Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and the DC Office on Aging broke ground on a mixed use wellness center in Ward 6. The project is slated for the former Rutherford B. Hayes Elementary School located at 1005 Fifth Street, NE.
The historically designated center has a total budget of $9 million and a construction budget of $7.5 million. The three level and 24,000 square foot facility will consist of offices for the Executive Director, 27 employees of the DC Office on Aging and comprehensive space and facilities for the Senior Wellness Center programs and activities. One of the unique features added to the project, by Councilmember Tommy Wells, is a tot lot for neighborhood children to stimulate intergenerational activities.
Ward Six is home to nearly 11,000 seniors. The wellness center will promote healthy lifestyles among the elderly population (age 60 and older) by developing, expanding, and strengthening health promotion initiatives in nutrition education, medication management, health screening and education, and physical fitness. The center is designed help seniors maintain healthy lifestyles and therefore remain independent longer. The leading causes of death among the elderly in Ward Six according to DC Vital Statistics are Heart Disease, Cancer, Hypertension, Cerebrovascular Disease, Influenza/Pneumonia, Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease and Diabetes. Some of these diseases can be managed and controlled with proper exercise, health and wellness education and could help avoid costly hospitalization or institutionalization for participating seniors.
In addition to being the administrative headquarters for the DC Office on Aging, some of the features of the wellness center are:
- Nutrition Counseling and Educational Classrooms
- Intake, Reception and Outreach Office
- Health Education Seminar and Screening Rooms
- Exercise and Total Fitness Area
- Massage, Game, Meditation & Relaxation Areas
- Computer Training Center and News Room
- Multipurpose Rooms & a Congregate Meal Site
- Offices for Wellness Center Staff
The opening of the facility is slated for late 2010. This wellness center will join the Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center, the Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center, the Model Cities Senior Wellness Center and the Washington Seniors Wellness Center already operational. For more information about wellness programs in the District for senior residents, call the DC Office on Aging Information and Assistance Unit at (202) 724-5626.