"Mommy's Best Friend" (pen and ink), M.S. Wirtenberg
To art show at Senior Center...awesome gallery honors our seniors!
W E S T O N C T S E N I O
R A C T I V I T I E S C E N T E R
:
First there were only luncheons at Norfield Church, catered by volunteer organizations on alternating Wednesdays...
Then rooms were renovated at at Hurlbutt South House to supplement the Norfield luncheons; and now...with
a "Friends of the Senior Center" and a "Committee on Aging" in place,
senior services set to fill the needs of this growing segment of
Weston's population!
NEW - And now, we add the activities of State of CT government!
A link to the same thing - this one on the Town Website.
http://www.westonct.gov/media/file/10-26-18WestonSrActivitiesCenterSpacePlanningAnalysis.pdf
AT THE SELECTMEN NOVEMBER 8. 2018
Senor Activity Center Director and Friends of the Senior Center present analysis of adequacy and estimated space needs for the future..
T A S K F O R C E O N S E N I O R C E N T E R S
We watched this meeting June 26, 2017 after the fact on CT-N.
CT TASK FORCE ON SENIOR CENTERS: http://www.ct-n.com/ctnplayer.asp?odID=14244
First - Menlo Park California (before Social Security);
after crash of 1929, social security began. 1943 Bronx Senior
Center.
1965 - Older Americans Act. Help people age with heath care and
dignity. Delay institutionalization. Federal Allocation then to
States, Regions and Localities.
Done by the States - lots of variety. Senior Centers in cities. Used
to be funding (i.e. Meals on Wheels"). Recreational, nutrition, social
services. 16,000 at the height of it - 10-11,000. 15% went there
regularly (seniors).
THE FACTS: Strenghs and weaknesses. Widely
varied - weakness - also wide degree of quality. Meals, wellness,
continuing education; funding dropped. Meals is the
way to count turnout. Peak at age 80 (turnout).
Proving outcomes tough. Younger seniors and the community see it
as a
place for meals. Data collected ("outputs") demographic. A
high school
cafeteria just like it at Senior Center. 8 to 1 women to
men. "Don't
bring anyone old." People do not go to Senior Centers because they
don't think of themselves as "old." Services and programs offered
different. Funding an issue. Are they now innovating?
HOW DO YOU INNOVATE? Participation related to outcomes. Are
people who are more social go to Senior Centers? Self-selection.
Skewed samples. 270 Senior Centers in N.Y.C. in 2008 - budget cuts to
eliminate 20%. Check "need." Why close them? $$. Interaction
needed? What is the future model? "Charter" or "Innovative" Senior
Centers. Health and wellness the focus. Diverse. Outcome study.
Recrit seniors and follow them. Very expensive study. 3 groups: new
ISC, traditional, and not attendees. Demographic data and screenings
for anxiety, health, exercise, which programs, why stopped going, where
to do get these things if not at Senior Centers - follow-up phone calls,
focus groups. Paid for interviews.
What did they find (3 yr. study finished last year)? Positive results.
English, Spanish, Manderin. Average 2 days a week. Like choices -
shop around. Which Senior Center is by what meal is being served. 85
yrs old grew up during depression. 64 yr. old thinks less expensive is
bad. Who and why attends? Social isolation means limited interaction
and quick decline. Health and wellness (not bingo) is #1 topic for
programs. 50% attend for educational programs - brain is like a muscle -
learn something new! "College at 60." Meals still play an important.
Exercise - age ranges - Zumba, cycling... Performing arts, trips and
entertaining, foreign language, clearing-house for info about senior services.
Senior Center the focal point in the community. Education about eating
and exercise. For the majority 20% health better, 50% remained at
level health 30% mental improved, 40% remained high - exercise: big
improvement. Gaming (next study) - social network. Socialization,
programs, classes.
QUESTIONS:
What do Senior Centers need to be relevant? Ans. Rocky Hill survey of
the whole community. Health promotion and wellness - who do we
collected data - data, data, data...Senior Centers will change in how
they deliver.
Is there a similar core data services in every center (Rep. Bolinsky).
Standards? Ans. Determine minimum standards. Minimum standards. If
you proscribe, you have to pay. MUNICIPAL MANDATES. Respect autonomy.
