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NISC's Annual Programs of Excellence

Senior Center Programming

6 min read

Two older adults are dancing together in front of a group at a local senior center.

Every year through its National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC), NCOA honors outstanding efforts made by senior centers across the nation to offer innovative, creative, and impactful programs for older adults. Each program is proof of the important work that happens at senior centers. And these programs serve as models for senior center staff across the country to implement in their communities. 

2024 NISC Programs of Excellence

The NISC Programs of Excellence are an opportunity to celebrate, promote, and share the outstanding efforts made by senior centers across the nation to improve the lives of older adults in the community.

In our Annual Call for Submissions, we invite senior centers to submit programs and services conducted in or by a senior center between Jan. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024, in any of the seven categories. A panel of peer reviewers will identify programs to include in our Programs of Excellence Clearinghouse. 

Programs in each category that are innovative, creative, easily replicated, and that have demonstrated impact will be selected for special recognition. This includes new programs and services or new approaches to existing programs and services.  These programs will be recognized at the Age+Action Conference with a certificate and will be invited to present at a Programs of Excellence Webinar.

Benefits of submitting a program

All submissions may be published in the NISC Programs of Excellence Clearinghouse. We will provide a sample press release you can use to promote your inclusion in the clearinghouse. You can use this national recognition to market your center to your community (participants, funders, partners).

By sharing best practices, we will elevate the impact and image of senior centers across the country.

Receiving recognition for our Program of Excellence has brought our Senior Center and organization to the national spotlight. This visibility has fostered new partnerships within the community, enabling us to provide more innovative programming for our members." --Jenny Macias, Senior Friendship Centers 

Having an NCOA Program of Excellence Recognition sets the bar and the expectations for all of the programs we offer.  Older adults now know they can find the high-quality programming they expect and deserve at our Senior Center."  --Erin Koebler, East Long Meadow 

I submitted to the awards of excellence program since it would be great recognition for my staff and volunteers. Our staff and volunteers were indeed excited by the award and are grateful for the recognition. " --Mike Wilson, SCOPE Senior Services of Trumbull County, Ohio 

Receiving the Program of Excellence Award has not only strengthened my ability to work more effectively but also brought valuable recognition to our efforts. This award fostered a collaborative spirit across senior services, creating a platform for us to exchange ideas, streamline processes, and work together toward our shared goals. It has been an honor to be recognized, and it has empowered our team to innovate and achieve excellence collectively." --Jen Reynolds, Bernardston Senior Center & Council On Aging 

Submission

To submit a program for consideration, complete the online application. The application will open Jan. 17, 2024. The deadline for submission is Feb. 17, 2024.

"We are thrilled every year to recognize the innovation and creativity of senior centers as they improve the lives of older adults in their communities," said Dianne Stone, NCOA's Associate Director, Center for Healthy Aging. "These programs impact the lives of older adults in so many ways and provide example and inspiration for senior centers across the country."

The award categories:

1. Marketing/Public Relations

This award category highlights the innovative ways senior centers have reached their communities—through marketing campaigns, branding, positioning, and outreach that has raised the visibility of the center, attracted new participants, or brought in new partners. Special emphasis is placed on those efforts that helped to get people back into the senior center after pandemic closures.

2. Social and Support Services

This award category highlights innovative ways senior centers have addressed economic security and basic needs in their communities. Included are programs and strategies that might be one time or systemic. Special emphasis on strategies that expanded reach in terms of new partners, new populations, or increased engagement.

3. Health and Wellness

This award category highlights programs and services that improve the health and well-being of older adults through programs, screenings, and education. Special emphasis on strategies that expanded reach in terms of new partners, new populations, or increased engagement.

4. Intergenerational

This award category highlights programs that create opportunities for meaningful multigenerational engagement. While this always includes older adults, it might also include young children to adults. Programs in this category may include one-time events or new frameworks for operations. Special emphasis on strategies that expanded reach in terms of new partners, new populations, or increased engagement.

5. Nutrition

This award category highlights programs that address the nutritional needs of older adults including and especially through direct food services. Special emphasis is on initiatives that have increased participation in senior nutrition program meals, improved nutrition status, increased access to food, or decreased malnutrition.

6. Technology, Virtual and Hybrid Programming

This award category highlights programs that have engaged older adults in virtual or hybrid (both online and in-person) programming in 2022 and/or that have narrowed the digital divide. This category can include instructional programs, programs using technology, and assistance programs that support access.

Highlighted Category—Modernizing Senior Centers Innovation Award

This broad award category highlights innovative programs, services, approaches, and strategies senior centers have used to “modernize” an aspect of their programs, operations, facility, workforce, resources, partnerships, policies, or research/evaluation that have created an impact. The emphasis in this category is on sustainable change in the senior center.

Eligibility

This competition is open to all NISC Affiliate senior centers. If your senior center is not a NISC Affiliate, learn more about our free Affiliate Membership and how you can join.

Review process

A group of peers, NISC Affiliate members, review all applications and score them based on an established rubric.

Judges look for:

  • Programs that are new and innovative or that take a new spin on existing approaches
  • Programs that can be replicated by other centers
  • Programs that have demonstrated impact and outcomes
  • Special emphasis on programs that reach new audiences or segments of the population, especially diverse older adult populations and those in areas that are under-resourced including rural areas, areas that are medically underserved, areas that have higher rates of poverty.

More about the Programs of Excellence Awards

Our recent Programs of Excellence winners share how they brought innovative programs to the older adults in their communities.

2023 Programs of Excellence Awards winners

Marketing/Public Relations

Intergenerational

Health and Wellness

Nutrition

Technology, Virtual, and Hybrid Programming

Social and Support Services

Modernizing Senior Centers Innovation

2022 Programs of Excellence Awards winners

Marketing/Public Relations

Intergenerational

Health and Wellness

Nutrition

  • Winner: Just Picked—Thrive 55+ Active Living Center, Groton
  • Honorable mention: Traveling Pantry—S.C.O.P.E. Senior Citizens Services (Senior Citizens Opportunity for Personal Endeavors)

Technology, Virtual, and Hybrid Programming

Social and Support Services

Innovations in Modernization

Questions about the awards or the selection process? Please email membership@ncoa.org.

Not a NISC Member Yet?

Join the only national organization dedicated to serving senior center professionals. Free to join, NISC supports senior centers through best practices, professional development, advocacy, research, and national standards for senior centers.

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