Georgetown – While maintaining COVID-19 protocols, the Georgetown Council on Aging and the Georgetown Senior Community Center continue to be open to the public. In-person small group exercise programs are underway. Participants are pre-registered and the classes will rotate at this time.
Along with yoga, strength training, Tai Chi and exercise classes, knitting, quilting, stamp club, MahJong, bingo, monthly Legislative Constituent Services office hours, monthly Veterans’ Services office hours.
COA Book Club, Blood Pressure Checks and a monthly Men’s Breakfast are all underway. With a local face covering mandate in-place, participants are asked to wear masks in all areas of the building and to sanitize their hands as they enter the building. Other on-going services and activities include: Pool, COA library, puzzle and craft room; reassurance/wellbeing calls; COA Market Place (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; Fitness Center appointments; AARP Income Tax Preparation assistance and information, resources and referrals. Staff is available in the office if you have questions or need assistance. Feel free to call 978-352-5726 for further information..
COA also provides assistance to receive free Covid-19 at-home test kits. Each household across the country can now receive four free COVID-19 at-home test kits that will be shipped directly to your home at no cost. To receive the free test kits, visit www.covid19tests.gov and enter contact information and mailing address. The Georgetown Council on Aging is also able to place orders for residents. The COA is also able to assist in scheduling appointments for Covid-19 vaccines, boosters and flu shots. For assistance, call the Georgetown COA at 978-352-5726.
Blood pressure clinics to return February 2
Public Health Nurse Pam Lara, will resume monthly blood pressure clinics on
Wed., February 2, 9:30-10:40 a.m. at the Senior Community Center. Future clinics will be held on the first Wednesday of each month, 9:30-10:40 a.m. Appointments are required and limited to eight people per day. To schedule an appointment, call the COA office at 978-352-5726.
Veterans Services Officer to hold office hours February 3
Director of Veterans Services Karen Tyler will hold office hours Thursday Feb. 3, 10:30 a.m. at the Senior Community Center. To schedule an appointment, call the Georgetown COA at 978-352-5726.
Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco to speak at Men’s Breakfast scheduled February 3
Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco will be the guest speaker at a Men’s Breakfast scheduled for Thursday February 3, 9:30 a.m. at the Senior Community Center. Crosby’s Markets sponsors the breakfast. To make reservations, call (978) 352-5726.
Valentine Heart Swag scheduled February 8
Join for a morning of crafts on Tuesday February 8, 10 a.m. to create Valentine Heart Swags at the Senior Community Center. All materials will be provided. For more information, call the COA at 978-352-5726.
Quilting 101 to meet February 8 and 22
Instructor Terry Palardy leads a Quilting Group on Tuesday February 8 and Tuesday February 22, noon at the Senior Community Center. Participants discuss and work on on-going projects. To register, call the COA at 978-352-5726.
Winthrop Stamp Club to meet February 10 and February 24
The Winthrop Stamp Club will meet on Thursdays February 10 and February 24, 1-3 p.m. at the Senior Community Center. For further information, call the COA at 978-352-5726.
Knitting Group to meet February 10 and 24
The COA Knitting Group will meet Thursdays February 10 and February 24, 9:30 a.m. at the Senior Community Center. The group shares skills, patterns, while working on individual projects. Some service projects will be planned. Refreshments will be served. For further information, call the COA at 978-352-5726.
Bingo scheduled Feb. 14 and Feb. 28
Join on Mondays Feb. 14 and Feb. 28, 12:30 p.m. for a fun game of bingo. Cost is $1 per 10-game package. Attendance is limited to 20 people. For information, call the COA at 978-352-5726.
Constituent Services Office Hours scheduled Feb. 15
Representatives of Senator Bruce Tarr and Representative Lenny Mirra will hold office hours Tues. Feb. 15, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the Senior Community Center. For information, call the COA at 978-352-5726.
ESMV Travelling Chef to offer special to-go lunch February 17
In addition to the special meals that are planned as part of the COA’s Grab and Go monthly menu, AgeSpan 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 Senior Community Center. This month, the Traveling Chef meal is planned for Thursday Feb. 17. The menu will feature Beef chili with cheese, onions and tomatoes, garden salad with dressing, corn bread and chocolate pudding parfait. To reserve a lunch, call the COA at 978-352-5726 by Wednesday February 9.
Book Club scheduled February 22
Join Georgetown Peabody Library Director Sarah Cognata on Tuesday February 22, 2 p.m. to discuss “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman as the COA Book Club resumes at the Georgetown Senior Community Center. Books will be available at the Georgetown Public Library. The COA Book Club will continue to meet at the Senior Community Center on the fourth Tuesday of each month, 2 p.m. through June 2022.
Bob Simons and Renee Goodwin seasonal concert scheduled Feb. 24
Celebrate Valentine’s Day all month with an afternoon of special musical entertainment when local performers Bob Simons and Renee Goodwin perform for the COA on Thursday Feb. 24, 2 p.m. at the Senior Community Center. Bob and Renee will perform folk music featuring finger-style guitar music. Refreshments will be served and a hand-made quilt will be raffled. The Friends of the Georgetown Council on Aging are sponsoring this program. For further information, contact the COA at 978-352-5726.
Mah Jongg groups to meet on Wednesdays
Join for Mah Jongg weekly on Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. at the Senior Community Center. For information, call the COA at 978-352-5726.
COA Walking Club Underway
The COA Walking Club is underway Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. Participants will meet outside the Senior Community Center and choose a local walking route. Participants will need to bring water bottles. For information and to register, contact 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 information and reservations, call the COA at 978-352-5726.
COA Marketplace available to residents
The Georgetown 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 Georgetown 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.
NEET Program Provides Medical Appointment Rides
Scheduled through the Georgetown Council on Aging, 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, leave a message (the COA is not open on Fridays). After the ride is arranged, the driver will call 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.
