NISC Programs of Excellence 

• Year Awarded: 2026
• Programs of Excellence Name: Safe and Sound
• Hosting Organization: Solon Senior Center, Solon, Ohio

About Safe & Sound

The Solon Senior Center’s Safe and Sound program was created to address a growing concern among older adults—being unprepared for personal emergencies and community disasters. While educational seminars on emergency readiness are common, follow-through is rare. Many participants leave with good intentions but never assemble documents, supplies, or plans. Safe and Sound was intentionally designed to move beyond awareness to action.

This innovative two-part series prepared older adults with both knowledge and tangible tools. In the first session, participants received expert-led education from members of the Professional Networking Group, trusted community partners. Professionals representing all types of senior focused services along with our municipalities fire and police personnel. Presentations covered essential legal documents, how to organize critical information, fall and home safety prevention, and practical guidance for disasters—including active shooter awareness and safe escape planning.

The program was also unique in that it taught the theory of levels of care—helping participants understand the continuum from miscellaneous services to independent living through higher levels of support—so they could better “manage the aging maze.” This framework gave older adults an organizational system, allowing them to anticipate needs, plan proactively, and structure their resource materials accordingly.

What makes Safe and Sound unique is that it does not end with education. Each participant receives a structured workbook and an organizational resource system designed to help them compile medical information, legal documents, emergency contacts, services and care preferences. Between sessions, participants are given “homework” to complete sections of their binder, creating accountability and measurable progress. The second session reinforces learning, answers questions, provides prevention education and supported participants in finalizing their materials.

Every participant graduates with a disaster preparedness kit containing supplies recommended by the American Red Cross. They come for the kit and leave with unexpected knowledge. By directly providing these starter materials, the program removes financial and motivational barriers that often prevent follow-through after traditional workshops.

Older adults reported benefits of reduced anxiety and increasing confidence. Participants report feeling more organized, more prepared to advocate for themselves, and more secure knowing their information and supplies were readily accessible. The program fosters a strong sense of engagement—participants express feeling supported and connected to a community that genuinely cares about their well-being.

Safe and Sound also strengthened the role of the senior center as a community hub for safety and prevention. The program engages new audience, such as younger seniors who had not yet organized important documents, as well as safety-minded residents who were previously unaware of the breadth of services offered by the Senior Center. It deepened partnerships with members of trust community partners and strengthened collaboration with local fire and police departments.

Safe and Sound is easily replicable. With committed community partners, a structured workbook, and prepared kits, senior centers nationwide can implement this model to ensure their older adults are not just informed—but truly prepared.

Key takeaways from Safe and Sound:

• By completing the binder, organizing critical documents, and receiving a stocked disaster kit, participants gain practical skills and tangible tools that reduce anxiety and improve their sense of control. 
• By offering a hands-on, action-oriented experience, the program showcased the senior center as a hub for safety, education, and proactive support.
• The program also strengthened community connections through collaboration with local fire and police departments and senior service professionals, highlighting the center’s leadership in innovative, community-focused programming.

About Solon Senior Center

The Solon Senior Center "is a vibrant multi-service facility for older adults over the age of 60. It offers a wide array of activities, group fitness, as well as supportive services to assist Solon residents in remaining active and engaged members of the community.  The Solon Senior Center is located in a park like setting, along with the Solon Community Center. The campus of the two facilities includes attractive meeting space, exercise facilities, indoor and outdoor pool, gym, outdoor sports courts, walking path and a grille. "