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Largest senior center in city to close at end of month

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A long-time resource for older adults near downtown Indianapolis will close at the end of June, citing “insurmountable financial challenges.”

Indianapolis Senior Center, 708 E. Michigan St., is directing clients to other agencies for meals, transportation and other services the center has provided since 1962.

A full-time social worker and two staff members will help clients find other providers. Central Indiana Council on Aging, the primary funder of ISC’s transportation program, will provide transportation starting July 1.

Arrangements are being made to find new providers of meals that had been delivered on-site and at-home.

“We’re going to transition them to other providers,” said Amy DiStaulo, interim executive director.

DiStaulo said the center serves about 6,800 people per year.

The center employed 17 people at the end of its last fiscal year, according to its latest tax filing.

Annual revenue of $1.1 million was $400,000 less than reported expenses. The center also reported a $191,000 spending deficit during the previous year.

Center officials blame the planned closing on steadily declining membership in recent years and additional operating costs due to moving to an expanded facility five years ago.

The cost of acquiring and overhauling the 20,000-square-foot building totaled $4.2 million.

The center has relied on grants from the United Way, private donations, federal funding and membership fees.

Among amenities are a fitness center, a library and a dining area. There are no residential housing services provided at the center.

DiStaulo said ISC explored numerous other ways to fund the center, but finances have been steadily declining.

“We turned over every rock,” to no avail, she said.

 


 

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  • Let's reopen the center
    I would love to know who to speak with about the possibility of reopening the center. I am presently working on a pioneering program for the nation, and the center would be prime to further the many resources in the community.
  • ISC Closure A Sad Commentary
    How sad that the ISC is closing. It is centers like this one that help keep older adults independent, active and healthy. Dividing up the services and providing them piece-meal via other agencies is a giant Stephan backwards. Centers like this one are especially needed now with the rapid growth of the senior population. Why isn't the City or County stepping up to the plate? Leadership at the ISC must have sorely been lacking.
  • Dementia Care
    Alzheimer's Care Group in Carmel would be glad to provide activities and educational resources for those who will need assistance for a family member who has a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or a related dementia.
  • In Our Prayers
    The Social of Greenwood will do all it can to help in this difficult time. Members of ISC will be able to move their membership to The Social at no additonal cost for the remainder of their year.
  • Sorry to See It Go
    It was a lovely facility I discovered with my mother, only a few months ago. It's sad to see services for seniors declining while the number of seniors needing services continues to grow. It's hard to sustain a facility in these times--especially when the target audience has limited income.
  • "Small Town" City??????
    How sad- it's all about priorities. In this city we can find the $'s for other things (like sports)- what about the basics that make a community a community?

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  1. The Fringe! Plus, the simple fact that there are so many local faves in such close proximity to each other.

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