City of Salem Center 50+ launches WOW Van (Wellness on Wheels) to keep seniors connected to their community through life-enriching activities and services
Salem, Ore., — Salem’s Center 50+ now offers mobile wellness services. With the support from Salem Health, United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley, P3 Health Partners Oregon, and Home Instead Senior Care, Center 50+ now delivers socially distanced wellness services to area seniors.
Front porch visits from the Wellness on Wheels (WOW) Van include fitness, nutrition, mobility and wellness programming, activities, lifelong learning instruction, social checks ins, and technology tutoring.
The WOW Van was inspired through the work of the Age-Friendly Salem Initiative and meets the goals of keeping seniors socially connected, engaged in their community, and able to remain safe and healthy in their homes for as long as possible.
“Our service partners and contributors to this project understand our senior populations and unique needs. We are tremendously thankful for their support and I applaud Center 50 + for their excellent work in shaping and delivering programming for our older adults,” said City Manager Steve Powers.
In recent years, Center 50+ has made a concerted effort to follow the World Health Organization’s call for instigating an Age-Friendly Community which helps communities prepare for a rapidly aging population and pay attention to the environmental, economic, and social factors that influence the health and well-being of older adults.
In addition to the WHO initiative, Center 50+ recognizes the importance of delivering services to older adults whose mobility and aptitude to travel around Salem has decreased because of the ongoing COVID -19 pandemic.
“The WOW Van will be a significant asset to the Center 50+ staff for scheduling home visits with our clients,” said Marilyn Daily who manages operations and programming for the center. “Everyone on our staff is excited about the possibilities of this service and eager to bring classes and companionship to those who need it most.”
To find out more about the WOW Van residents are encouraged to email Connect50plus@cityofsalem.net or to visit the Center 50+ website
About Center 50+
Center 50+ is Salem’s premier non-membership community center providing programs and services to adults age 50 and older and their caregivers. Although the Center is temporarily closed to the public due to Covid-19, programs and services continue to be offered throughout the community. Center 50+ serves more than 850 people a day and hosts more than 150 programs and activities each term.
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