50 North named Senior Center Of The Year

FINDLAY — 50 North has been honored as the Senior Center of the Year in Ohio by the Ohio Association of Senior Centers (OASC). The presentation was made during the association's annual conference held recently in Newark, said executive director Carolyn Copus. Presentations were given by both Copus and Annie Hayes, personal training/nutrition coach at 50 North. "It is an honor to receive the award on behalf of the board, staff and volunteers," Copus said. "This recognition is for the phenomenal job they do every day." According to the OASC website, the association believes in the power of senior centers to make a difference in the lives of older adults in their communities. To that end, the Senior Center of the Year Award was established to raise awareness about the impact senior centers have on their community and recognize best practices. Copus said 50 North helps older adults and their families in Hancock County navigate some of life's biggest transitions — from work to retirement, from good health to chronic conditions, and from full independent living to receiving some support to remain in their homes. The center offers solutions in five key areas, she noted, including activities, chores, nutrition, outreach and wellness. "We want to be the 'go' place for seniors in Hancock County," she said. "We want to be indispensable to the community with expanded public awareness for our services and programs. We want to pursue excellence and regularly implement solutions for unmet needs in the community." Copus said the best practice area 50 North highlighted for the OASC application was the wellness program. When the senior center moved to its current location on East Melrose Avenue location in 2009, there was no wellness center. At the time, former executive Director John Urbanski told her that the State of Ohio was pushing wellness and fitness, especially for balance, flexibility and endurance. "Because once you lose your balance and your strength and your flexibility, you fall," said Copus. Silver Sneakers, a popular health and wellness program offered through a number of insurance companies, was being held at the Findlay YMCA. "The program saw the value of keeping people moving because if they become sedentary or they isolated themselves, that can be a more chronic condition than diabetes or heart," she said. But in 2009, the YMCA was no longer going to be a Silver Sneaker provider because the reimbursement wasn't enough to pay for operational costs at the Y. The Hancock County Agency on Aging was asked to take over the program. "So that's how we started," said Copus. That year's Hancock Leadership Class adopted the agency as its class project and raised money for equipment to start the wellness center. Copus said wellness programs at 50 North are now designed to encourage well-being and optimal health through movement, strength training and self-awareness. The center provides members with a supportive network of people focused on their health and wellness needs, she said. Through cardio and strength training equipment, 37 group exercise classes, walking track, WellBeats (a virtual presentation of group exercise classes projected on the wall) VibePlate (improves balance, coordination, posture and increased bone density), Hydro Massage Bed and Lounger (water and pressurized jets to help massage muscles and soft tissues in the body), personal training, and professional consultation on fitness, nutrition and disease management, 50 North encourages members to live happier healthier lives, said Copus. Orthopaedic Institute of Ohio also provides physical therapy sessions twice a week, while licensed physical therapists offer free fall risk screening. In 2023, 2,723 members utilized the wellness center 106,929 times throughout the year. Membership grew by 22% and the utilization of the wellness center increased by 28% from the previous year. Copus said the Senior Center of the Year award recognizes "50 North's board members, staff, volunteers, members and Hancock County for the great job everyone does for the area's older adults. People are treated like family and all are taken care of." The senior center plans to celebrate the award in May during Senior Center Month, Copus said.