EngAGE (formerly More Than Shelter For Seniors) is a nonprofit hired by the owners of affordable senior apartment communities to provide a whole-person approach to creative and healthy aging for thousands of their senior residents in Southern California. Programs provided include:

• Lifelong Learning
• Arts/Creativity
• Wellness
• Intergenerational
• Community Building
• Culminating Events
• Experience Talks Radio Show

Our mission is to promote successful aging, healthy communities and awareness by keeping seniors actively engaged in life, physically and mentally healthy, reinvigorated with a sense of purpose, and given the opportunity to act as sages and mentors to our younger generations. EngAGE also produces a weekly radio show, Experience Talks, which reaches 250,000 listeners and highlights the lives, experience and stories of Boomers and beyond.

Here are some pertinent facts about the population that EngAGE serves:

• Average age: 72 years old
• Average income: $10,800 per year
• Only 46% still own a car and less drive
• Only 16% are still employed
• Only 22% engaged in activity prior to EngAGE
• 59% EngAGE now

EngAGE programs are proven, award-winning and save society money:

• Savings to society: EngAGE programs reduce by 25% the number of seniors requiring higher levels of care such as round-the-clock nursing care, representing a $3,000 per month, per person reduction in cost of care for at least 500 residents, representing an annual savings of $18 million, plus making life better and more rewarding for each of these seniors.

- From a recent survey


• The National Endowment for the Arts named EngAGE an Exemplary Program for Best Practices in Lifelong Learning, one of only 10 in the nation.

- National Endowment for the Arts, Office of AccessAbility


• Seniors who participate in intensive, participatory arts and lifelong learning programs (like those offered by EngAGE) report improved health, fewer doctor visits and less medication usage.

- From The Creativity and Aging Study, Gene Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., George Washington University


• EngAGE had more respondents reporting improved health in the past year as contrasted to Non- EngAGE sites, where more respondents reported worsening health.

- From the USC study, Lifestyles of Low-Income Seniors Living in Independent Senior Housing


• EngAGE won the SAGE Award for Program of the Year from the Building Industry Association.