BELHAVEN — When it comes to getting help with aging, Belhaven seniors have a valuable resource in the Belhaven Seniors’ Center.

The center, established in the mid-1990s, has built a program providing area seniors 55 and older with seminars, programs and activities related to a better quality of life, said Director Stephanie Webb. The center offers a wide spectrum, ranging from fitness activities to seminars about Medicare to health and nutrition classes.

Webb said for many clients, it’s the first stepping-stone in dealing with the Department of Social Services, Medicare and other issues. Each Friday, Webb drives to Washington to submit paperwork for seniors who don’t have transportation, helping them take care of personal business, like healthcare, insurance and food stamps. Webb also acts as a liaison between seniors and organizations that handle clients’ prescription drug plans and healthcare coverage, she said.

“(The center) is very important, especially with the loss of the (Belhaven) hospital,” Webb said. “There are not a lot of resources in Belhaven. This building connects seniors to what they need to handle. For some, it’s even hard to sit on the phone for five minutes with an operator. (Our services) make a world of difference for them.”

Webb said the center also offers programs that keep seniors active and alert, ultimately preventing placement in long-term living facilities. Among the programs are Belhaven Healthy Living Initiative, a multi-faceted program that teaches people how to eat healthy through proportioned meals and reading nutrition labels, among other nutrition education, as well as fitness classes using chair exercises, benefitting seniors who have high blood pressure, diabetes and other conditions. A brain exercise class, focuses on memory games and activities to keep the brain working, Webb said.

On Aug. 15, through a partnership with St. Stephen Community Church in Bath, the center will host “Health For Life,” a health fair that will feature vendors, educational seminars, health screenings and giveaways. The center will also host a new activity in the coming weeks — a Butter Bean Auction. The auction will involve participants bidding on items like tissue, lotion, donated paintings and other items.

“The goal is to help seniors not have to transition to long-term care,” Webb said. “It is important for the community to utilize the center. The earlier that you start will be better for you later in life. If you can take advantage of these services, you will already have resources that you need to handle these issues. That’s why we try to have as many seminars and presentations as we can.”

For more information or to participate, contact the Belhaven Seniors’ Center, 274 E. Main St., Belhaven, at 252-943-2992.