Residents of all ages enjoy an improved quality of life, thanks to a new wellness campus and a wellness center exclusively devoted to the needs of seniors in the community. Providing access to recreation, health department resources and clinical services, the wellness campus will help families live healthier. The senior center, offering a fitness center and medical services, is an important resource for maintaining health and well-being of adults age 50 and older.
Southern Oaks Learning & Wellness Campus
The Oklahoma City-County Health Department will team up with many health care and wellness partners to offer a comprehensive wellness center campus in South Oklahoma City.
The facility opened November 2018 and the 25,000-square-foot Southern Oaks campus at 5728 South Hudson – next to Parmelee Elementary and Southern Oaks Library – will improve the quality of
life in the surrounding area.
The campus offers recreation opportunities such as a walking trail and clinical services including immunizations, family planning and community health services. Also included is a training kitchen that features classes on how to prepare nutritious meals on a limited budget, an auditorium and a community meeting space.
“The clinic space that we have on site is an integrated clinic. It’s not just public health professionals alongside primary care,” said Gary Cox, executive director for the OKC-County Health Department. “There are a multitude of partners working together to make sure all needs are met.”
The center will be the second opened by the health department in the Oklahoma City area to meet specific community needs.
“We can’t do it all, so our goal is to bring everyone together so we can serve in a holistic way all people in Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County,” Cox said. “Campuses are a hub for those partnerships. The northeast campus has been open for about three years and already we serve 35,000 to 50,000 people each year.”
Partners will include the YWCA, YMCA, Police Athletic League, OU Medicine physicians, the Oklahoma City Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department and Oklahoma City Public Schools.
The ultimate result is a healthier community, which will be a boost to Oklahoma City-area businesses.
“Good health is good business,” Cox said. “When you link health and education together, you have the pillars for what makes up a strong, competitive community and ultimately state. The business community’s efforts in this are vital.”
Pete White Senior Health & Wellness Center
Thanks to the MAPS 3 program – a public investment initiative that has resulted in several major community projects – the Pete White Senior Wellness Center opened in spring 2018.
The center, at 4021 South Walker Avenue, is the second center paid for by MAPS 3, with two more on the way. The 39,000-square-foot building includes a medical clinic available to everyone and a fitness center open to members ages 50 and older.
NorthCare is operating the facility in partnership with health care providers such as Variety Care.
Residents can be treated for primary care and behavioral health issues, as well as physical therapy. A pharmacy and 12 exam rooms are part of the facility.
The fitness center includes:
- Fully equipped exercise room
- Heated fitness pool
- Demonstration kitchen
- Art room with a kiln