DeKalb Senior Center Receives National Accreditation

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — DeKalb County's Lou Walker Senior Center received national accreditation from the National Council on Aging's National Institute of Senior Centers, the county announced last week.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) offers the nation's only national senior center accreditation program. To qualify, a center has to meet nine standards of excellence in purpose; community; governance; administration and human resources; program planning; evaluation; fiscal management; records and reports; and facilities — and the Lou Walker Senior Center has met them.

“For over 70 years, the National Council on Aging has been a bridge for change alongside generations of families, ensuring their economic, health, and social well-being,” said Ramsey Alwin, NCOA president and CEO, in a news release. “Accreditation is unique to the senior center field and demonstrates outstanding leadership and commitment to quality programs and services to older adults.”

The Lou Walker Senior Center, located at 2538 Panola Road, is the first senior center in DeKalb County to receive this recognition. It joins more than 200 senior centers across the nation with this accreditation.

The DeKalb Human Services Department plans to work toward accreditation for all DeKalb senior centers, according to a news release.