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Date: 12/30/2021
ENFIELD/SOMERS, CT – The winter season can be tough for many – especially seniors who choose to stay inside away from the often cold and harsh weather. As the New Year approaches, the Senior Centers in Enfield and Somers are offering programs to aid seniors during the winter season.
Recently, the Enfield Senior Center has been hosting numerous tours. This gives people the opportunity to come into the facility, walk around and see the amenities and ask questions of the staff.
Manager Mary Keller said, “The center provides the seniors with a lot of activities during the day. They can come and do anything from taking a fitness class to working out in the fitness center.” Dorothy Allen, director of Social Services started the center in 1973. Food was prepared in Hartford and delivered daily to Enfield. The meal program began the same time as the Senior Citizen program and was located on the second floor of 19 North Main St.
The Enfield Senior Center has arts and crafts classes, presentations and a game room where seniors can play pool and poker. There is a computer room where the center hosts computer classes and tech help as well as Ted Talks. They have a library and dining room where the Connecticut Renewal Team (CRT) provides lunch at noon for those who signed up in advance every day from Monday through Friday. There are several programs and classes that they charge a class fee for based on class instructor and supply costs. There is Meals on Wheels program which also provides meals from CRT to homebound seniors who qualify. They also house the Social Services Transportation Department that offers the Town’s Dial-a-Ride and Magic Carpet bus service.
Due to COVID-19, Keller said they are not offering any types of trips right now whether it’s a day or overnight trip. Some larger scaled programs have been put on hold, such as concerts and dances because of the pandemic. This year, however, the center will be doing taxes through AARP starting February of 2022.
“Until COVID has settled down, we will primarily be doing our basic classes to keep the center open,” Keller answered. There is no membership fee to join the center; anyone 50 and up is welcome to participate. The only thing we charge a membership for is the fitness center. Although it’s part of the senior center, they have to have a membership for that and they have to get permission from their doctor to participate.”
The Enfield Senior Center is located on 299 Elm St. Their hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. and Tuesday and Friday from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. They will be hosting COVID-19 vaccination clinics in January. Information can be found on their website, www.enfield-ct.gov/432/Senior-Center or call the center at 860-763-7425.
The Somers Senior Center was built in 1990 and works to provide social, emotional, educational, physical and occupational programming for Somers residents that are 55-plus years of age.
Maureen Parsell, director of Recreation and Leisure Services said, “Our goal is to assist our members so they remain active, healthy, social and engaged in our community. If our members have a special skill or a hobby that they are passionate about, we encourage them to share their ideas with other members of our center.” She continued, “Adults that are 55-plus can contact the Somers Senior Center or stop in and register to be a member. Once they are members, they can partake in all of the programs that we offer.”
Their ongoing monthly programs include: qigong, knitting, various forms of art, chair aerobics, yoga and bingo. They also have hand weights, pinochle, dominoes, set back, bridge, coffee talk, tech support and book club. The center also hosts other Monthly programs including their Dial-a-Ride services, occupational therapy through Bay Path University, monthly financial and insurance presentations and Louis & Clark and Home Helpers free medical supply tune-up clinics.
Their monthly lunches are sponsored by Home Helpers Home Care of Enfield, Parkway Pavilion and the Ivy at Ellington. While they don’t have all of their programs set for the coming year, the Somers Senior Center does have a few trips scheduled for 2022: Lancaster, PA with Friendship Tours from July 13-15, Portsmouth Harbor, NH with Friendship Tours on Aug. 25, Boston Harbor with Friendship Tours from Nov. 14-15 and Alaska with Celebrity Cruises from Sept. 2-9.
Parsell concluded, “The Somers Senior Center encourages socialization, independence and self-sufficiency which in turn promotes a sense of achievement creating a great sense of self-worth and well-being.”
The Somers Senior Center is on 19 Battle St. They’re open every day from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Log on to www.somersct.gov/town-departments/somers-senior-center/ or call 860-763-4379.