It's been said that getting older is a privilege and an honor; that it sure does beat the alternative. At the Lititz Senior Center, regular and semi-regular visitors seek to age gracefully, proactively, healthily - and together.

"Our mission is to create family," said Lucy Weaver, who's been the Lititz Senior Center's manager for 13 years. "My goal is for people to come here and feel like family. I think isolation is a disease. Just being able to shine is important. I'm not sure what it would look like if these people were home alone without human contact. We all need each other."

Located in the Lititz United Methodist Church's social hall at 201 E. Market St., the Lititz Senior Center is supported by the Lancaster County Office of Aging and staffed by Ephrata Area Rehab Services (EARS). The Lititz Senior Center is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and the program is designed for individuals 60 and older from Lititz and surrounding communities.

"There's so much love here," said Weaver. "I can tell you how great this place is, but you've got to hear it from the people who come here. It's a community when you walk with people all the time. This is a social center. This is where you come to make new friends and learn something new. It's a stress-free place when you walk through the doors. It's a place where you come to enjoy yourself."

In addition to a continental breakfast and a balanced lunch, the Lititz Senior Center offers crafts; speakers; dancing; bingo; nutrition and mental health programs; exercise classes, including tai chi and yoga; card games; health screenings; haircuts; and trivia.

"The (lunch) we give is a full meal, and when some of our seniors go home, they just have a snack," said Weaver. "They are the ones who used to call their loved ones, but they're not getting it back like they used to give it. Their energy levels have gone down. They may not be able to drive. The economy has hit them really hard. There are a lot of changes happening, but I think they're more mental than physical."

While more than 200 older residents visit the Lititz Senior Center on a semi-regular basis, there are usually no more than 70 present at one time. The seniors reside in Lititz, Manheim Township, Ephrata, Akron, Leola, Denver and New Holland.

Some live in their own homes, while others reside in retirement communities. Red Rose Transit offers seniors free transportation to and from the Lititz Senior Center.

"You have to be independent to get here," said Weaver. "They're parents and grandparents and great-grandparents. They're wonderful people. They're more than just a name. They are somebody's somebody. We are spending time with them. Seniors are carrying more than you think they are. Just be kind to them. They are doing everything they can to stay strong. Appreciate them. Acknowledge them."

The Lititz Senior Center is one of the largest of the nine senior centers located in Lancaster County. Weaver's work is supported by supervisor Karen Hummel, assistant manager Kathy Ross and office assistant Carolyn Lewis.

"Do you know how many times I've been called 'sunshine'?" said Weaver. "Since I've worked here, I've never had the Monday blues. I get all these hugs, and I'm not a hugger. I always ask myself, 'How lucky can I be?' It's nourishing to my soul every day. It's the love we share with each other. I think even younger seniors think it's a cool place to hang out."

For additional information, search for "Lititz Senior Center" on Facebook.