2011 Annual Report - Town of Northborough

Council on Aging/
Senior Center
Kelly Burke, Senior Center Director
Hours
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The Council on Aging serves as the advisory body for
the Northborough Senior Center, located at 119 Bearfoot
Road. The Senior Center provides social, recreational,
and educational programs for those over 60 year of age. In
addition, it is a source of information, support and referral
through the Outreach Program. The Council on Aging/Senior
Center is available as a community resource for anyone
who needs information on services for older adults.
Funding for the Center is derived from Municipal funds,
grants from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs,
the Friends of the Northborough Senior Center, Inc.
and other grants, gifts and donations. The Council on Aging
meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the
Senior Center. The public is always invited to attend these
open meetings.
In addition to the committed staff, the Senior Center enjoys
the services of more than 100 volunteers offering their
time and talents in the Office, Reception Desk, Meal Site,
Packing and Delivering Meals on Wheels, Lunch and Dinner
Preparation in The Bistro @ 119, as Friendly Visitors,
Escorts, Shopping Assistants, Members on the Council on
Aging and many other worthwhile endeavors.
We have expanded our hours of operation at The Bistro
@ 119 to include a dinner menu on Tuesday evenings. On
average, 50-70 people of all ages dine on their choice of hot
or cold entrees between the hours of 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. We
continue to serve light lunch fare (sandwiches, salads, soups,
fruit, cookies, beverages) Monday – Thursday from 12:00 –
1:00 p.m.
Seniors discover their inner artist in the
Watercolor, Acrylics, and Mixed Media Art
classes we offer. They stay healthy in our
Exercise classes include three different Yoga
classes, Aerobics/Strength Training, Tai Chi,
Line Dancing, Zumba Gold, Tap Dancing,
and Belly Dancing. Our Computer Classes
have delved into the areas of email, surfing
the web, word processing and Skype. Our
Pool League has traveled to multiple other
Senior Centers to compete in competitions
and practice regularly on our 2 beautiful pool
tables. More information on activities can
be found on the Town website as well as our
monthly 16 page color newsletter. The newsletter
is mailed to all seniors 60 years of age
and older through the generosity of the Friend
of the Northborough Senior Center, Inc. who
pay for the mailing costs.
The Friends of the Northborough Senior
Center continue to be extremely supportive of the Center.
Their fundraising efforts continue to benefit the Senior Center
and its services. Their generous donation of $60,000 has
and continues to supplement the fees for contractual services
for the Senior Center. Their monetary donations as well as
their time and efforts in fundraising continue to be an invaluable
resource to the Senior Center.
Our Outreach Department is available to anyone dealing
with aging-related concerns. For many people getting older
raises some unexpected or unfamiliar issues. Whether it be
a senior citizen of a family member, our full-time Outreach
Coordinator can assist with identifying needs, resources,
benefit eligibility, service coordination and advocacy. Areas
of assistance include, but are not limited to, housing, home
health, transportation food resources, medical equipment,
socialization and counseling.
Transportation to and from the Senior Center as well as to
medical appointments, work, shopping and errands is available
to seniors and those with disabilities in cooperation with
WRTA (Worcester Regional Transit Authority). We employ
4 drivers and their salary and all costs associated with the
transportation are fully reimbursed by the WRTA.
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