St. Petersburg’s sizable senior population is an active and important part of the city’s past, present and future. To enable seniors to “age” out of their single family homes yet remain in their beloved neighborhoods, new city development plans will aim for more flexibility to allow more diverse housing to be built in residential areas. St. Petersburg’s aging strategy is also focused on catering to younger, more active “boomers” entering their retirement phase of life.

City facilities such as the Sunshine Senior Adult Center house multiple service agencies under one roof in a neighborhood setting making it accessible, useful and welcoming to area seniors. The center’s anchor agencies include AARP Senior Community Employment, Neighborly Care, SHINE-Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders, Florida State Attorney’s Senior Sleuths and the Social Security Administration. The Sunshine Senior Adult Center is the first senior center in Florida to be nationally accredited. It was also the first center to receive the Florida Association of Senior Centers Goldman Award for Excellence in Senior Center development and promotion. Other adult centers located around the city have active senior ceramics and dance programs.

A quick snapshot of services provided last year by the Office on Aging: 70,000 meals delivered; 545 mental health counseling sessions, 502 cholesterol screenings; 20,000 senior discounted prescriptions filled; 25,846 group congregate meals served; 13,238 eye clinic appointments; $70,000 recovered for senior victims of crimes; 5,736 senior employment job interviews; and 15,000 pounds of bread distributed.