Senior Center Activities

At the Johnson County Senior Center, we value our members and seek ways to help them grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Through a variety of daily, weekly, and monthly activities, we encourage our members to try new things, nurture new friendships, and live their golden years abundantly. 

Listed below are some of our center's most popular activities. If there's an activity you would like to see offered, please reach out to us at (423)727-8883, stop by the center Monday through Friday 9am-4pm, or click the following link to make a suggestion.

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Fitness Activities

Studies have shown that regular exercise leads to greater physical, mental, and emotional well-being. From relieving stress to improving balance and helping maintain a healthy weight, exercise helps our seniors remain mobile and active, enabling them to maintain their independence and keep their zest for life. 

"If you don't use it, you'll lose it!"
-Senior center member Betty Maze

Our Fitness Activities include:

• Chair Yoga
• Silver Sneakers
• Drum Fit
• Arthritis Class
• Line Dancing
  
• Ping Pong
• Billiards
• Cornhole
• Pickleball (as weather permits)
• Exercise Room 
• BP & Glucose Checks

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"Challenge Your Brain" Activities

Maintaining optimal cognitive function is vital as we age. Learning new skills and languages, staying socially connected, engaging in hobbies which challenge your mind - all of these activities help your brain function, retain memory, and reduce the risk of mental decline.

"A new challenge keeps the brain kicking and the heart ticking."
-E.A. Bucchianeri

Our "Challenge Your Brain" Activities include:

• Puzzling
• Tabletop Games & Cards
• Bridge Club
• Bunco
• Team Trivia
• Improv Club
• Writing Club
• Book Club
• Senior Brain Games
• ABC Grant Art Classes
• Crafts w/Kay and Kathy
  
• Storytelling Days with prompts
• Bingo!

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Social Events, Activities & Clubs

Following the pandemic, isolation, loneliness, and depression became major problems for people of all ages. The lack of social connection and purpose left many of us feeling disconnected, separate, and unsure how to renew a sense of community.

To encourage fellowship among our seniors, our center hosts various social events, activities, and clubs to help build an enduring sense of community and purpose.

Book Club Reading List

"The most important things in life are the connections you make with others."
-Tom Ford

Our social events, activities, and clubs include:

• Chicks w/Sticks
• Quilting Bees
• Tuesday Morning Bible Study
• Senior Songfest
• Senior Jam
• Book Club
• Writing Club
  
• Special events such as the Valentines Day Banquet, Seniors vs. Seniors: Battle of the Ages Pickleball Tournament, Luau, 50s Fun Day, Golden Mile Event, Christmas Party, and Veterans' Cafe. 

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 Community Outreach, Partners, and Volunteers

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Trips & Transportation

At the senior center, we recognize the powerful impact each of us can make in our community. Through a variety of need-based programs, uplifting groups, and community outreach opportunities, our center seeks to build lasting connections, help local seniors in need (food insecurities, lack of transportation, etc.), and create a place for our members to gather and truly feel at home.

Our community outreach is made possible by all of our wonderful staff, volunteers, and community partners. We truly couldn't do what we do without any of them!

If anyone is interested in volunteering with us, please stop by the center Monday through Friday 9am-4pm or call (423) 727-8883.

"Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much."
-Helen Keller

Our Community Outreach includes:

• MyRide Johnson County
• Meals on Wheels
• Phone Reassurance
• Kindness Crew
• Loveable Ladies Group
• Single and Mingle Group
• Alzheimer's Caregivers' Support Group
  
• Blessing Bag Outreach
• Tech Thursday
• Outreach Collaboration with various local entities, such as Danny Herman Trucking, Mountain City Police Department, Johnson County Schools, the local Pregnancy Center, Rescue D.O.G., Helping Others, etc.

Johnson County is a beautiful rural community tucked into the most eastern tip of Tennessee. With gorgeous mountains, peaceful valleys, cascading creeks, and a breathtaking lake, our county draws people from as far as New York to California. 

Unfortunately, there's a price to pay for living in such a rural location - longer commutes and no public transportation service. Due to either injury, illness, or disability, one of the greatest needs for seniors in our area is transportation.

At the Johnson County Senior Center, we combat this growing need with our center's van service, shuttle service, and our volunteer-based program MyRide Johnson County which offers local rides to clients in need. 

Throughout the month, our center's vans transport members to various locations from our monthly Walmart trip to nearby restaurants to even farther day trip destinations.

Around the senior center's parking lot, our volunteer Shuttle Chauffeurs drive seniors from their distant parking spots to our center's accessible back entrance - easing the stress of busy parking lot days and helping our seniors with disabilities or injuries safely make their way to the center. 

In addition to our van services, the senior center offers two Diamond Tours Trips per year, transporting our seniors to wonderful locations like the Badlands, Chicago, Washington D.C., Niagara Falls and Toronto, and soon New Orleans!

"Life was meant for good friends and great adventures."
-unknown

Some of our center's trips include:

• Monthly Walmart Trips
• Troyer's Amish Store in Limestone, TN
• Grace Meadows Restaurant in Jonesborough, TN
• The Farmer's Daughter Restaurant in Chuckey, TN
• The Wohlfahrt Dinner Theater in Wytheville, VA
• Bright's Zoo in Limestone, TN
• The Sight & Sound Theater in Lancaster, PA
• Christmas in July in West Jefferson, NC
• The Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC
• The Tanger Outlet in Pigeon Forge, TN
• Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, NC
• Chicago, IL
• Washington D.C.