How to engage local leaders to feel this as an important thing? Ans.
Overall, raise visibility in community. Partner with others
(programming). Library. Or inter generation programs with schools.
Senior should "speak up" - yes he really said it!). Think outside of
the box.
Multi-generational entry points. "Can't" do. Visibility. Use all day.
How do you get additional staff? Ans. Chicken-egg. Partner with
graduate schools - interns. Technology with high schools. Volunteers -
those who are seniors but do not identify as user of services at Senior
Center. $$ cobbled together - public-private.
Rep. Byron: How do structural barriers deter using volunteers and
interns. Ans. Not easy. Retired professionals do not want to do
filing and answering telephones.
Rep. Byron: How to help with volunteers getting involved? Ans. Interns take a lot of work.
Rep. Bolinsky: Newtown high school students do computer work and resources. Ans. Volunteers.
168 Senior Centers in CT
2010 previous survey has some fuzzy questions (my wording); 2017
senior center questionnaire. 2 pages. Sending it out this month.
July 12th next meeting. OLR to be asked to get info on other states and
their programs. Next meeting (July 12th) to feature others who might
train volunteers (I think). Broader networks. How do senior centers
network?
Ended on time! Great meeting.
Jan. 31, 2015
Senior Activities Center something to be even more proud of, a re-opening...
SEPT. 3, 2013: AT THE
BOARD OF SELECTMEN -
INPUT REQUESTED ON PROPOSAL FOR SENIOR CENTER MOVE TO EMMANUEL ON A 5
YEAR
LEASE
(Comments as well as pictures NOT in order
of speaking - third member of the Board of Selectmen on speakerphone
from an airport.) In summary...
- At the Board of Selectmen, held on Tuesday, September 3rd
(Thursday a religious holiday), the first item on the agenda was a
request for public opinion on the potential move of the Senior Center
to Emmanuel Church's new but now vacant space, previously used for
daycare. First speaker favored the idea.
- Lots of parking there (mention made of the limited parking
availability at Hurlbutt limiting growth).
- Mention that perhaps using Dial-a-Ride service to pick up
seniors on the west side of town to get them to the east side of town
could help made this location more used in the winter months.
- Another speaker asked why plans are to have the luncheon
in one place (Norfield) and the rest of the activities elsewhere.
- Yet another person asked about cell phone service on the
east side of town (she had heard it wasn't good - not wanting to be out
of communication with loved ones).
- The individual why works on senior services regionally
noted that this new location might work well for expanding the
offerings at the Senior Center since there would be several varied
types of spaces available for their use. No M.O.U. ("memorandum
of understanding") for the 5 year lease of Emmanuel space existed
yet.
- The Hurlbutt site, under the recently signed M.O.U. for
that space for only one year, would now have to include the costs of
operating the center (heat, light) that the town would pay to the
schools - so Hurlbutt space isn't "free" to the seniors anymore.
Weston Senior Center Director Jen Ruddy resigns
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Wednesday, 10 August 2011 11:50
Jennifer Ruddy, who served as the town’s Senior Center director for
nearly a decade, has resigned her position as of Friday, Aug. 12.
Please see Weston FORUM for complete article.
WESTON SENIOR ACTIVITIES CENTER
GRAND OPENING CEREMONY, SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 2006, 11AM
Grand Opening
Saturday, June 3, 2006, 11am
At
Hurlbutt South House - read all about it!!! Nancy asks Jen to ask
the Attorney General if they need a license to use this pair of
scissors to cut the ribbon...
First Selectman Woody Bliss
welcomes the overflow crowd to the new
Senior Activities Center at Hurlbutt South House
Superintendent of
Schools would have been present but had to visit elderly relative in
Florida - Chair. of Board of Education proudly represented Dr. Pierson
in welcoming seniors and the Town to Hurlbutt Elementary South
House!
President of the Seniors greets everyone and Woody especially...Woody
reads the Town of Weston Proclamation making June "Senior Activities
Center" month in Weston...Always welcome in Weston, Attorney General of
the State of Connecticut Richard Blumenthal is warmly greeted; he
says hello again to the familiar audience (he visits many times to
discuss legal matters of interest to seniors).
THE WESTON SENIOR ACTIVITIES CENTER IS NOW OFFICIALLY...OPEN!!!