AGE of Central Texas, a local nonprofit, provides education, services and assistance to Austin’s older population and their caregivers. Through activities that keep the members busy and socialized, the nonprofit provides a community and activities to fill the day for those in their care.
“Not only do adult health centers provide an enriching experience, including social connection and mental engagement for the older adult community, but they also provide families the opportunity to take a moment to recover and recharge, as well as the ability to work during the day,” said Dr. Ed Burger, St. David’s Foundation president and CEO, in a press release.
This new facility, located at 9400 Alice Mae Lane, Austin, near Southpark Meadows, will house all six of AGE’s programs, including a new Thrive Social & Wellness Center, serving up to 75 people daily. Construction will finish in summer 2023.
“We want to serve older adults and family caregivers so thoroughly and in such a personal way that their focus can broaden from survival to renewal,” AGE’s CEO Suzanne Anderson said.
In addition to breaking ground on their new location, Mayor Steve Adler and District 5 Council Member Ann Kitchen sent a proclamation recognizing June 7, 2022, as AGE of Central Texas Day.
“AGE of Central Texas is expanding to serve the growing number of older adults in South Austin, an area that has been identified as a service desert for the aging population,” the proclamation stated.
Tamra Jones, a representative of H-E-B, which is helping to fund the campaign for the new location, said the grocer has a long history with AGE that extends beyond selling groceries. She said H-E-B is committed to helping those in need.
“It ... takes a village of committed people, to the community ... we’re all committed to this mission. I would say that AGE is my village, AGE is your village, AGE is all of our village,” Jones said.
AGE of Central Texas also opened their public giving campaign at the groundbreaking ceremony. The funding from the community will help build the new facility, and for every donation, the St. David’s Foundation will match the contributions dollar for dollar.
“We all know about Austin’s rampant growth. ... With that growth comes challenges, and for people with limited financial resources, Austin’s unfettered growth is making our city a much more difficult place to live," said Andrew Levack, senior program officer at the St. David’s Foundation. "It’s those residents who St. David’s Foundation is most concerned about; specifically, I’m talking about highly vulnerable, homebound, low-income older adults. AGE serves these clients."
AGE Board President Catherine Vergara said after two years of planning, she is able to see the work that she, the board and the executive staff put into planning the new location.
“Through this new facility, AGE will support thousands of older adults and family caregivers,” Vergara said. “So that everyone can have dignified, love-filled and supportive aging as a journey that they deserve.”
