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A New Year's Message from the Senior Center | Peabody Weekly News Item Live pg 5

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A New Year’s message from the Senior Center

Carolyn Wynn

For The Weekly News

The start of a new year is not only a great time to think of all the possibilities that lie ahead, but it also gives us the opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed. In this New Year’s message, I thought it would be a great time to share some statistics regarding the many services we have provided throughout 2023.

As many of you know, the Peabody Council on Aging is primarily a social services agency. For over 50 years, we have based many of our core services on the Older Americans Act of 1965. The tenants outlined in that legislation include Transportation, Social Services, and Nutrition. Our transportation service, “Project Mobility,” is for Peabody residents only. We provide transportation to medical appointments, shopping, and the PCOA to attend programs, receive services, and share lunch with friends. We also provide many miscellaneous trips as well.

Project Mobility provided 31,961 trips this year. Of those trips, 6,197 required using our wheelchair lift, making our services more accessible to all.

Our social services are also available to Peabody residents only. We often receive requests for social services from nonPeabody residents, but we must be steadfast in this rule, as a significant portion of our city is over 60. We would like to be able to help everyone, but unfortunately, that is not possible. However, we are happy to provide contact information for non-residents to receive necessary assistance. Our social services team assists with many services, such as health insurance (particularly during open enrollment), Mass Health, fuel assistance, SNAP program, I & R, housing applications, and the commodity food program. This year, we provided 16,378 units of service.

Our licensed Adult Day Health program is the only one in the state to be operated by a senior center, going beyond the scope of a supportive day program through the support of our clients. The ADH program has extremely caring staff providing needed services. Our program has allowed caregivers more time together with their loved ones - often delaying placement in nursing homes and many times avoiding placement altogether. The ADH program also gives clients’ families a respite to take care of themselves. Caregiving is one of those things that truly cannot be completely understood until you are experiencing it.

It is always enjoyable to share a meal with friends. Our senior center operates an independent lunch program, and all are welcome! A wonderful addition to this nutrition program is the recently opened Friends Café, which serves older adults from many communities. Our lunch program is one of the biggest social programs that we have. This year, we served 31,770 meals.

I was fortunate to be present 32 years ago when Mayor Peter Torigian cut the ribbon to open our new senior center. His words still ring true, that all who can get to our center will be welcome — something that has been our policy and our strength from the beginning.

From that day, we have always been a welcoming place to older adults from Peabody and many surrounding communities, just as Peabody residents are welcomed in other local senior centers. In fact, many of our volunteers are from other communities but choose to volunteer their time and talents here at our center.

Aside from our core services, we have a myriad of classes and activities to keep older adults engaged and living independently in the community. There are so many positive health benefits from participating in social activities. I know many are looking for that “miracle cure” to stay young and mentally fit, but the one tried and true solution is to stay active and socially engaged. There is no better place for this than the Torigian Senior Center, as is evidenced by 12,486 people signed in for fitness and exercise programs, 19,802 activity and class attendees, and 3,456 tickets sold for our special events.

Currently, every available space in the center is being used. We realize that the new generation of retirees who have started to join us are looking for more exercise programs, and we hope to provide that. We are presently in the process of completing our outside recreation area that will house modern pickleball and bocce courts. This addition has transformed an unused area that will become a place of incredible activity! We want to thank the CPA for funding this project.

In the near future, we hope to start a capital campaign to expand our senior center, which will add more space for fitness programs. In the meantime, we are trying to add afternoon exercise classes to accommodate this growing need. Remember, we have a beautiful indoor fitness room that is staffed by helpful volunteers, and it is free to use. Even with all that is offered here, we are always open to suggestions for new classes and activities, so please share your ideas with us!

I hope to see you at our center! Fondly, Carolyn

Friends Cafe News!

Starting Thursday, January 4th, we are happy to announce that we will be serving BREAKFAST on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. 

The cost is $5.00 and comes with your choice of coffee or tea. 

On Tuesdays, we will serve a Breakfast Sandwich. Eggs and cheese with your choice of Canadian bacon or breakfast sausage on an english muffin. (Served with hashbrowns) 

On Thursdays, we will serve a Traditional Breakfast. Two eggs, scrambled or fried with your choice of two breakfast sausages or bacon. (Served with hash browns or toast) 

We will offer the Breakfast Sandwich and a Fruit and Yogurt Parfait ...“A La Carte” for $4.00. Our Breakfast menu and any changes that may take place will be available inside and outside the café. We look forward to having you! 

The January Lunch Special

Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich Marinated chicken breast, sliced tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil pesto and balsamic glaze layered on sliced bread and grilled to perfection. Served with your choice of a side

We are looking for more volunteers during the week to serve lunch. If you are 60 and over and are interested in doing a lunch shift, please call Kat DeLomba, our new Volunteer Coordinator at 978-531-2254 X108. Thanks!