, is the program director. The center is the latest of the District of Columbia's six senior wellness centers. Located in dynamic Ward 6, with boundaries spanning all four quadrants of the city, the center is housed in the beautifully renovated Hayes Elementary School, a landmark community structure. Membership is opened to senior residents of the District of Columbia age 60 years and older. Based on the 2000 United States (US) census, Ward 6 has a relatively stable population of 76,197 persons; consisting of 63% Blacks, 30% Whites and 3.2% Hispanics. From 1990 to 2000, the overall population declined by 6%. While the racial distribution of Blacks and Whites in Ward 6 remained relatively stable showing only 3% decrease, the population of Hispanics in the Ward increased by 70% during the period of 1990 to 2000. Adults aged 20 to 64 constitutes 69% of the population, whereas persons aged 65 years and above make up 11.4% of the Ward's population. The implication of such population dynamics is the likelihood that the community will become increasingly older at around the same time, imposing greater demands on the healthcare system. A physically and mentally active senior population will contribute to the reversal of this trend.