Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 7/11/2022
MONSON – A goal that Executive Director Lori Stacy of the Monson Council on Aging (COA) has had from the day she began working there is to get the entire population of the town to know and understand better what is a senior center.
She explained to Reminder Publishing, “Oftentimes people think of a senior center as a daycare center for the elder population. When you come to the Monson Senior Center, you’re going to see active, vibrant people of all ages from the 60 mark all the way to those in their 90’s.”
Stacy continued, “We are not a daycare center, think of us as what you would a teen center for our youth, except for a different population of our community.”
The COA acts as the social service department for the entire community of Monson. Most of their services are provided for those who are 60 and over or disabled. Although they do work with those that are under 60 as well when the need arises.
They have a nutrition program preparing fresh cooked meals in their own kitchen five days a week serving meals at the senior center as well as doing homebound meals. Roughly 1,200 meals are prepared a month.
The center provides transportation to Monson residents, both local trips and long distance. Trips may be for medical appointments, shopping, coming to the senior center for lunch or an event, hairdressers/barbers, bank, the list goes on. Stacy explained they try to accommodate all who contact them and will work with those under 60 if the need is there.
The Monson COA has many programs and activities, some of which have stopped for the summer but will continue come September. Programs include an art class, craft & laugh, card making class, line dancing, canasta, dominoes, Wii bowling and pitch. Additionally, there is strength training, yoga and tai chi. They have footcare, reflexology, chair massage, table massage and paraffin wax treatment available.
Working in conjunction with the Fire & Emergency Services Department, the center also has monthly blood pressure checks. As the first day of fall comes, they do a picnic on their front lawn with over 100 people in attendance. Stacy explained it’s a huge cookout with live entertainment, which has become their kick-off to everything starting back up with the new seasons arrival.
“We are getting back to a pre-COVID[-19] normal,” Stacy replied. “There are some areas that are not picking up as quickly as I thought they might, but the rest of our activities, programs or anything to do with socialization and recreation have really grown in leaps and bounds. Right now, I’m trying to find what is now going to be the new normal for the center and the seniors in town.”
Through the work of the Council on Aging, representatives from other town departments, businesses in the community and Pioneer Valley Planning Commission over the past year the town of Monson has recently been designated as an Age Friendly Community. They have also signed their pledge to becoming a Dementia Friendly Community and are looking forward to the announcement that has been accomplished as well.
“I have a fantastic team here at the COA and their dedication to our seniors and our department means the world to me,” Stacy concluded. “The town of Monson has been nothing but supportive through the ups and downs our community has had to face since my becoming director. Tornadoes and pandemics we have been given the support we needed to continue serving our seniors through it all.”
She went on to say, “We’re very fortunate to have a community like this. Being both an employee and resident of this town, I’m extremely grateful for our community and what it does for its residents of all ages. But how it will support the COA/Senior Center, so that our senior population is well taken care of gives me hope for the future of a growing population.”
The Monson Senior Center is located at 106 Main St. Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. For questions, call 267-4121.