Senior Health and Wellness Week and Ageless Expo

Senior Health & Wellness Week & Ageless Expo Celebrate Active Aging

The Center's Senior Health and Wellness Week, Sept 21-25, 2026

Join us September 21–25 for Senior Health & Wellness Week and Ageless Expo at The Center! Throughout the week, we’ll celebrate healthy, active aging with fitness classes, educational presentations, hands-on activities, and opportunities to experience many of the programs that make The Center such a vibrant community gathering place.

Each day highlights activities already offered at The Center, including Senior Tennis, Bone Builders, Toymakers, Quilt Makers, and more, plus the chance to hear amazing speakers on relevant topics. The week with end with a grand finale of the Ageless Expo on Friday September 25. The Ageless Expo is your opportunity to connect with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community resources dedicated to helping you live well at every age.This week is FREE and open to the public.

Monday 9/21

8:30–2:30 PM – Prayer Quilters Meet & Greet
Stop by the third-floor conference room and meet our Prayer Quilters to learn about their meaningful mission serving the community.

9:30–12:00 PM – Mahjong Beginner’s Group
Interested in learning more about Mahjong? Our Monday Beginner’s Group welcomes you.

10:00–11:00 AM – Crow Wing Energized Resources
Rena Bolt and Kelli Johnson from Crow Wing Energized will be in the Great Room sharing the many resources Crow Wing Energized offers the senior community.

10:30–12:00 PM – Therapy Dog Visit with Oliver

If you’d like a friendly face with four legs and a tail, Therapy Dog handler Kara and her dog, Oliver, will be here to add comfort, smiles, and fun to the day.

Wednesday 9/23

8:30-9:30 AM - If you are a veteran, stop by our Great Room and enjoy coffee, donuts, and conversation with veterans from all branches of the military.

9:30- 11:00 AM - (Great Room) Natalie from Aging Pathways will present How Minnesota Aging Pathways Can Help with the Money Saver.

10:00-12:00 PM - (Board Room) Stop by and meet our knitters and crocheters. Bring a project to work on or just socialize!

11:00-1:00 PM - (Craft Room) Stop by and observe our watercolor and drawing group! Instructor Tracy Miller will be on hand to share more information about this weekly class.

12:30-2:30 PM- (Great Room) Enjoy Nickel Bingo and popcorn!

Daily Schedule

Tuesday 9/22

10:30 and 12:00 PM - Still We Sing Memory Choir

Stop by the Great Room and experience it for yourself. You’re welcome to sit back and listen or join in the singing as a member of our community. Everyone is welcome!

1:00-2:30 PM - Collette from Essentia Health will be in our Third-Floor Conference Room offering CPR/AED Training.

Thursday 9/24

6:00-9:00 AM - Join us for some of our famous Donuts!

9:00-10:00 AM - Cristina Rodriguez, Care Navigator, CDP, ADDCT, will be presenting on the topic of Tips and Tricks for a Healthy Brain and Sharp Memory

10:30-12:00 PM - Everyone is invited to stop by the Northland Arboretum for a guided trip of the grounds and facility.

10:00 -11:00 AM -Teresia Mortensen LICSW, from Age Well Therapy, will be leading an interactive session on relaxation and breath work habits as well as other mindfulness practices in the Board Room.

11:30-1:30 PM - Stick around and enjoy Live Music & Dancing! Our talented musicians will get your hands clapping and toes tapping!

12:30-3:00 PM - Do you like to socialize with other adult creators and makers? Stop by The Center’s Craft Room during Open Crafting Time and visit with like-minded people!

The Grand Finale: Ageless Expo

Ageless Expo, Sept 25, 2026, 9am-12pm at 803 Kingwood St.

The Center’s Annual Ageless Expo is 9/25/26 at The Center from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Sponsored by Vivie, Hubbard Media, Home Instead, Essentia Health, Preferred Hearing, and Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union, and Gold Sponsors Bell Bank, Good Neighbor Home Health Care, Nelson Doran Funeral Home, Wing Wellness Medical Spa, and Pinecrest at Country Manor, this community event is open to the public and designed especially for adults 45+.

Whether you're retired, planning for retirement, or simply looking for ways to stay active and informed, the Ageless Expo is your opportunity to discover resources dedicated to helping you live well at every age.

Stop by from 9:00 to 12:00 pm to meet amazing vendor like Good Samaritan Society Hospice, Gracewin Brainerd Lakes, Brainerd Lakes Crow Wing Energized, Sunburst Memorials, Lakes Area Memory Awareness Advocates-LAMAA, The Body Workshop Baxter MN, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Age Well Therapy, European Rhapsody Tours, Fraud Fighters, Northland Arboretum, EEG Epilepsy Advocates, Mille Lacs Health System, Breath of Life Adult Day Service, Lisa Woog-End-of-Life Planner, Good Samaritan Society - Woodland, Midtown Nutrition - Brainerd, MN, Minnesota Aging Pathways, formerly the Senior LinkAge Line, North Central Medical Supply & Equipment, and Family Chiropractic & Physical Therapy Clinic.

Highlights also include informative presentations and demonstrations, free hearing tests, MN Law Project’s Justice Bus, tours of our facility, a dementia simulator, good food, great connections, and DONUTS.

The event will kick off with Lauren Hurt, DPT, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapist, presenting on the topic of The Myths of Aging.

From 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Brainerd Police Department, Brainerd Fire Department, North Ambulance, and the Crow Wing County Drone Team will be on hand to answer questions and share practical safety tips.

From 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., we will keep the fun going with Bingo for door prizes in the Great Room.

Speakers and Presenters on 9/25:

9:00- 9:45 AM - (Craft Room): Kickoff with Lauren Hurt talking about The Myths of Aging.

10:00-10:30 AM - (Craft Room) Dr. Alysia Eschenbacher with Family Chiropractic & Physical Therapy in Baxter will share the benefits of chiropractic and acupuncture for seniors.

10:30-11:00 AM- (Craft Room) Keeley Atkinson, RN BSN Regional Manager of Clinical Operations, Hospice, will be sharing Myths & Facts of Hospice

11:00-11:30 AM- (Craft Room) Karla Krueger, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid in St. Cloud, will be talking about legal scams and preparing for the future.

11:30-12:00 PM- (Craft Room) Enjoy a There’s No Place Like Home: Let Us Help You Stay There, presentation from Angie at Home Instead.

11:30- 1:00 PM- Representatives from the Brainerd Police Department, Brainerd Fire Department, North Ambulance, SWAT, and the Crow Wing County Drone Team as they answer questions, demonstrate equipment, and share practical safety information.

1:30 to 3:30 PM- FREE Bingo for door prizes in the Great Room.

This community event is FREE, open to the public, and designed especially for adults 45+. Whether you’re retired, planning for retirement, or simply looking for ways to stay active and informed, the Ageless Expo is your opportunity to connect with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community resources dedicated to helping you live well at every age. Hope to see you at 803 Kingwood Street, Brainerd!