Whether through Lotería and bingo, coffee socials, cultural events or wellness programs, senior centers across Boyle Heights offer essential services to the neighborhood’s aging population.
Now, Councilmember Ysabel Jurado wants to assess how senior centers across Council District 14 can be improved.
What’s in the proposed plan?
On Oct. 22, Jurado introduced a motion asking the Department of Recreation and Parks to conduct a districtwide senior center needs assessment. The study will identify necessary improvements to each senior center in CD14 and the cost of such improvements, “in order to better serve the aging community and Senior Center staff,” the motion reads.
“Neighborhoods such as Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, and El Sereno are vibrant communities of multigenerational families and working-class residents who rely on accessible and culturally responsive public spaces. … Senior Centers in Council District 14 bridge the gaps in access to health, nutrition, and social participation,” the motion says.
Why this matters for Boyle Heights
In 2023, people ages 65 and up made up 12.1 percent of the population in Boyle Heights. Locally, the Lou Costello and Boyle Heights senior centers attract dozens of residents daily to participate in programming and enjoy a meal.
At a recent visit to the Costello Senior Center, participants made elaborate flower crowns for Día de los Muertos, took part in a Halloween costume contest and danced to music playing from a loudspeaker.
But it’s unclear how many older adults in the community know about these senior centers or take advantage of their services. At a recent cafecito event hosted by Boyle Heights Beat, one resident said she would like to see more support for the older population, sharing that she had to take her father to Pasadena to seek services.
What’s next?
The Arts, Parks, Libraries and Community Enrichment Committee, chaired by Jurado, will vote on the motion at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9. If approved, it will go to the full City Council for a vote.
The committee meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 8:45 a.m. in room 401 at Los Angeles City Hall. Meetings can be streamed live here.
Take our survey
Boyle Heights Beat has created a survey to better understand what services and support systems older adults rely on — and what’s still missing. We want to know what’s important to you and what changes you’d like to see as the motion evolves. Take the survey here.
Find a senior center near you
The Department of Recreation and Parks operates 29 senior citizen centers in LA, offering services to people 50 and older. You can find a senior center near you here. Here are the two located in Boyle Heights:
Boyle Heights Senior Center
2839 E. 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90023
Costello Senior Center
3121 E. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90023
