More than 300 older adults from across Bucks County came together for the 43rd Annual Bucks County Senior Games, held earlier this month, proving that staying active, making friends and trying new experiences does not have an age limit.
Organized by the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging in partnership with the Bucks County Foundation for Aging, Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation, Bucks County Community College and the Senior Games Committee, the week-long event featured activities ranging from pickleball and golf to trivia, billiards, track and field, chess and cornhole.
According to Amanda Mayer, community program coordinator for the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging, the games continue to attract both returning participants and newcomers each year.
"We had well over 300 participating, and registration goes up each year," Mayer said. "We do get new people registering each year, but we also see many people who have been coming for years moving through the age brackets. If they were in the 60 age bracket when they initially participated, many are now participating in the 70s age bracket."
The Senior Games officially kicked off at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, where participants had opportunities to learn about activities, meet vendors and sponsors, and try several sports before competition began.
One of the highlights of this year's kickoff was the introduction of chair volleyball, a new activity organizers hoped could become part of future Senior Games.
“Chair volleyball is an up-and-coming sport that has become very popular among older adults,” said Mayer.
Representatives from Central Bucks Senior Center in Doylestown demonstrated the game, allowing attendees to try it for themselves.
"I’ve watched chair volleyball, and it's still a very active game," Amanda said. "They are sitting in chairs, but they are reaching up, hitting the ball, keeping themselves moving and having a great time playing."
She explained that the game offers many of the benefits of traditional volleyball while being more accessible for older adults.
"It's safer because participants are seated, and it's more accessible for people who use walking devices or who can't stand for long periods," she said. "It still helps with upper body strength and coordination, and they're socializing the whole time. It's a great connection for older adults."
The kickoff event also offered opportunities for participants to try pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports among older adults.
"For anyone who was new to pickleball, we requested that they come to get evaluated so we could place everybody in the right skill level," Mayer said. "We don't want someone who is really advanced playing a beginner because that's not fun for anyone."
Evaluations were conducted by the Middletown Parks and Recreation Department.
Along with pickleball, attendees were able to try cornhole and disc golf, meet community organizations and enter free door-prize drawings.
"We try to bring in organizations from around the county that offer activities for older adults," Amanda said. "Seniors can discover what's out there for them and what they can go and do."
Throughout the week, competitions were held at locations across the county. Cornhole and table tennis singles took place at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, while the pickleball tournament was held at Middletown Senior Center in Levittown. Golf competitors gathered at Fairways Golf Club in Warrington, and bowling took place at Earl Bowl in Quakertown.
Other popular events included trivia at Ben Wilson Senior Center in Warminster, darts at Bensalem Senior Center, throwing competitions at Warwick Township Community Park, bocce competitions at both Middletown Senior Center and Northampton Township Senior Center in Richboro, and billiards tournaments at Northampton Township Senior Center and Pennridge Community Center in Silverdale.
One notable change this year was the relocation of the chess instruction and tournament event.
"We moved chess into Silver Lake Nature Center this year," Amanda said. "It used to be at the Bristol Township Amphitheater outside. It was beautiful there, but sometimes we had rain and wind, and that's challenging when you have chessboards in the wind."
Track and field events, including running, walking, shot put, discus and long jump, were held at Tohickon Middle School in Doylestown and once again attracted strong participation.
"Cornhole remains a favorite activity," Mayer said. "I think cornhole is one of those sports that people have grown up playing at picnics in their childhood. People know the game. It's easy to play. You don't have to have any real skills. Anyone can do it, and you can play standing or sitting."
The throwing competitions also continue to draw large crowds.
"Anyone can come out and throw a football or softball," Mayer said. "It doesn't matter whether they have a walker or a wheelchair.”
In recent years, organizers have also seen significant growth in independent events, which allow participants to stay active on their own schedules. These activities included biking, a step-count competition and the Walk the Parks challenge.
"Our independent events have really seen an increase in participation," Mayer said. "People can do them on their own and participate when it makes sense for their schedule."
She said the events are designed to help participants develop healthy habits that continue long after the games end.
"The step competition is something we hope will get people started walking," she said. "If you haven't walked in a while, maybe this is what motivates you to get going."
Similarly, the Walk the Parks challenge encouraged participants to explore Bucks County's extensive park system.
"We're also hoping that walking the parks gives people the opportunity to get out and see all the beautiful parks of Bucks County," Mayer said.
A free pickleball clinic led by Camp Curiosity also helped introduce newcomers to the sport.
As participation in the Senior Games continues to grow, Amanda said the games' success stems from more than just competition.
"I think there are a couple of reasons that so many people return each year," she said. "It's a way to stay active. It's something different to get out and do, and I think there's a big social aspect to it."
That social connection, she added, is one of the most important outcomes of the event.
"I think the Senior Games go beyond the competition," Mayer said. "They help people stay active, but they also give them a sense of connection and purpose. People build friendships, challenge themselves and leave feeling energized because they've made new friends and had fun outside of their normal day-to-day activities."
The games also challenged common misconceptions about aging.
"I do believe there is a stigma that aging means being frail or inactive," Mayer said. "But the Senior Games really challenge that idea. People are active, social and deeply connected to their communities. The Senior Games give them a place to come together, support each other and try new things."
While some events such as pickleball and track drew highly competitive participants, Mayer said the atmosphere remained welcoming and supportive.
"They might be competing, but they also cheer each other on," she said. "It's still a really nice place to compete, be active and support one another."
Looking toward the future, organizers plan to continue offering longtime favorites while exploring new activities to keep the games fresh and engaging.
Mayer said that organizers remain focused on ensuring that residents throughout Bucks County have opportunities to participate.
"Our challenge is always making sure the entire county is represented, from upper Bucks to lower Bucks, and that people have access," she said. "We're always working to make sure everyone throughout the county has a great time and a good experience."
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