Waterbury senior center brings Hispanic community together

WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — For 50 years, the La Casa Bienvenida Senior Center has brought Hispanic community members together.

The center supports about 65 seniors, many visiting daily to take advantage of the fun and important services offered.

“It helps seniors with socialization,” said Natalie Rosado, the director of operations for the Hispanic Coalition of Greater Waterbury. “It gives them a safe space to be in and socializing with other seniors helps with their mental health.”

Members of the program are mainly Spanish-speaking, which organizers say is the biggest barrier facing the group.

“We’re here to help, like I said, guide them, interpret anything for them,” Rosado said. “We help them with appointments, make appointments, make the phone calls. Providing transportation, that’s also a very big need for our seniors, as well as housing.”

It is a crucial service that ensures each senior gets the care they need while finding a sense of community and belonging.

“It’s very good for them to be together and have a place they can call their home away from home,” Rosado said.

Hilda Batista, 91, has been coming to the center for four decades.

A proud Puerto Rican, Batista tells us about the family she created after immigrating to the United States at just 19. Hilda shares each day with her chosen family at the center.

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