The Senior Citizens Action Group, Inc., doing business as the Senior Social Center (SSC), was established on June 30, 2014, after a group of Moffat County delegates to the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Colorado (AAA) recognized the need for a dedicated space where older adults could gather, stay active, and remain connected. Working alongside local business owners, partner agencies and community members, they created a permanent, accessible gathering place designed to promote healthy aging and social engagement.

From its inception, the SSC partnered with organizations including the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Colorado, Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC), the City of Craig Parks & Recreation Department, Northwest Colorado Health (NWCH), Memorial Regional Health (MRH), Northwest Colorado Center for Independence (NWCCI), and other community partners dedicated to improving the lives of older adults.

What began as a conversation among a few community members quickly grew into a grassroots movement. Interest expanded from a small group of participants to more than 300 members during the first years, demonstrating both the tremendous need for social connection among older adults and the community's commitment to creating a lasting senior center.

Early activities were held at the Shadow Mountain Clubhouse and the Bell Tower at Colorado Northwestern Community College, where members gathered for recreation, education, and friendship. From the very beginning, the Senior Social Center has focused on promoting dignity, independence, and quality of life in a frontier rural community where transportation barriers, health concerns, and geographic distance can make access to services challenging.

As community needs evolved, so did the Senior Social Center. What started primarily as a social organization has grown into a comprehensive resource hub supporting older adults, caregivers, and families throughout Moffat County. Today, the SSC offers a wide variety of programs and services, including:

• Health and wellness classes and a full fitness center
• Fall prevention and exercise programs
• Educational workshops and guest speakers
• Resource navigation. Including hosting EXPOs and health screenings
• Arts, music, dancing, games, and lifelong learning opportunities
• Caregiver and mental wellness support
• Medicare counseling through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
• Senior Outreach Services for homebound and isolated older adults
• Intergenerational volunteer opportunities and community events

Strong partnerships with Northwest Colorado Health, Memorial Regional Health, Northwest Colorado Center for Independence and numerous other organizations continue to strengthen our ability to respond to emerging community needs.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Senior Social Center relocated to its current home in the historic Yampa Building. Despite the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, the organization quickly adapted to continue serving vulnerable older adults experiencing increased social isolation and uncertainty. Under renewed leadership, the SSC expanded its emphasis on holistic aging services, adding Medicare navigation, resource coordination, and outreach programs that help older adults remain healthy, independent, and connected.

Today, after more than 12 years of service, the Senior Social Center has become the central hub for active aging in Moffat County. Each year, hundreds of older adults participate in programs that foster wellness, independence, lifelong learning, volunteerism, and meaningful social connections. As our rural senior population continues to grow, the SSC remains committed to creating opportunities that help every older adult age with dignity, purpose, and a strong sense of community.