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Critter Corner: Fairfax County Offers Virtual Senior Center for Active Seniors

June 5, 2020 by

Dear Oakley,

I am 80 years old, but still very active. Before the pandemic, I used to enjoy taking exercise classes, attending seminars on topics of interest, touring historical sites, and interactingwith other seniors. I know things are starting to open up again, but I don’t feel comfortable leaving my home yet. My granddaughter showed me how to use the computer and I attended a Zoom seminar on my own last week. Are there any local resources that allow me to do all the things I used to love to do, but at home?

Thanks!

Stan Inhomme

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Dear Stan,

I found a great local resource that I’m excited to share with you. The Fairfax County Virtual Center for Active Adults is available on the Fairfax County Government Site. It is designed to enrich the lives of adults in Fairfax County while combatting isolation. Using this resource, you can connect with peers and engage in a variety of activities, tour historical places, learn new things, and discover useful resources.

These are some of the things that are offered:

• Watch programs on demand on your own schedule, including every day yoga and tai chi, programs on genealogy and how to use certain technology, art instruction, musical performances, games, language instruction and more.
• Discover services and resources available from both the county and community partners that support the well-being of active older adults. These services include grocery shopping and food resources, spiritual support, Home Repair for the Elderly program information, mental illness support and more.
• Participate in DOROT’s University Without Walls (UWW). This program offers hundreds of classes, appealing to a wide range of interests and available over the phone. Topics include Museum Talks, Literature and Arts, In the News, Understanding Your Rights, and Health and Wellness. Registration is required.
• Visit local zoos and aquariums that offer live cams so you can observe and enjoy the animals from home.
• Visit museums and historic sites from around the world without leaving your house. Visitors can enjoy online exhibits, view collections, or take virtual tours.
• Browse and watch STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) lectures from the USA Science and Engineering Festival.
• Watch videos about the history of Fairfax County. Tour Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, James Madison’s Montpelier, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia Museum of History & Culture!,  the folk heritage of the Blue Ridge region at the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum, and the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, all from your home.

In Maryland, Senior Planet Montgomery offers virtual programs to help seniors learn new skills, save money, get in shape, and make new friends. You don’t need to be residents of either county to enjoy these resources.

Hope this is helpful,

Oakley

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About Renee Eder

Renee Eder is the Director of Public Relations for the Farr Law Firm, and gives the voice to the Critters of Critter Corner. Renee’s poodle, Penny, is an official comfort dog who she and her children bring to visit with seniors who are in the early stages of dementia at a local senior home once a month.

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