A s we age , the diversity of our needs evolves , and maintaining overall well-being , dignity and independence as seniors can be challenging . To address this , Laguna Beach Seniors was founded in 1975 to provide outreach and social programs to older adults . Initially operating mainly as a volunteer organization out of the American Legion building — where the group offered minimal programming and served lunch — the nonprofit later determined that the growing population of seniors required an expanded facility . With a successfully funded capital campaign , the Laguna Beach Community & Susi Q Senior Center was born in 2009 , though the two entities operate independently from one another .
“ It is estimated that one-third of the Laguna Beach population is considered
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a senior , translating to nearly 8,000 individuals ,” says Nadia Babayi , executive director of Laguna Beach Seniors . “ As such , the center has quickly become an essential aspect of senior life in town . … While there is a wide continuum of needs , most seniors are in need of some level of support and have found county services to be erratic and / or limited .”
Babayi , whose own passion for working with older adults began when she accompanied her mother to events at the Lakeview Senior Center in Irvine , says the Susi Q was named after well-known Laguna Beach resident Elizabeth Quilter , who wrote a column for a local newspaper under that pseudonym . The 8,000-square-foot facility , located on the same campus as the local community center , is leased from the city for $ 1 per year .
“ Volunteers and staff make it possible for
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this population to avoid the isolation that frequently plagues the elderly and keep them connected to their community . The center helps them find a peace of mind that is often elusive , whether through yoga classes , intervention by case managers or the opportunity to become involved in special interest groups that keep mind and body more agile ,” Babayi explains . “ Most importantly , each senior has the opportunity to obtain the support needed to live as full and independent a life as they choose to .”
Babayi says the Susi Q ’ s programming is designed for individuals age 50 and over — though the average age of the participants is 70 — and two-thirds are female . All of the center ’ s support services , classes and special programs are open to older adults in Laguna Beach as well as those who live in surrounding cities in south Orange County .
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CORY SPARKUHL |
26 LAGUNABEACHMAGAZINE . COM |