Since the nation's first senior center was established in the Bronx in 1943, senior centers in New York City have flourished and expanded both the services they provide and the areas they serve. Today, senior centers have evolved into a major provider of community-based formal services - serving multiple functions and providing social supports for seniors with a variety of needs.

The Research Unit of the Department for the Aging (DFTA) conducted a study looking at senior center service use in 1999 in the Center Utilization Study.