Just a few miles away from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta lies the small, laid-back city of Decatur. A college town of about 25,000 people, Decatur is known for its historic neighborhoods and a walkable downtown area that features a pedestrian plaza, trendy gift shops, sophisticated boutiques, and critically acclaimed restaurants.
There’s truly something for everyone here, especially for seniors, who can take advantage of the many resources Decatur, Atlanta, and DeKalb County have to offer.
DeKalb County Senior Services
The county’s Senior Services department operates an Office of Aging to provide information on and referrals to a wide range of senior resources including home-delivered meals, assistance with personal care needs, and respite care.
For more information, call the DeKalb Senior Link Line at 770-322-2950.
Atlanta Regional Commission’s Aging Division
This branch of the Area Agency on Aging serves DeKalb County.
It sponsors Empowerline, a resource designed to help connect seniors with thousands of programs available to help them, including one providing home-delivered meals and another providing transportation options.
Local Senior Centers
DeKalb County operates six senior centers with locations throughout the county. All provide a wide range of activities including arts and crafts, exercise classes, dance classes, computer training, and yoga.
Two of them, the Lou Walker Multipurpose Senior Center and the Central DeKalb Senior Center, are multipurpose senior centers (for residents ages 55 and older and 62 and older respectively), and four are neighborhood senior centers for those ages 60 and above. There is one of each kind in Decatur:
- Central DeKalb Senior Center, 1346 McConnell Drive, Decatur
- Open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- South DeKalb Senior Center, 1931 Candler Road in Decatur
- Open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Transportation Services
Two local nonprofits use volunteers who drive their own cars to take seniors to medical appointments. The rides are provided free of charge.
Interfaith Companion and Ride Express (I CARE) serves DeKalb County seniors ages 55 and over. For more information, call 404-377-2273.
Medical Escort Transportation (MET) is sponsored by LIfespan Atlanta and serves seniors throughout the metro area. Call 404-237-7307 to find out more.
DeKalb Medical
Besides providing world-class healthcare as part of the Emory University Healthcare Network, this Decatur hospital offers a Senior Spectrum program for active seniors ages 55 and over. Participants can take advantage of educational opportunities to promote healthy lifestyles and outings designed to give seniors a chance to socialize with one another.
YMCA of Metro Atlanta
The Decatur Family YMCA offers a program called Active Older Adults, which features exercise classes designed especially for seniors, as well as educational workshops and group outings.
Even without a YMCA membership, DeKalb County’s aquatics program allows seniors living in Decatur the opportunity to take water fitness and water aerobics classes at the YMCA.
Medicare Help
GeorgiaCares is a public-private partnership administered by the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services. Counselors provide free assistance to seniors with questions about their Medicare plans and Medicare drug plan benefits. For more information, call 866-552-4464, and choose option 4.
Senior Living
Senior living communities like Arbor Terrace of Decatur are great resources for seniors who want someone to help care for their needs in order to give them more free time to spend doing the things they enjoy. At Arbor Terrace, residents stay busy with a calendar full of activities and share mealtimes in the community dining room. The community provides assisted living services as well as a separate dementia care neighborhood for residents with dementia.
If you would like to find out more about the levels of care and the amenities you’ll find at Arbor Terrace of Decatur, call 404-292-5910 to arrange a tour.
