About The Center

A welcoming place to age well, stay connected, and keep life interesting.

The Center is Duxbury’s community hub for older adults — offering everything from fitness classes, transportation, and meal programs to the good stuff: friendships, laughter, learning, movement, and purpose.

Whether you’re facing a transition, looking for something new, caring for a loved one, or simply enjoying life more intentionally, The Center is a place where people come together.

A Nationally Accredited Senior Center

The Center earned full accreditation from the National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC) for the first time in 2020 — a distinction held by only a small fraction of senior centers nationwide. Accreditation means we meet the highest national standards for senior center operations — including governance, financial oversight, programming, and service delivery.

What does that mean for you? It means when you walk through our doors, you’re entering a center that has been independently reviewed and recognized for excellence.

Our Mission, Vision, and Values

Mission

Empower adults to age well, engage in the community, and enrich their lives.

Vision

We make life better for adults as they age.

Values

Everyone belongs here.
Compassion, kindness, integrity, and respect guide everything we do.
We inspire lifelong learning and curiosity.
We collaborate to create innovative programs for joyful living and wellness.
We empower adults to lead independent lives as they age.

What The Center Does Today

We’re a gathering place — and a community resource.

The Center supports older adults through a seamless network of services, programs, and partnerships designed to help them live well. We help people stay independent, engaged, and informed — whether that means getting a class, accessing transportation, finding programs to support an aging parent, or simply having a place to belong. The Center also serves the wider community as an outlet resource for:

information and referrals on aging-related services
nutrition and transportation programs
support for family caregivers
training and collaboration with professionals and students
innovative approaches to aging well

1,800+

Duxbury residents served annually

60+

Programs, classes & services offered

Since 1984

Serving our community

Our Story: How We Got Here

The Center has grown with Duxbury — because aging isn’t static, and neither is a good community.

1984

The Council on Aging Begins

Duxbury establishes the Council on Aging in 1984 to support older adults in town — originally focused on information resources including transportation, information, and local services.

1984

1993–2001

From Shared Space to a Permanent Home

In 1993, the COA acquired space at the Lower Alden School — creating the Senior Center and allowing programming to expand. Planning for a permanent home began in 1999. By 1997, Town Meeting approved to redesign the construction of a state-of-the-art facility with the Friends pledging to fund all the furnishing and moving, close to $300,000 to the process. The building opened in November 2001, fully furnished and ready to serve a growing community.

1993–2001

2019

A Major Expansion to Meet Growing Need

In response to tremendous growth, The Center completed a 4,160 square foot building addition in June 2019 and celebrated with a ribbon cutting in July.

2019

2020

National Accreditation Achieved

The Center earned full accreditation from the National Institute of Senior Centers — a distinction that reflects the quality of our staff, programming, governance, and commitment to older adults.

2020

Today

A Center Built for Now — and Ready for What’s Next

We are a welcoming community for all
We strive to be the best at what we do
We are good stewards of our resources
We effectively communicate our message
We build true independence for older adults

Today

Why the 2026 Rebrand

Same heart. Clearer invitation.

The name “The Center” is who we are when we’re at our best — welcoming, present, and central to people’s lives. We wanted a name and brand that felt as warm and inviting as what happens inside our doors. “Duxbury Senior Center” was accurate, but it didn’t tell the full story: a place where people come to belong.

The update is also a practical shift: making it easier for residents and families to find what they need online, in print, and through word-of-mouth referrals — so “you should check out The Center” becomes the most natural conversation anyone can have.

Come in the door — you'll make a friend.

Whether you’re looking for support, a class, a lunch table, a ride, a volunteer opportunity, or a new routine — The Center is here.