Last month, our annual Golf Classic reminded me of something simple: the same things that make a golf outing successful, are the same things that make a community strong. When people from different backgrounds come together for a common good, it is a pretty formidable combination. Community partnerships can expand lifelong learning, independence and connection for older adults. That is why our partners are so important to Next’s success, and the Golf Classic was a testament t

As summer winds down, the hard work is just beginning. The hard work is the renovation of 400 E. Lincoln, where Next will provide programs and services to Birmingham's 50+ community. The City of Birmingham purchased the building in 2023, but the vision and the need for a space designed specifically for seniors took root long before that. Back in 2013, an Ad Hoc Committee, the Joint Senior Services Commission, identified the same priorities we still hold today: adequate space

A Second Home Pat was never the loudest voice in the room, never one to work a crowd. But she had a way about her. Over the years, one conversation at a time, Pat became someone I always looked forward to seeing. Without any fanfare, she was one of the people who made Next feel like a second home. Pat passed away unexpectedly this month. I lost a friend, and Next, a special member. I don’t normally write about a specific member, but I am making an exception this time. I hope

Strong enough to stay independent Ask people at Next what they want most as they grow older and the answer is remarkably consistent: independence. The ability to live in their own homes, drive their own cars and carry on with their daily activities without a second thought. It may not be as obvious as other advice for longevity, but one of the best ways to achieve the goal of independence is through strength training. Strength training for older adults is no longer a fringe i

What began in 2023 as a vision for our senior community has finally found its footing. When the YMCA decided to sell their Birmingham branch at 400 East Lincoln, the City of Birmingham committed $1.5 million toward the purchase. Next contributed an additional $500,000, with both entities providing additional funding for professional services. After thoroughly exploring an expanded partnership with the YMCA that ultimately proved too large and too costly to bring to voters, in

I'll be honest, when I first became the director of Next more than a decade ago, I thought I understood what the job was about. I came from a background in community programming and had a genuine desire to serve seniors. What I didn't expect was how much I would receive in return -- life lessons I have learned by simply paying attention. Slow down and mean it: early in my time as director, I made it a habit to walk through the center a few times a day. One afternoon I stoppe

What SuperAgers can teach us about aging well Imagine taking a memory test and outscoring people thirty years younger than you. For "SuperAgers," that is not an anomaly, it's a measurable reality. SuperAgers are individuals 80 and older whose memory and cognitive function test at the level of healthy adults in their 50s and 60s. The phenomenon of SuperAgers has been studied for more than a decade at Northwestern University's Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center.

Why does the City of Birmingham contract with Next, a nonprofit 501(c) (3), to provide senior services? According to the National Council of Nonprofits, “A nonprofit service organization is mission-driven, operating for public benefit by delivering expertise, labor, and assistance to the community. Success depends on skilled employees who build meaningful relationships with those they serve.” Nowhere is that definition more true than when you look at Next. Unlike every other

Ever notice when you are made aware of something, say a new car model, a word, or a brand, you suddenly see it everywhere? After recently reading, The Longevity Economy, by Joseph Coughlin who runs the MIT AgeLab, I can’t help but see how many ways businesses and municipalities overlook older consumers, even at their own detriment. We have all seen the commercials. Seniors grinning over their reverse mortgages or struggling with smart phones. It's the same tired script: senio

I still remember the celebration when Next and the City of Birmingham announced the purchase of 400 E. Lincoln — the former YMCA building. It seems like yesterday, but that was back in 2023. Next had been looking for a new facility for quite a while. Between our membership growth and the Birmingham Public Schools need to expand their preschool, the YMCA’s decision to sell their Birmingham location was serendipitous. Birmingham seniors were excited, and filled with the anticip