The “Y” in YMCA stands for “young” and, when it comes to the ForeverWell program, it refers to those young at heart.

At the West Orem YMCA located in the 5 Corners District, there are 879 senior members who participate in that Y’s ForeverWell program.

Tiffany Irving, the West Orem YMCA Community Director of Operations, said ForeverWell program offerings are geared toward those residents who are 50 years of age and over. Each event is planned by one of the staff based on what they hear from the seniors at the facility, she said.

“In February,” Irving said, “we will celebrate Black History Month with an outing at a landmark and food venue owned and operated by a person of color. In March, we will visit the rodeo,” she said. “There is a field trip or in-center event occurring at West Orem each month.”

All YMCAs across Houston offer ForeverWell programming, Irving said. “Each center may offer different program offerings, but there is something for everyone in the older adult community across the city,” she said.

West Orem’s workout classes and social and community offerings for the senior demographic, Irving said, help clients stay feeling young and healthy into their later years.

As people age, they may find themselves feeling unsteady or afraid of falling. ForeverWell exercise programs at the Y help improve balance, strength, and flexibility.

“The exercises feel safe for our age group,” one ForeverWell participant posted on social media.

Nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are also considered to be socially isolated.

Whether it’s bridge lessons, art workshops, nutrition seminars, or bus trips to destinations like the Houston Museum of Natural Science and Bayou Bend Museum, the ForeverWell program at the YMCA is a great place to spend time with others.

“What brings me to the YMCA is the people first of all,” a ForeverWell client said.

Fun people equals fun activities like the Mardi Gras Social planned for the West Orem YMCA for March 4, when participants are asked to bring their favorite Cajun side dish to share.

Another popular past outing from the West Orem YMCA featured a trip to the Galleria for shopping, followed by lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, with a crowd of seniors lining up to go.

The programming is a welcome activity for many, especially after the West Orem YMCA was closed for three years, starting with the pandemic.

In 2023, a group of volunteers spent Martin Luther King Jr. Day readying the YMCA for its reopening.

Local community members, including high school students, cleaned, weeded, mulched, and beautified the area outside the facility. Inside the building, they set up equipment and cleaned, providing not only a nice facility for the community to work out and take classes — but also a space where older adults can participate in a vibrant community.

Learn more about senior programming at the West Orem YMCA at ymcahouston.org/foreverwell.

West Orem YMCA
5801 W Orem Dr.
Houston TX 77085
713-726-1606

— Dorothy Puch Lillig