Village of Arlington Heights Illinois

The Senior Center is owned and operated by the Village of Arlington Heights and houses seven other organizations: Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Arlington Heights Park District, Arlington Heights Nurses’ Club Lending Closet, Catholic Charities Northwest Senior Services, Catholic Charities Community Development and Outreach Services, Northwest Community Hospital, and Connections to Care. The Senior Center provides the umbrella for this wide array of senior services. These services include recreation, fitness, meals on wheels, daily luncheon program, case management, elder abuse intervention, information, referral and assistance programs, Senior Health Insurance Program, Tax Counseling, advocacy, health screenings, transportation and volunteer opportunities for 400+ volunteers.

Each day, over 500 people age 55 and over attend the 42,000 square foot Arlington Heights Senior Center. Our amenities include an indoor walking trail, woodshop, café, computer lab, reading room, billiards, gift shop, a lending closet of durable medical equipment and the Arlington Athletic Club. We also publish a bimonthly newsletter/program guide. Services are also provided to homebound senior citizens. The Senior Center's unique organizational structure of eight senior service agencies located under one roof allows our patrons to take advantage of "one-stop shopping." Through these eight organizations, more than 12,000 senior citizens and their families are served each year.
 
The Senior Center celebrated its 25th anniversary in September 2008. The Senior Center won the Association of Illinois Senior Center’s “Program of the Year, December 2008” and the Senior Center Manager won the Association’s “Senior Center Director of the Year, December 2008.” The Senior Center was also awarded National Council on Aging: National Institute of Senior Centers, National Accreditation in February 2021. Accreditation adheres to nine standards of excellence in programs and services to older adults in the community and lasts for five years.

The Senior Center was founded in 1982 by the Village of Arlington Heights in the retired Park School. In 1996, the Village foresaw the need for additional space, parking and amenities and in 1997 developed the 42,000 square foot state- of-the-art Senior Center which opened in 1997 and was officially dedicated on January 31, 1998.

Contact Us
We can be reached at 847.253.5532.

Directions
The Village of Arlington Heights Senior Center is located at 1801 W. Central Road, at the southwest corner of Central Road & New Wilke Road; approximately 1/2 mile west of Northwest Community Hospital.  

Hours of Operation

• Mondays & Wednesdays
  8:30 AM to 8 PM
  
  
• Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
  8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
  
  
• Saturdays
  8:30 AM to 12:30 PM

The Lending Closet is run by the Arlington Heights Nurses Club. The Lending Closet is open Mondays 1 PM to 3 PM; Tuesdays through Saturdays 10 AM to 12 PM and Wednesday night from 6 PM to 8 PM. Pick up and drop off of equipment is done at the lending closet door at the Arlington Heights Senior Center, 1801 W Central Road. For further questions, please call 847.797.5315.

The Arlington Heights Nurses Club has been in existence since the 1930s providing durable medical equipment to Arlington Heights residents. Equipment is lent out for free, any monetary donations received is applied for scholarship awards for nursing students.

Our Intergenerational Lawn Mowing Referral Program provides Arlington Heights residents - age 60 + and/or those with a disability - with contact information for students/teens that have signed up to mow lawns.  For more information, including expectations and application, please visit our Landscape Waste Programs page. 

The purpose of the Senior Citizens Commission is to promote the needs and concerns of the senior citizens of the Village and to cooperate with the Village Government and all other governmental agencies in the promotion of the causes of senior citizens.  

The Communities that support the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and rural areas to be great places for people of all ages. We believe that communities should provide safe, walkable streets; age-friendly housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in community life. Arlington Heights has a growing number of adults aged 65 and older population. It is currently one of six Designated AARP Livable Communities Network members in Illinois. 

To learn more about Livability and Age Friendly communities click here.

To learn more about Transportation resources, click here.

Learn more about the Senior Citizens Commission on our Boards & Commissions page.

The Village of Arlington Heights is undertaking an evaluation and cost feasibility study for the Arlington Heights Senior Center.  The purpose of this feasibility study is to develop a programmatic and building/site strategy for the Arlington Heights Senior Center’s based on analyzing the needs and desires of current customers, best practices, and future trends of senior centers in in order to maintain the Senior Center as an active, attractive, and relevant community asset.

January 2022 Update
Below areitems from the Committee of the Whole Meeting, January 10, 2022.

• Cover Letter
• Agenda
• MEMO: Senior Center Utilization, Modernization & Programming Study Update
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Program Fit Concept Layout
• Existing Floor Plan 

Updates will be posted under Senior Center: Utilization, Modernization and Programming plan on the Village's Projects, Plans & Programs page. 

The Village of Arlington Heights Snow Shoveling Referral Program provides Arlington Heights residents who are over age 60 or who have a disability with the names and contact information of teens willing to shovel snow.

By participating in this snow shoveling referral program and providing contact information, residents wanting your assistance will be provided with a list of teens willing to shovel snow in your area.  The resident is responsible for contacting the teen and for making the scheduling and financial arrangements.  The teen is responsible for snow shoveling or notifying the resident if they are unable to complete the work.

This program was initiated by the Arlington Heights Youth Commission, endorsed by the Arlington Heights Senior Citizens Commission and the Arlington Heights Commission for Citizens with Disabilities. 

The Village does not do background checks on any of the participants, teens or seniors citizens or persons with disabilities. Both parties should do their own interview and/or reference check if desired, before signing on with a particular client or teen. Referrals for teens, senior citizens and persons with disabilities will come through the Arlington Heights Senior Center.

Interested residents can fill out the Snow Shoveling Referrals Request form.  We hope this is of help to those that need it.  Teens, please fill out the Teen Application for Snow Shoveling, and thank you so much for your service!

In addition, here is a quick guide to keep handy for reference.  

Frequently Asked Questions...

What if there are no teen shovelers in my area? 
We might not have enough teens to refer to our residents. It’s a voluntary program and not intended to be the resident’s only option for snow shoveling.

How do I know what to pay/charge for this service? 
That is up to the resident and the teen. The suggested range is $10.00 to $15.00 per hour.

What if the teen shoveler does not show up? 
Try to reconnect with the teen. If you do not receive a timely return call, then consider contacting another teen about your snow shoveling needs.

Drivers 
We need people to drive home-bound seniors to medical appointments and to deliver Meals-on-Wheels. 

Reception Volunteer 
If you are looking for a position that "makes time fly" this position may be for you! Assist with telephone/reception activities. Candidates must have good phone skills and be able to use the computer. For additional information on all volunteer opportunities please call 847.253.5532.