Georgetown – With the lifting of the COVID-19 pandemic state and local emergency orders, the Georgetown Council on Aging and the Georgetown Senior Community Center have reopened to the public. In-person small group exercise programs have begun. Participants are pre-registered and the classes will rotate at this time. Along with yoga and strength training classes, knitting, quilting, stamp club, MahJong and a weekly coffee, cards and conversation group are all underway. Participants are asked to wear masks in the common areas of the building and to sanitize their hands as they enter the building. Vaccinated individuals may remove their masks in classes and activities. More programs and activities will soon be added to the schedule. Other on-going services and activities include: COA library, puzzle and craft room; reassurance/wellbeing calls; COA MarketPlace (food pantry) deliveries; Elder Brown Bag deliveries; face masks; COA Van for essential shopping by appointment Tuesdays and Thursdays; Monday – Thursday Grab & Go lunches; durable medical equipment lending, telephone appointments with SHINE Counselor; telephone appointments with Karen Tyler, Director of Veterans Services; Fitness Center appointments; and information, resources and referrals. Staff is available in the office if you have questions or need assistance. For more information call 978-352-5726.
Elder Services of Merrimack Valley to host Virtual Memory Café August 17
Elder Services of Merrimack Valley will host a virtual Memory Café on Tuesday August 17, 1 – 2 p.m. The memory cafes offer online activity and social engagement for those living with memory loss and their caregivers. For further information and to register, call Lyn Brennan, 978-273-2501 or email LBrennan@esmv.org.
Strawberry Shortcake Social planned August 10
In celebration of summer, the COA will host a Strawberry Shortcake social on Tuesday August 10, 1 p.m. Indoor seating at the Georgetown Senior Community Center will be limited to 15 individuals but a pick-up option and outdoor seating is also available. To make a reservation, call the COA at 978-352-5726.
ESMV Travelling Chef to offer special to-go lunch August 25
In addition to the special meals that are planned as part of the COA’s Grab and Go monthly menu, Elder Services of Merrimack Valley will provide a special Traveling Chef Grab and Go meals for holidays and special events. The menus are similar to the special event lunches that are typically hosted at the Georgetown Senior Community Center. This month, the Traveling Chef meal is planned for Wednesday August 25. The menu will feature turkey Waldorf salad with grapes and apples, garden salad, vinaigrette pasta salad, potato chips, Kaiser roll and peach cobbler. To reserve a lunch, call the COA at 978-352-5726 by Wednesday August 18.
COA Walking Club Underway
TheWalking Club is underway Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. Participants should meet outside the Georgetown Senior Community Center and choose a local walking route. Participants should bring their own water bottles. For information and to register, contact the COA at 978-352-5726.
MCOA sponsors Walk Massachusetts Challenge Underway
Sponsored by the Massachusetts Councils on Aging, this year’s Walk Massachusetts Challenge began last month. With several goals tied to walking options and prizes, the first 500 people who participate will receive a reflective wrist band and sports pack. Prizes include Visa, Amazon and Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards. For each person who completes the challenge, COAs are entered into a drawing to win $1,000 for future programming. Individuals are able to register by visiting www.coaonline.com/walkma. The program runs May 1- September 30 and includes different challenges along with an online tracking form or printable walking journal. For information and assistance with registration, call the COA at 978-352-5726.
EOEA sponsors Caring for the Caregiver Monthly Webinar Series Underway
Sponsored by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA), Mass Home Care and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, a monthly webinar series for family caregivers is underway. The webinars are designed to provide information, support, resources, tools and tips. Register for the webinars by visiting: bit.ly/3tjbNpa.
COA offers weekday Grab and Go Lunch Program
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Georgetown Council on Aging has partnered with Elder Services of Merrimack Valley (ESMV) to offer Grab and Go take-out lunches Monday – Thursday at the Georgetown Senior Community Center. Lunches are mostly hot meals similar to those previously served at the Senior Center. To participate, call the COA (978-352-5726) the Wednesday before the desired meals. Meals can be picked-up or delivered and there is no charge at this time. For more information and reservations, call the COA at 978-352-5726.
COA Marketplace available to residents
The COA Marketplace offers a wide variety of non-perishable food such as Easy Mac/Cheese (2 flavors), V-8 juice, fruit cups, canned tuna/meats, a variety of soups, shelf-stable milk, peanut butter, rice, pasta, cereal & fun snacks to local older adults. The COA Marketplace also offers a variety of products including toiletries, incontinence supplies, paper products & dish/laundry detergent. The COA is also able to provide some fresh foods (eggs, milk, fruit/vegetables etc.) along with Market Basket gift cards upon request. No income restrictions apply. The COA will provide individual home deliveries. Appointments are required by calling the COA at 978-352-5726.
COA Fitness Center now includes a stationary recumbent bicycle
Open for individual exercise appointments, the COA Fitness Center at the Georgetown Senior Community Center now includes a new stationary recumbent bicycle along with two stationary bikes, two treadmills, stair climber and weights. Face masks must be worn while individuals are in the common areas of the building but vaccinated individuals may remove their masks in the fitness center. Exercise bikes, treadmills and free weights are available for use. For information and to schedule an appointment call the COA at 978-352-5726.
COA Van available for Essential Shopping
The COA Van is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays for essential shopping and other essential errands such as Post Office, pharmacies and banks. Face masks must be worn while traveling in the COA Van. To schedule a ride call the COA at 978-352-5726.
Northern Essex Elder Transport Program Provides Medical Appointment Rides
Scheduled through the COA, the Northern Essex Elder Transport, Inc. (NEET) provides rides for elders to medical appointments. Additional protocol and guidelines are in place to ensure driver and passenger safety. To allow time to complete a new registration form and review guidelines, reservations should be made at least one week in advance by calling the COA office at (978) 352-5726. If the office is closed, please leave a message (and remember that the COA is not open on Fridays). After the ride is arranged, the driver will call you the day before the ride. A donation of 45 cents per mile is suggested to help support the program, but no one is turned down due to inability to pay. Reservations must be made through the COA office. Clients should not call the drivers directly.
COA has Face Masks available to residents
The COA has both disposable paper face masks and reusable fabric masks available to the public. For more information call the COA at 978-352-5726.
