The YMCA of WNC promotes healthy aging through free community event
As Western North Carolina continues to become an older community, the YMCA of Western North Carolina is using Healthy Aging Month to highlight the importance of staying active, connected, and engaged at every stage of life.
The Y will host Healthy Aging Day on Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Reuter Family YMCA in Biltmore Park, offering a free community event designed to help older adults discover resources and opportunities that support healthy living.
The need is particularly significant in Western North Carolina. According to a recent assessment by Dogwood Health Trust, 24 percent of the region’s population is age 65 or older, compared with 17 percent statewide. Ten percent of Western North Carolina’s population is age 75 or older.
The trend is expected to continue. The North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management projects that the state’s population age 65 and older will grow by 14 percent by 2030, reaching approximately 2.4 million people. By 2030, one in five North Carolinians is expected to be age 65 or older, and older adults are projected to outnumber children in the state.
“Healthy aging is about much more than getting older — it’s about having the opportunity to continue doing the things you enjoy, maintaining your independence, and staying connected to the people and community around you,” said Sadie Simpson, healthy aging manager at the YMCA of Western North Carolina. “The Y is committed to creating opportunities for people to stay active, build relationships, and support their overall well-being throughout every stage of life.”
The statistics also underscore the importance of social connection and access to resources. The Dogwood Health Trust assessment found that more than one in four older adults in Western North Carolina live alone, while nearly one in five have an ambulatory difficulty.
Healthy Aging Day will bring together opportunities to address many of these dimensions of healthy living in one location. The free event will include:
- Group exercise classes and demonstrations
- Pickleball
- Free health screenings
- Informative presentations
- Vendor booths featuring community resources
- Food and drinks
- Giveaways, including free T-shirts for the first 100 participants
The day's featured activities include a presentation on “Understanding the Journey of Aging” at 11 a.m., a cooking demonstration, “Change Your Palate,” at 11:30 a.m., and a Tai Chi class demonstration at 12:30 p.m.
The Y encourages older adults, their families, caregivers, and anyone interested in healthy aging to attend.
Healthy Aging Day is free and open to the community. No YMCA membership is required to attend.
WHAT: Healthy Aging Day
WHEN: Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
WHERE: Reuter Family YMCA
COST: Free and open to the community
For more information about Healthy Aging Day and healthy aging programs offered by the YMCA of Western North Carolina, visit ymcawnc.org/had.