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Date: 9/19/2023
HADLEY — The Senior Center will host a presentation on Sept. 21 addressing age and dementia friendly subjects and well as providing an update for Hadley residents on the center initiatives’ milestones and goals.
“The main audience, the intended audience for this presentation is adults, not only older adults but of all ages in Hadley to remind them that these initiatives exist,” said Senior Services Director Hayley Wood.
Speakers will offer information to older adults and caregivers on programs and the latest additions to an “Age- and Dementia-Friendly Business Checklist.”
Wood said Town Administrator Carolyn Brennan will open up the program.
“Before she [Brennan] was town administrator, she was a senior center director in East Longmeadow for over 15 years, Wood said. “That’s a great asset to us here at the senior center, we feel we have a real ally in her because of her long-term commitment to serving older adults and her understanding of what people are up against and compassion.”
Brennan will speak about the age and dementia-friendly movements in Massachusetts. Wood said Brennan has been part of Hadley’s growth in assisting with the older community.
“She’s been involved in the process of our being recognized as an age friendly community since we had the idea,” Wood said.
Additional speakers include Rachel Senecal, coordinator of the Elders and Persons with Disabilities Unit for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
“She is a really strong community educator on scams and fraud,” Wood said. “Scams are frequently targeting older adults.”
Along those same lines Amy Fyden, a member of the Age- and Dementia-Friendly Hadley working group, will discuss red flags for financial abuse and fraud.
Jan Peterson, a member of the Council on Aging in Hadley will address caregiver support and how to utilize existing resources in the community.
“The real goal of the age and dementia-friendly movements is to assist people in comfortably, safely and happily aging in place in communities,” Wood said.
The event takes place at the center on Sept. 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The presentation will be followed by an offering of homemade soups and bread.
Wood said information can be found by calling 413-586-4023, ext. 6 for information and registration which is encouraged.