This week in my column, I’d like to recognize an important resource in our community that offers more than you might think: your local senior center. September is National Senior Center Month, and this year’s theme is “Happier Birthdays Happen Here.” It’s a good reminder that a happy birthday isn’t really about the cake – it’s about who shows up, what you have to look forward to, and being a part of something. That’s what our local senior centers give people every single day, not just on their birthday.
“Happier birthdays happen here at the Haverhill Senior Center because we help you stay healthy,” says Haverhill Council on Aging Director Mary Connolly. “I think some people have this idea that people get dropped off to smoke cigarettes and drink coffee all day. There’s no smoking and no one just sits here. The people that come here are aging and active.”
The Haverhill Senior Center supports healthy living with 14 different exercise classes, as well as nutrition and wellness education. There are also games and special events designed to bring people together. You can even meet with a social worker for help with Social Security, get help with your taxes, or meet with a SHINE counselor for help with Medicare.
At the Tewksbury Senior Activities Center, you’ll find a wide range of programs and activities (everything from card games to belly dancing) for older adults in their 60s, all the way up to their 80s and beyond. Janice Conole, Director of the Tewksbury Council on Aging, says many of the programs are aimed at health and wellness – with mental health and social connection playing a big part.
“It’s tough to make a friend when you’re 65, 70, 75. There’s a whole social aspect to what happens here and we want to make sure everyone feels comfortable coming here,” Conole says. “It’s also a resource-based center. We offer free counseling as part of a behavioral health program with the state, and we have a social worker here. We try to balance that ability to give people their independence at home by providing the resources they need.”
At AgeSpan, we’re proud to partner with Janice and Mary and so many other COA directors in the Merrimack Valley and North Shore to offer congregate meals each day, Meals on Wheels, support groups, and more.
You can find your nearest senior center by visiting the state’s website at mass.gov, or by calling AgeSpan’s Information & Referral line at 1-800-892-0890 – we’re happy to point you in the right direction.
If you’ve never been to your local senior center, I hope you’ll be inspired to check it out. If you’re a regular, I hope you try something new. You might find a new experience worth celebrating by your next birthday.
Are you caring for an older adult or need help finding healthy aging resources? Our experienced staff is available to help. Visit us online at www.agespan.org. You can also call 800-892-0890 or email info@agespan.org.
Joan Hatem-Roy is the chief executive officer of AgeSpan, which serves the following cities and towns: Amesbury, Andover, Billerica, Boxford, Chelmsford, Danvers, Dracut, Dunstable, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Marblehead, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Peabody, Rowley, Salisbury, Salem, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford, and West Newbury.