Does a local Senior Center Director have the right to deny my mother services?

Yes, they can refuse services if an individuals behavior or lack of abilities disrupt the group. My mother was asked not to come back to the senior center and also was not permitted to continue playing bridge at the YMCA senior program. She was argumentative and disruptive and would not follow rules. She became unable to play bridge because of hearing and sight deficits. She did not have dementia just a difficult personality.

Out of sheer shameless curiosity, I want to know what a golf-playing 98 year old lady is alleged to have been up to that gets her banned from the Senior Center on pain of being escorted off the premises by the police. I am agog.

But sadly I suspect it may be something much less interesting, such as that her adult child has been advocating for her right to participate in activities she is no longer able to share in without detriment to the group, and conflict has arisen. Perhaps.

I seriously doubt the Director is doing all this for sh*ts and giggles, and the police are involved b/c they have nothing better to do but to escort you and your mother off of the grounds. There are reasons for your mother being denied renewal of her senior membership, which you claim are 'exaggerated' and 'far fetched.' Meanwhile, your mother is 98 years old with Alzheimer's and doing God knows what at this Senior Center which prompted the Director to ask the police to get involved. Directors of Senior Centers have pretty much seen it all, meaning they don't ask the police to arrest seniors for no good reason, nor do the police agree to such a thing for no good reason. They don't make such requests lightly, in other words, and certainly not without plenty of thought about repercussions and what lengths said seniors would go to in order to protect 'their rights'.

Yeah, no. Think long and hard about why this is happening to you and your mother. About why you're not 'victims' here but perhaps victimIZING others in the center due to certain behaviors you are exhibiting. Or certain rules that are being broken; nobody can know the answer to those questions but you and your mother.

Instead of 'taking action' concerning your mother's membership, perhaps abide by the decision that's already been made and take your mother elsewhere for her mental wellbeing. I doubt the NAA specifically told you to take her to THIS Senior Center for her wellbeing and to play PING PONG there and only there.

Start over somewhere else, with a clean slate, and no orders for the police to arrest either of you for trespassing on their grounds. You don't need that kind of embarrassment to happen again, nor do you need to pursue a membership in a center where you are not wanted or welcomed with open arms. I wouldn't pursue it myself if I were in your shoes.

I also suggest you remove your mother's real name from your profile as this information is prohibited on the AgingCare website because it's important for users to maintain privacy.

Why was the renewal of your mother's membership refused?
What reasons did the Director of the senior center give the police to have you and your mother escorted from the premesis?
The cops do not just come for no reason.
If it is that your mom has Alzheimer's/dementia and she can no longer be accommodated at a senior center, there are other alternatives for socialization. Like adult day care.

I agree, more info needed.

Have you talked to her friends to see if something has happened when Mom is at the center. Really, to ban her when with friends seems serious. What is the director saying? What are friends saying?

Any Dementia is precarious. You never know what a person is going to do next. They no longer have a filter. Do u live with Mom? Do u see what she is like late in the afternoon when "Sundowning" starts. In early stages, the person is aware there is something wrong and can "showtime" making people think there is no problem.

The senior center banned her. The police back the center. The argument is that mom needs to see personal ping pong. Which isn’t really going to fly.

So, the town in Connecticut is mom's "hometown" but she no longer resides there?

Is this a center for town residents, and your mom no longer resides in that town?

I am afraid what we are missing here are the allegations against your Mother that prevented a renewal of her membership.
And in answer, yes, a private organization can have any rules they like about membership as long as they are not discriminatory against race, age, sexual persuasion and the usual things that fall under laws against discrimination. Their rules will be printed and posted in the usual ways. Infractions against the rules will result in non-renewal.
Hope you can supply what is missing from this story.

I think something's missing from the whole story. Why was renewal denied?

I think it might be more appropriate to address the underlying facts and make an appointment to discuss them with the Director to determine if the causes for denial of renewal as well as police escort can be addressed, and solutions developed.

I can understand how frustrating this must be, and embarrassing, but unless the Director is someone with a nasty temperament, I suspect there are causes and that there have been complaints by other members.

You wrote:

he really needs this group activity exposure for her mental wellbeing as prescribed by the National Alzheimer’s Association. "

W/o being too prying, what were the NAA's recommendations? Did they address behavioral issues?

You also might search the Senior Center's online profile to see if you can find membership criteria, behavior and guidelines.

OK.....
What is the rest of the story?
And if she or you caused any disruption or violated any terms of the facility then yes you can be asked to leave and if you do not they have the right to have the police escort you off the property. If you resist they can arrest you.,

i'm sure the senior director has the right, and you have the right to sue, or at least complain to whoever owns/operates/governs this senior center. but why would a director make up a bunch of stuff about your mom and deny her membership?

I have a feeling something is not being told here; it seems very strange. What reason is there? Do you or mom become agitated? Cause disruptions? Disturb others? Cuss or swear?

From your profile:
"My Major Concern At The Present Time Is The Senior Center And The Code Of Conduct Rules As They Pertain To The Rights Of Senior Members Belonging to A Senior Center And The Necessary Services The Center Provides".

Are you demanding services that they do not have staffing or funding to provide? Are there conduct problems?

You always have the right to file a lawsuit if you feel you've been wronged. Consult with an attorney to see if your case has merits.