What’s Keeping Ventura County Seniors So Active? The Answer Might Surprise You.
Sylvie Belmond 
A guide to community programs that support active, independent living
(CLAIR | Thousand Oaks, CA) — Staying in motion matters. Not just physically, but socially and mentally. That belief drives the CSVP Wellness Fest: Highway to Health, an event designed to meet today’s seniors where they are and help them find their way forward.
On Wed., Jan. 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Goebel Adult Community Center in Thousand Oaks will host the free festival, bringing together more than 60 organizations offering practical ways to stay active, informed and connected.
The morning is built for movement and conversation, not sitting still. Attendees will be able to circulate among vendor tables, watch wellness demonstrations, ask questions and leave with ideas they can use right away.
The event includes raffle entries, volunteer opportunities and a job fair presented by the VCAAA Advisory Council. A courtesy shuttle will run from the Thousand Oaks Library and nearby parking areas, and lunch will be available with advance tickets beginning Jan. 2 at the Goebel Center.
Presented by the Conejo Senior Volunteer Program, the festival is open to everyone, whether or not they live in the Conejo Valley.
The idea is access. Many older adults want to stay involved but aren’t always sure where to start. Highway to Health puts options in one place and lets people explore at their own pace.
For some, that exploration already happens closer to home.
In Simi Valley, the Simi Valley Senior Center offers a steady rhythm of activities that mix learning, movement and fun.
Recent and ongoing programs include Drive Smart courses, dance classes, live music afternoons and hands-on offerings like pottery. Fitness classes and group activities give people reasons to come back week after week, and the center’s monthly newsletter often becomes the starting point for trying something new.
The value is in the variety. One class leads to another. One visit turns into a routine. For older adults who are ready to stay active but unsure how to plug in, those calendars can open doors.
Moorpark provides similar opportunities through the Moorpark Active Adult Center, which serves residents 55 and older.
Its monthly newsletter highlights classes, social gatherings and special programs designed to keep people engaged. Practical needs are part of the picture as well. The center will host AARP tax preparation on Wednesdays from Feb. 4 through April 8, by appointment, giving residents another reason to stay connected to a place they trust.
Tax help is also available regionally. Through the Conejo Senior Volunteer Program, trained volunteers will offer free income tax preparation from Feb. 2 through April 15 for seniors 60 and older or for individuals earning $67,000 or less.
Services will be provided at the Newbury Park Library and the Conejo Creek South Community Building on a first-come basis.
Staying active also means staying informed, and that’s where Senior Concerns comes in.
Based in Thousand Oaks, the nonprofit continues to offer workshops and seminars that focus on real-life questions seniors are asking now.
Upcoming programs include Veterans Benefits:
What You Need to Know on Tuesday, Jan. 13, presented virtually, and When Seconds Count: Who speaks for you when you can’t speak for yourself? on Tuesday, Feb. 17, offered both in person and via Zoom. A four-week Memory Matters workshop series begins in February for those experiencing changes in memory and cognition.
Together, these programs form a kind of roadmap. Wellness events, senior centers, workshops and tax assistance all point to the same message: resources are out there, and they are meant to be used.
Highway to Health brings that message into focus. For some, it will be a useful morning out. For others, it may be the nudge that leads to a class, a workshop or a new routine.
