In Licking County, Ohio, the senior population is on the upswing. Citizens aged 60+ made up 19.2 percent of the Licking County population in the 2010 U.S. Census. That percentage is expected to grow to more than 25 percent by 2030.

A new partnership in the county involving Central Ohio Technical College will change the face of delivery for adult senior services. The college has joined forces with the Licking County Family YMCA Western Branch and the Licking County Aging Program (LCAP) on a shared-space partnership that will allow seniors to attend programs offered by all three institutions at one central location − the soon-to-be-completed, newly renovated Y Western Branch.

“It’s truly a unique collaboration between public and private entities to offer a holistic approach to services for our maturing population,” said Dana Moore, Y Western Branch director said in a release.

Y Western’s $2.8 million renovation will add new classroom, community, meeting and multi-use spaces which will be cross shared between the three institutions. Area seniors will gain centralized access to programming representing three pillars of healthy aging: exercise and healthy living, continuing education and social and recreational development.

“Members of COTC’s Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) will truly benefit from this triangular model of programming at one convenient location,” said Vicki Maple, COTC vice president for economic development and innovative workforce solutions. COTC will move all its LLI programming to Y Western beginning in January 2020.

The LLI offers a year-round menu of non-credit courses, as well as lectures, writing workshops, a film study series, book discussions and more.

The LCAP will expand its offerings to western Licking County through the partnership. “We are so excited to offer residents the convenience of this new location for the many types of services we offer − from informal social and recreational activities like card groups, to speakers and entertainment,” said Marti Fuller, LCAP associate executive director. “The result will be robust, centralized programming that will impact many more residents.”