Retirement - Senior Scene
Metro Washington doesn’t exactly top the list of the country’s most popular retirement destinations. Certainly it’s no Boca Raton, Florida, or Phoenix, Arizona. Pervasive national lifestyle trends are working in favor of dynamic urban areas like ours, however. Urban retirement is gaining steam today as more seniors look to metropolitan areas for their health care, transportation, recreation, and education needs.
The Capital region enjoys a moderate climate, much of the population-dense East Coast is within a day’s drive, and there are real estate values to be found when you venture outside of D.C. and its immediate surroundings.
The implications of urban retirement are especially profound in the Nation’s Capital, a region that’s saturated with the types of diversions and opportunities so craved by active seniors. Whether you’re just visiting or considering the area as a permanent home, you may be pleasantly surprised by the variety of resources for people ages 60 and older. Housing options include luxury apartments and lush campus developments, geared toward both independent residents and those requiring varied degrees of assistance. Hundreds of senior and community centers offer classes, exercise programs, and field trips, and numerous organizations and businesses feature volunteer and employment options. Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitor programs provide nourishment and companionship to homebound seniors. Families facing difficult decisions regarding medical care, legal aid, and financial management can find assistance through local agencies.
In this chapter we offer an overview of helpful resources, as well as a sampling of retirement communities. See our Health Care chapter for information about hospitals and urgent-care facilities, and for suggestions on finding nursing homes and hospice care.
1. Anacostia Community Services Center
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (202) 610-0466
Address: 1649 Good Hope Road SE
Description: This center serves residents of Ward 6.
2. Barney Neighborhood House Senior Citizen Satellite Center
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (202) 939-9020
Address: 504 Kennedy Street NW
Description: This agency serves residents in Wards 1 and 4.
3. Greater Washington Urban League, Aging Division
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (202) 529-8701
Address: 2900 Newton Street NE
Description: This location serves residents in Wards 2 and 5.
4. Iona Senior Services
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (202) 966-1055
Address: 4125 Albemarle Street NW
Description: IONA serves residents of the Kalorama Heights section of Ward 1, the Foggy Bottom and Dupont Circle areas of Ward 2, and all of Ward 3.
5. United Planning Organization Senior Services
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (202) 547-0569
Address: 1508 East Capitol Street NE
Description: This agency serves residents of Ward 6, east of the Anacostia River.
6. Senior Beacon Newspaper
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (301) 949-9766
Description: Published monthly, this Mature Media award-winning newspaper focuses on national and local news and feature stories for the over-50 crowd. The Senior Beacon covers health, finance, travel, arts, and volunteer topics. Each year, it publishes three special sections on senior housing options in the area. The paper also sponsors several annual expos that include speakers and exhibitors on a range of topics of interest to seniors. Every other year it publishes the Montgomery County Seniors’ Resource Guide, a comprehensive, 100-plus-page directory for local housing, health care, government, and services. The paper is available free of charge at libraries, places of worship, banks, drugstores, bookstores, and restaurants.
7. Family And Child Services Of Washington D.C. Inc.
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (202) 289-1510
Address: 929 L Street NW
Description: This agency, founded in 1969, offers a variety of services, including a Retired and Senior Volunteer Program with more than 500 participants, respite opportunities for Alzheimer’s patients, help for homebound patients, and recreational and social activities.
8. Iona Senior Services
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (202) 966-1055
Address: 4125 Albemarle Street NW
Description: This nonprofit community organization, largely supported by local churches, synagogues, and volunteers, offers a large network of programs for residents ages 60 and older. Some of IONA’s many services include an information and assistance specialist (202-895-9448); Healthy Aging Programs such as exercise programs, trips, classes, and lunch clubs; a volunteer network featuring such activities as telephone calls and visits to homebound elderly, meal deliveries, help with medical claims, and cleanup; transportation; a long-term-care ombudsman; an adult day-care program; and a resource guide and Web site jam-packed with information.
9. National Caucus And Center On Black Aged (Ncba)
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (202) 637-8400
Address: 1220 L Street NW, Suite 800
Description: Health, housing, and other issues of concern to low-income and minority elderly receive this organization’s focus. Membership is open to anyone.
10. National Council On The Aging Inc. (Ncoa)
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (202) 479-1200
Address: 1901 L Street NW
Description: NCOA produces programs and publications that educate seniors and those who work with the aging on such topics as retirement planning, job training, and health care standards. Annual dues vary, but cost $47.50 for retirees.
11. District Of Columbia Department Of Parks And Recreation
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (202) 673-7647
Address: 3149 16th Street NW
Description: The department’s 16 locations, including 14 senior centers, feature daily fitness classes, lunch programs, and special interest activities like creative design classes and drama from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. The department also sponsors special activities throughout the year, such as a seasonal farm and garden project, day trips, concerts, parties, and dances. Check the online programs listing for details.
12. District Of Columbia Jewish Community Center
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (202) 518-9400
Address: 1529 16th Street NW
Description: The center sponsors the Behrend-Adas Senior Fellowship Program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at Adas Israel Congregation, 2850 Quebec Street NW. Open to every D.C. senior age 60 and older, the program features a hot kosher lunch, along with exercise and nutrition classes, musical performances, bridge, special interest clubs, and at a nominal fee, bus outings. Call (202) 363-7530 to make reservations at least two days in advance. Senior programs, open to all faiths, also take place at the JCC. Membership fees apply. Nonmembers can attend most events for a fee. Seniors can earn a month’s membership by volunteering 18 hours of time at the center.
13. Ymca Of Metropolitan Washington
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (202) 232-6700
Address: 1112 16th Street NW, Suite 720
Description: Seven YMCA membership facilities in the District, Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Montgomery Village, and Silver Spring offer reduced rates for seniors age 65 and older. Each location schedules a free senior swim session. Members also can choose from a variety of fitness classes. Both full-privilege and program memberships are available; rates vary at each site.
14. Falls Church Recreation And Parks
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (703) 248-5077
Address: 223 Little Falls Street
Description: Seniors’ activities take place at the community center at the address listed and at the adjacent Falls Church Senior Center, 401 West Great Falls Street, (703) 248-5020, and Winter Hill Senior Center, 330-B South Virginia Avenue, (703) 237-4750. Popular programs include fitness classes like line dancing, aerobics, chair exercise, and P.A.C.E.; weekly conversation groups in Italian, Spanish, French, German, and Russian; games such as bridge and mah-jongg; twice-monthly duckpin bowling; Thursday walking trips; and movies on the second and fourth Friday. Special entertainment takes place once a month at the community center. Day trips include recreational outings and grocery shopping.
15. Montgomery County Department Of Recreation
City: Washington, DC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (240) 777-1000
Address: 12210 Bushey Drive
Description: Seniors’ activities take place at five senior centers and 12 community recreation centers. Offerings include hula and folk dance classes, photography, duplicate bridge, ceramics, painting, woodshop, and several exercise choices. Senior Outdoor Adventures in Recreation (SOAR) offers trips involving walking tours, boating, and other activities.