Are you over the age of 50 and looking for healthy social activities to participate in, or perhaps a little extra help with useful and important needs?

Located in the east wing of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave, the City of Dearborn’s Senior Services Center offers many excellent resources and amenities.

The Dearborn Senior Services Center offers programs and activities in the areas of health, education, entertainment, and travel, among others. These programs are available to both residents and non-residents. Any associated fees are dependent upon the activity. 

The Services Center is a place to create and strengthen bonds among the City’s active senior community while providing seniors an environment and opportunity for healthy living. There are many senior services offered to improve quality of life, including the following:

Spotlight: Senior Services

Dearborn Senior Bus Services and SMART Transportation

There are many occasions when senior citizens may have trouble finding safe and reliable transportation to run daily errands. The Senior Center offers a daily SMART bus and van service that will pick up residents at the curb of their homes. Costs are $1 each way, or $2 round trip. Medical appointment transportation has a scheduling priority. Please note – this service does not pick up or deliver medication, and it does not provide transportation for medical emergencies or outpatient surgery.

For more information or to schedule a ride, or learn more about senior transportation, call 313-943-4083.

SMART also offers an ADA Paratransit (Parallel transportation) Service with Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. ADA Paratransit Service is an advanced reservation, curb-to-curb service that is provided for persons who are unable to use SMART’s fixed route bus service because of a disability. Information and applications are available on their website: https://tinyurl.com/5ebefrw6

Dearborn Senior Transportation offers free bus tickets to all residents aged 65 and older. Each resident will receive 20 tickets. These tickets can be used for the Smart Connector bus or the SMART fixed route busses only. Call 313-943-4083 for more details.

Telecare

This service provides free telephone reassurance calls to Dearborn seniors who may need a friendly hello. The service is offered Monday-Friday for those that are in need of both long-term or temporary support.

For additional details on the service, call 313-943-2412.

Seasonal Services

There are a variety of other services offered to seniors, some of which are based on the time of the year.

The Senior Center is now offering free tax preparation by appointment only. Call 313-324-6143 for more information. Residents must have low to moderate income in order to qualify for the service, offered Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The program will run through April 14.

Health, Education, and Activities

Several programs focus specifically on senior health and fitness, including classes such as swimming, chair yoga, and others. In addition, the Senior Center offers many educational and entertainment opportunities every month.                       

Seniors also enjoy participating in fun events like bingo, bunco, pickleball, picnics, and holiday gatherings. Members can also take part in Travel Club opportunities.

With the overall goal of creating opportunities for healthy minds and bodies to thrive, seniors can look forward to many other great services at the Senior Center, including:

• Meals on Wheels (ask for more information about this program at 313-943-2009)
• Bilingual services
• Senior News & Views Newsletter
• Congregate Meals
• Food Surplus
• Grief Support
• Legal Aid
• Liquid Nutrition
• Penny Bingo
• Bunco
• Holiday-themed events
• Card groups: Euchre, Pinochle and Bridge
• Tax Prep
• File-of-Life
• Monthly Medicare/Medicaid help
• Crochet and sewing group
• Book clubs
• Craft and quilters group
• Blood pressure checks
• Walking club
• Chess club
• Stamp club
• Karaoke 

The Senior Center can also help navigate essential programs like subsidized low-income housing, home rehabilitation programs, and home weatherization. For more information on the Dearborn Senior Services Center, visit the website at www.dearbornseniors.com or find “Dearborn Seniors” on Facebook.