Find Connection, Exercise Your Body and Mind and Have Fun!

Although Fairfax County’s Senior and Community Centers are closed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adults can still stay connected with NCS’s new Virtual Center for Active Adults. The VCAA was created with the goal of enriching the lives of adults in Fairfax County while combatting isolation. Adults can visit the site to connect with their peers, engage in a variety of activities and discover useful resources.

“Our centers serve as a place for adults to gather, socialize and stay active. By creating the VCAA, we hope to offer some of those same opportunities to older adults and adults with disabilities while the centers are closed. We want people to stay safe and connected” said NCS director Chris Leonard.

NCS has partnered with ServiceSource, Inc. to develop a variety of live, interactive programs that can be accessed from home via Zoom. Many of the programs are being offered with adaptations and modifications available to meet the needs of many ability and skill levels. Participate in a fitness class such as SAIL (Stay Active and Independent for Life), tai chi or gentle yoga; exercise your brain with brain games, trivia and group crossword; or get creative by taking part in an art or crafting class. Three times a week, adults can join a virtual lunch bunch, where participants are invited to join a discussion group and socialize with their peers. Twice a week, a lunch bunch is being offered exclusively for caregivers. These sessions serve as a discussion/support group and often include guest speakers from agencies and organizations throughout Fairfax County.

The VCAA site also includes links to on-demand videos that can be viewed on your own schedule. Currently the videos consist primarily of fitness classes such as yoga and tai chi but NCS staff are hard at work developing a wide range of content.

Other features of the site are links to useful services and resources available to residents of Fairfax County; Assistance from a Distance – county-wide services available remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic; and curated lists of self-directed virtual activities that can educate, entertain and enlighten.

The VCAA was created in partnership with ServiceSource Inc., Fairfax County Department of Family Services, Fairfax County Area Agency on Aging, Fairfax County Health Department, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, Fairfax County Public Library and Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development.