What's Wrong with Being a Senior?

At Montco SAAC, the “Senior Adult Activities Centers of Montgomery County,” we're debating a name change. After sixty years, the word "senior" is apparently a problem.

The idea: Younger Boomers and Gen Xers avoid "senior centers;” they don't see themselves as seniors. They picture bingo and hip replacements, not fitness, art, or social connection. They want what an activity center offers, just not the "senior" label.

Some of the proposed alternatives? “Montco Active” or “Energy Hub,” as well as some nature-related options that I’m still unclear on. I even asked AI to suggest names, with results like "Silver Sanctuary” and "Graceful Elderly Center”. Pretty, but not quite fitting for a center focused on active living. There’s a difference between a place for yoga and one for for assisted living.

My mother is 87. She told me she doesn't go to her local senior center because there are "too many old people there." She's 87. She IS the old people! But in her mind, she's not like those old people. She's different. Younger. More vibrant.

This goes right to the heart of our debate: the reluctance to identify with aging, even when our programs match what people want.

The experts urge us to rebrand, recommending terms like "active adults" or "50 and better" to encourage Generation Jones and Gen X to join. They want classes like Pilates or yoga, not a reminder they are getting old.

I'm in my early sixties and understand the hesitance. The word "senior" evokes passivity, which doesn’t fit Montco SAAC's energetic programs and strong sense of community. When did “senior” become something to avoid?

You're a senior in high school; that's the best year. Being a senior partner at a law firm means you've made it. Senior discounts? People jump on those with pride. But call something a senior center and everyone's looking for the exit.

We ARE a senior center. We have served older adults since 1965. We have history and a loyal community. Changing our name risks losing clarity about who we serve: older adults looking for fitness, arts, wellness, and connection.

Nobody says it, but if you're 65, you're not 35. Your needs differ from when you were raising kids. That's reality. Why not acknowledge it?

Other places have already made the leap, names like "Center for Active Living," "Recreation Center for Adults 50+," "AgeWays," and "EverTrue". These organizations did what they felt was right. But do these new names actually tell outsiders what the place is? At least "senior center" is clear.

Yet language matters. If a new name leads a 62-year-old retiree to discover we offer what she wants, maybe it’s worth it. If one word draws a new generation, maybe we’re stubborn.

The real issue isn’t the name, but our offerings. Do we have programs, modern spaces, and real connection opportunities for people in their fifties and sixties? If so, people will come, regardless of our name.

But they must find us first. And if they're not looking for a "senior center," they might never do that.

Some want to keep the name for our identity and history. Others say times change, and so should we. Strong opinions mean no easy answer.

So, maybe we do need to change. Not because "senior" is bad, but if that label keeps people away, we fail our mission. Our real goal is to help older adults stay active and engaged. We can't do that if they won't come because of a word.

The real challenge is to choose a name that welcomes people in and makes our purpose clear, helping us serve as many older adults as possible without pushing them away with outdated labels.

My dad used to say that getting old sucks, but it's better than the alternative. He was right. And maybe that's the point. We're all aging, whether we like the terminology or not.

Perhaps the real issue isn't the word "senior," but that we're so desperate to pretend we're not aging, that we can't even say it without flinching.

In ten years, any name may be outdated. Gen X will hit their seventies, and millennials will say, “I’m not going where old people go.” Every generation thinks it’ll age differently.

But we do. We all do.

Ultimately, our name matters only if it helps people see themselves in our community. Changing it is about reaching more people, not hiding who we serve but getting them in the door so we can enrich their lives. That's the main thing.

So, will our name change? Probably, yes. But until we settle on a name that says who we are and what we do, don't let the S-word in our current name stop you. Visit us, try a class, or meet our community. Stop by and see what Montco SAAC has to offer. You just might find exactly what you're looking for.