Does Lakeland need a senior center? A group believes it does, seeks taxpayer funds

Lakeland officials have been asked to consider giving $300,000 to help launch a local senior center next year.

Carole Philipson approached city commissioners on Monday afternoon asking the City of Lakeland to consider entering a private-public partnership to launch a Lakeland Senior Hub in 2025.

"This is our vision: We aspire to transform the landscape of aging in Lakeland and beyond, paving the way for a future where aging in embraced as a journey of growth and possibility," Philipson said. "Many people who retire really do not know what they are going to do when they retire and are looking for opportunities."

There have been conversations about creating a senior center in Lakeland dating back to 2010, according to Philipson. In 2022, Lakeland Vision took the initiative and formed a committee of community leaders and representatives representing agencies who provide services for seniors. Those leaders have come together to form a nonprofit organization, Lakeland Senior Hub, Inc.

"We have many good programs in our city," she said. "The issue is they are fragmented and you don't know how to access them."

It is estimated that one in five residents of Lakeland will be age 60 or older by 2030, according to Philipson. The number of senior residents is expected to continue to rapidly increase with the city's surging population.

Lakeland Vision conducted a survey of 862 people regarding a potential senior center across all of the city's ZIP codes. Roughly 44% of those who completed the survey were age 71 and older, inquiring about their needs and wants in a senior center.

"Ninety-two percent of those surveyed want a Lakeland Senior Center," she said. "The need is there."

The aim of forming the Lakeland Senior Hub is to create a local collective to educate and provide information on existing senior resources in the community as well as expanding on those who are available, Philipson said. It will be aimed at not only providing information for seniors, but also their families and caregivers.

Philipson chairs an 11-member board of directors for the Lakeland Senior Hub. The nonprofit seeks to hire an executive director, a part-time program manager and part-time facilities manager. It has scouted several facilities to lease for its center of operations, with an ideal location being centrally located as most survey respondents wanted it to be within a three- to five-mile drive of their home.

Seniors are seeking a variety of programming including fitness classes, hobbies and club, entertainment and social opportunities, Philipson said, based on Lakeland Vision's survey results.

"Social isolation is what really hurts the senior population," she said.

The group aims to work with other Lakeland groups including Polk Museum of Arts and Lakeland PAL, as a way of possibly fostering intergenerational interactions leading to potential friendship and learning.

Commissioner Sara Roberts McCarley asked Philipson if the group, or the city staff, had hard data and numbers to support its claim on what recreational activities seniors are seeking additional access to.

The nonprofit is asking the city for a budget commitment of $300,000 in its fiscal year 2025 budget to help launch the senior center and pay for its initial costs. Phillipson said this would include the lease, buildout of the center, staffing, office equipment, software, furnishings and other expenses. This would provide approximately a quarter of the center's estimated annual budget.

It hopes to be able to secure a lease deal and celebrate a grand opening Lakeland Senior Hub by April 2025.

The nonprofit expects to start fundraising soon to raise the other necessary money, Philipson said, including opening an account with the Givewell Foundation. Its financial plan is to aggressively seek out what other state and federal grants may be available, in addition to corporate sponsorships and selling memberships starting at $100 for access to its programs.

Philipson said the goal is for the nonprofit to significantly be able to reduce its reliance on the city's contribution by its fifth year of operations.

Commissioner Mike Musick said after studying the benefits of senior centers, he's a strong proponent. However, Musick warned the commission must weigh the financial request being made.

"We as a commission have to look at what budget we can give, or should rightly give, and where that money goes," he said.

The city commission is scheduled to hold a day-long budget workshop at 8:30 a.m. July 11 at Lakeland Electric's Administrative building, 501 E. Lemon St., to help determine what initiatives and projects will be funded in next year's city budget. The workshop is open to the public, but largely held to allow for discussions among commissioners and senior city staff.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Does Lakeland need a senior center? A group believes it does, seeks taxpayer funds