SALISBURY — With the calendar switching to January, Salisbury Council on Aging officials hearkened back to 2025’s success stories that included a new assistant director, new programs, furniture and more.
The year started off with a bang when the Salisbury COA welcomed new Assistant Director Andrew Suggs to the organization.
Suggs came to Salisbury after multiple years of working at the Amesbury COA. Since taking the role last winter, he has been well-received by Salisbury COA members.
“He’s brought a lot of life into the center,” said Betty Guy, president of the Friends of the Salisbury Council on Aging.
Suggs said stepping into the role has been “great” and praised the town’s residents for their emotional investment.
“It’s such a supportive community here and everybody here is so involved. So, making the transition over from Amesbury was very easy,” he said.
Last year also brought a number of new programs to the Hilton Senior Center, from rts and crafts classes to karaoke, something Suggs said seniors have enjoyed.
“I think it’s been a really great year for us here. I think we’ve instituted a lot of programs both on the educational side and the social side,” he said.
The Hilton Senior Center also saw some interior improvements after the COA was awarded a $21,000 senior center modernization grant by the Massachusetts Council on Aging last summer. The money was put to good used by buying new furniture.
The new furniture, which included tables with wheels, replaced older, less accessible furniture. Suggs said the grant has made it easier for volunteers to rearrange the main room in the Senior Center for events.
“The grant for the furniture has been fantastic and we still have stuff coming in from that. But everything has been made more accessible for everybody. We’re not asking anybody to carry around 8-foot tables anymore,” Suggs said.
There are also a number of new faces at the Salisbury COA, something Guy said she actively encouraged.
“It’s always good to make new friends. We’ve met some great people. And, I’m personally always trying to get people down there for anything and everything,” she said.
{p dir=”ltr”}Alongside new faces, Suggs said the COA also saw members making use of the resources offered.
“There’s been a huge uptick in people coming in for resources. I think with a lot of uncertainty out there, people coming in to look for help with healthcare has been huge,” he said.
Now, as the COA begins to make plans for 2026, Suggs said the staff is dedicated to planning events and hosting programs that members will enjoy.
“I think our biggest goal is to keep doing what our members want to do. We’re always encouraging them to voice and let us know what they’re interested in,” he said.