Huntingburg Opens New Senior Center, Expands Services for Elders
The City of Huntingburg held a ribbon cutting and grand opening on November 19 for its new Huntingburg Senior Center located near the former St. Joseph’s Hospital. The long awaited facility offers modern amenities and expanded programming that aim to keep older residents active and connected, boosting community health and quality of life.
Huntingburg officially opened its new senior center on November 19, marking the culmination of an eight year effort that had been included in multiple comprehensive plans. The facility sits near the former St. Joseph’s Hospital and adjacent to the Deaconess investment in that campus. City leaders framed the center as part of a larger quality of life vision for the region.
The new center gives seniors access to a modern kitchen, open spaces for activities, and room for expanded programming. Multiple televisions are in place for educational presentations, tables can be easily moved to accommodate different events, and the downstairs area is planned for future development including fitness equipment and possible recreational amenities such as a pool table. Outdoor access opens onto green space the city plans to improve, with landscaping, signage, and a deck railing under construction that will eventually look over a restored lake.
Mayor Neil Elkins and Parks Superintendent Jace Merkel both described the facility as a long time coming and a resource for keeping older residents active and healthy. “The options are really endless. We can host more events and bring in different classes. Whatever the seniors would like,” Merkel said. Rita Reller, who coordinates activities for the center, emphasized the connection between social engagement and health. “I’m trying to keep them active and social because that’s supposed to help them live longer. So you got to keep them moving and motivated,” she says.
The new location addresses persistent challenges at the previous site, where a minimal kitchen, limited electrical outlets, and a basement setting made programming difficult and the center hard to find. For Dubois County residents, the upgraded space means more accessible health education, stronger opportunities for social connection, and room for partnerships with local health providers.
Beyond daily activities, the center represents an investment in local aging policy and community equity. By creating a visible, versatile space for older adults, Huntingburg is responding to public health priorities that support mobility, social inclusion, and preventive care for a growing senior population.
