General Information

About DCSL

The Durham Center for Senior Life is a nonprofit organization that offers a variety of free programs, services, classes, events, and more for Durham older adults 55+.
 
Founded in 1949 as the Golden Age Society to provide neighborhood clubs for older adults, the agency received its first Older Americans Act grant in 1966 and officially changed its name in 1968 to the Council for Senior Citizens and then again in 2010 to the Durham Center for Senior Life (DCSL).
 
Today, DCSL is designated by the State of North Carolina as a Center of Excellence. With two centers in Durham County, DCSL offers a wide array of programs and services for older adults.
 
Programs and services include classes, workshops, clubs, congregate meals, transportation, adult education, socialization, health promotion, caregiver support services, information referrals, case assistance, and more. In addition, DCSL operates the only Adult Day Health Center in Durham.
 
 

Key Beliefs

Mission and Vision

Mission: To enrich the lives of older adults 55+ by promoting healthy, active and independent lifestyles.

Vision:  We are driven by a vision of a community where every older adult can thrive, regardless of their background or identity.

Promoting Healthy, Active, and Independent Lifestyles

We provide a variety of services for adults 55+ in Durham County that focus on the following building blocks for achieving and maintaining a healthy, active, and independent lifestyle:

 

Core Values

Programs & Services

Key programs at the Durham Center for Senior Life are:

Social & Senior Center Services

The services at DCSL sites are geared toward our healthy, active, and independent older adults!

Congregate Nutrition

The DCSL Congregate Nutrition Program is intended to promote social, emotional, and physical well-being in older adults age 60 years plus.

Adult Day Health Services

Adult Day Health provides a structured day for adults 18 and older who have difficulty managing on their own because of frailty or the effects of disease.

EATS (Easing Access To food for Seniors)

EATS programs provide opportunities to address food insecurity for older adults 55+. These services include monthly pantry bags and an opportunity to shop at our DCSL store for our EATS: Shop & Grab program.

Options Counseling

Options Counseling provides guidance to individuals as they make informed choices about long-term services and supports. This service helps people think through the pros and cons of the various options while taking into consideration their situation, values, resources and preferences. The Options Counselor can also assist with making an Action Plan for the individual to implement. Options Counseling is available to individuals who are 60 years of age or older or someone acting on behalf of a person age 60 or older.

Locations

The Durham Center for Senior Life operates across the County of Durham

DCSL Main Center

Operating Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 7:30pm & Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm
Address: 406 Rigsbee Avenue, Suite 202 | Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 688-8247

DCSL at Little River

Operating Hours: 8:30am-1:30pm, Mon-Fri
(Little River Community Complex, Bahama)
Address: 8305 Roxboro Road | Bahama, NC 27503
Phone: (919) 477-6066