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Older adults are among the fastest-growing populations in California. By 2030, residents over 65 are expected to outnumber those under 18, signaling a major demographic shift. Recognized as community focal points under the 1965 Older Americans Act, more than 11,000 senior centers operate nationwide, offering different services such as meals, wellness classes, and spaces that foster social bonds.
Research shows social isolation poses serious risks to older adults’ mental and physical health. As people age, many face compounding health needs, fixed incomes, transportation challenges, and the loss of spouses, housing, mobility, or independence. Senior centers provide community support, yet despite their significant role, both older adults and the programs that serve them largely remain underrepresented in media.
In this photo essay, Los Angeles–based photojournalist and filmmaker Isadora Kosofsky documents the long-term impact of COVID-19-related senior center closures, many of which were the first communal spaces to shut down and the last to reopen, tracing their gradual return to the present day. Her work spans multiple years and communities including Tehachapi, Lincoln Heights, Westchester, Watts, and Culver City.
“I have seen very little in-depth storytelling about senior centers,” she says. “They exist in nearly every ZIP code, yet we know so little about these spaces and the people who gather within them.”
The intimate photographs reflect moments of solitude and connection, illuminating senior centers as daily spaces for kinship and community. “Ultimately, the project is about belonging,” Kosofsky says. “In our unprecedented aging world, it is vital that we report on how older adults seek meaning and build new relationships.
Sandie Shultis, 76, sits in her home in Tehachapi. She served on the board of the Tehachapi Senior Center but has not returned since the shutdown. “I’m such a homebody,” she shared. Sandie has lived alone with her four dogs since her husband, Ray, passed away. In 2025, Sandie moved from Tehachapi to Bakersfield to be closer to medical services.Shane Shabad, 90, is a former ice cream store owner who emigrated to the US from Iran in the 1970s. In 2021, his son, who was his primary support person, died suddenly. Shabad faced increased isolation thereafter, relying on his daughter and granddaughter for support to purchase groceries.First: Manon Levenberg, 85, attends a yoga class at the Culver City Senior Center. Manon has been practicing yoga for 30 years. “The yoga classes that are not in a senior citizens center are geared to a different demographic. The younger groups are just not a fit for me,” said Manon. “I think people are much more aware of fitness and moving. The pandemic has just changed a lot for people. I think a lot has been positive.” She cites loneliness and loss of friends as reasons that pushed her to seek out the center. Last: Rosalie Ranola, 79, participates in a Tai-Chi class. First: Leonard Yee, 66, a member, sings karaoke at the Westchester Senior Center in Los Angeles. Last: Burns paints during a watercolor class. Senior centers offer a myriad of class and social programs, including art-making, music and current events. They also provide grief support groups.First: Laura Shroder, 89, embraces another member during karaoke at the Culver City Senior Center. “We have a bunch of people who want to get up and sing, whether they can or not. It is a way to go ahead and have the spotlight on you,” said Lee Karol, 69, a member and volunteer who has run karaoke since the center reopened. Last: A memorial wall for past members of the Watts Senior Center.First: Julie and Ed Bilow leave a Valentine’s Day party at the Culver City Senior Center in 2026. Last: A staff member of the Watts Senior Center decorated the main room for Christmas last year. Some older adults have limited support networks; senior centers mark holidays and allow members to celebrate their birthdays. “If it wasn’t for this place, I’d be falling apart,” said Sue Bennett during her 94th birthday party in the dining room at the Culver City Senior Center. “I have a support system here. I live alone.”
This story was produced jointly by CalMatters and CatchLight as part of our mental health initiative.
CalMatters is a Sacramento-based nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. It works with more than 130 media partners throughout the state that have long, deep relationships with their local audiences, including Embarcadero Media.
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