Nonprofit AGE of Central Texas celebrated the opening of its new South Austin Thrive Social and Wellness Center with a ribbon-cutting Feb. 19.
The Thrive Social and Wellness Center includes various activities for participants to engage in, a sensory room, a nap room, a coffee bar, meals and snacks included, and more for adults with cognitive and physical challenges. (Elisabeth Jimenez/Community Impact)
The Thrive Social and Wellness Center includes various activities for participants to engage in, a sensory room, a nap room, a coffee bar, meals and snacks included, and more for adults with cognitive and physical challenges. (Elisabeth Jimenez/Community Impact)
The details

The new day health care center will serve adults primarily facing cognitive or physical challenges, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Participants can visit the state-licensed center one to five days per week on weekdays. The daytime care includes medication management, health monitoring, nutritious meals and transportation options.
Participants at the AGE of Central Texas Thrive Social and Wellness Center can play board games, practice piano, do art and more. (Elisabeth Jimenez/Community Impact)
Participants at the AGE of Central Texas Thrive Social and Wellness Center can play board games, practice piano, do art and more. (Elisabeth Jimenez/Community Impact)
Participants can also engage in activities such as art, music and cognitive and physical exercises. The center includes a sensory room and a nap room for participants to use during their time at the day-care space.

The center also has a garden for participants to engage with, as well as wayfinding paths outside for participants to safely wander while having independence, AGE Thrive Centers Vice President Lauren Dirksen Tiggeman said.
Part of the AGE of Central Texas Thrive Social and Wellness Center includes a garden for guests to visit and engage with. (Elisabeth Jimenez/Community Impact)
Part of the AGE of Central Texas Thrive Social and Wellness Center includes a garden for guests to visit and engage with. (Elisabeth Jimenez/Community Impact)
The Thrive Social and Wellness Center as well as the AGE of Central Texas South Austin location were designed with input from caregivers and staff, she said.

The bigger picture


Adult day health care, or ADHC, programs can enhance older adults’ socialization, cognitive and physical stimulation and offer safe environments for independence, AGE officials said in a news release. ADHC programs can also offer family caregivers a time to rest while their family member is at the health care program, they said.

AGE CEO Suzanne Anderson said their program is beneficial for both older adults and their families.

“Every older adult deserves a life filled with dignity, purpose and connection, and every caregiver deserves the peace of mind that their loved one is safe, engaged and thriving,” she said.
Participants at the AGE of Central Texas Thrive and Social Wellness Center can make art with AGE staff, such as the 'Thrive' sign made with cardboard and string and finger paintings, center. AGE staff said they are eager to showcase more art. (Elisabeth Jimenez/Community Impact)
Participants at the AGE of Central Texas Thrive and Social Wellness Center can make art with AGE staff, such as the "Thrive" sign made with cardboard and string and finger paintings. AGE staff said they are eager to showcase more art. (Elisabeth Jimenez/Community Impact)
What else?

The center is licensed to serve up to 75 adults per day and offers various payment options for participants, including Medicaid, veterans benefits, long-term care insurance and a private pay rate offered on a sliding scale, the news release said. Costs vary depending on how often a participant visits the center.


While the Thrive center primarily serves older adults, Tiggeman said they also serve younger adults, such as people with traumatic brain injuries or intellectual disabilities.

The Thrive Center at the South Austin location opened early January, and enrollment for the program is now open.

AGE of Central Texas also has a Thrive Social and Wellness Center in Round Rock.
In the AGE of Central Texas Thrive Social and Wellness Center garden are painted rocks, painted by volunteer organization Austin Allies. Austin Allies shares the South Austin building with AGE of Central Texas and moved with AGE when they relocated from their downtown office in December 2024. (Elisabeth Jimenez/Community Impact)
In the AGE of Central Texas Thrive Social and Wellness Center garden are painted rocks, painted by volunteer organization Austin Allies. Austin Allies shares the South Austin building with AGE of Central Texas and moved with AGE when they relocated from their downtown office in December. (Elisabeth Jimenez/Community Impact)