Senior Center

Centers located in Meadville, Linesville, Cambridge Springs, Canadohta Lake and Titsuville. Hours may vary for each center.


HISTORY OF ACTIVE AGING, INC.

In April of 1974, professional community members met with elderly persons and the Crawford County Commissioners to establish the Crawford County Office for the Aging as a public agency and part of county government. Active Aging, Inc. became a non-profit corporation in July of 1985 to provide more opportunities and flexibility for services to seniors.
The purpose of the area agency on aging is to provide services for anyone age sixty or over. However, funding limitations make it necessary to prioritize services for the following categories: over 75; living alone; physically or emotionally handicapped; minorities; economically deprived; inadequately housed; and, lacking access to recreational and social activities.
Initially, programming at the five Senior Centers in Meadville, Titusville, Cambridge Springs, Linesville and Cochranton was devoted to the nutrition program, focusing mainly on senior center meals and meals delivered to homebound elderly. Throughout the years, services have expanded to include in-home personal and home health services, health screening, education, expanded center programs and transportation services. With the passage of Pennsylvania’s Older Adults Protective Services Act in 1987, Crawford County’s Protective Services unit was restructured, allowing the agency to investigate reports for persons age sixty or older needing protection from abuse, abandonment, neglect or exploitation.


HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COMMUNITY CENTER FOUNDATION

The Crawford Community Center Foundation was incorporated on June 20, 1994 when the Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Department of State. The roots of the Foundation, however, stretch back to the formation of Active Aging, Inc. in 1985. Active Aging, Inc. was formed to take over the role of area agency on aging for Crawford County from what had been operated for 10 years as part of Crawford County Government, and this occurred on July 1, 1986.
One of the primary reasons for this re-designation from the county to a non-profit organization was to allow for more flexible approaches to operation of the area agency on aging and more innovative fundraising. Although an area agency on aging receives the bulk of its funding from the State through block grant allocations from the Pennsylvania Department on Aging, there was recognition that the development of funds derived from outside governmental funding was necessary. This step was critical to keep pace with the level and quality of facilities and services needed in the future.
Today, the Foundation provides the local fund raising support for Active Aging’s services and operates the Community Center building. The Foundation has been responsible for the development and financing of this current project which provides these enhanced facilities.