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Framingham Seniors
The greater Framingham area offers many opportunities for seniors including work, recreation, mentoring and volunteering to companionship and community services as well as private assisted living and independent at-home lifestyle choices.
Councils on Aging, (COAs), are local volunteer organizations that offer information and direct services to seniors, their caregivers, and other people with aging issues. COAs are part of the local government, and work with other senior agencies and city/town departments to provide social, recreational, health, safety, and educational programs for seniors in their communities.
Most COAs operate Senior Centers for area residents age 60 or older. Senior Centers range in size from small part-time centers to large modern facilities with game rooms, exercise equipment, and a full schedule of programs. COAs rely on volunteers, and allow seniors to be actively involved in the planning and operation of senior center activities.
Most Councils on Aging offer these services: information and referrals, outreach, help with applications for public benefits, SHINE health insurance counseling, exercise and fitness programs, home-delivered and congregate meals, transportation, health screenings and clinics, volunteer opportunities and senior center activities.
Some COAs also offer: computer training, arts and crafts, continuing education programs, day trip, tax assistance, friendly visiting and telephone reassurance, movies and live entertainment, book groups, food shopping assistance, peer support groups, supportive day care, legal assistance, errands and handyman services, cards, billiards, and other games and a senior newsletter.
Services and programs vary by location. Some programs are free; others ask for a donation or charge a fee.
Metrowest Area Councils on Aging & Senior Centers:
P.O. Box 250 - Town Hall
Dover MA, 02030
Provides information to elders in the community and offers various programs throughout the month: a foot clinic for one day every other month, a craft class, a sewing circle, walking club, bridge and cribbage.
Callahan Senior Center
535 Union Avenue
Framingham MA, 01702
Tel: (508) 532-5980
The Callahan Senior Center in Framingham offers a wide range of programs and services for area seniors. Active seniors are involved in golf tournaments, day trips and group travel arrangements. Arts, health and wellness services, and monthly "happenings" keep Framingham seniors busy. The senior center also operates a consignment goods shop called the Heritage Gallery. Information and programs of special interest to seniors regarding medical, insurance, tax, transportation and other issues are readily available from the center.
Holliston Senior Center
150 Goulding Street
Holliston MA, 01746
Tel: (508) 429-0622
Holliston has both a Senior Center and a Council on Aging. The Senior Center has many activities for elders within the community. They also have some current and upcoming volunteer opportunities in which elders can particate. They have a Van available to transport seniors to medical appts. in Milford, Framingham, Natick & Holliston. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. A donation is requested, but not mandatory. Holliston Senior Center also has a Van for taking elders to medical appointments as well as shopping day in December.
28 Mayhew Street
Hopkinton MA, 01748
Tel: (508) 497-9730
The Senior Center provides socialization and outreach to seniors living in Hopkinton. At the Senior Center, they have social activities and a meal site. The drop-in center hours are Monday - Thursday 8:30am - 4:00pm and Friday 8:30am - 2:00pm. Various activities are scheduled- one could call for specific activities and times. A hot lunch of soup and sandwich is available daily. The fee is $4.00 one must call in the day before by 11:00 am to make a reservation. They do have voluteers that can visit homes as well as assist with transportation to medical appointments. In addition - a van service is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The van can bring people to the senior center as well as grocery shopping. One can make a volutary donation for the van service. There is help to apply for fuel assistance. Emergency in-home services are also available.
Hudson Senior Center
29 Church Street
Hudson MA, 01749
Tel: (978) 568-9638
The Hudson Senior Center offers a hot lunch program Mon. through Friday - the request for a lunch must be made one day in advance and there is a voluntary donation. Meals are delivered to homebound elderly. There is also a limited friendly visitor program. The Senior Center has many activites for the elders within the community. The Transportation Program is offered Monday through Friday 8:00 to 3:00. They cover various routes on different days depending on the location in which the individual is coming from. The program can accomodate those who need to go to a medical appointment, both Marlboro & Hudson, they do request that the appintment be made one day in advance. One can offer a voluntary donation. Please phone the agency for further information on specific routes. Trans. Mon.- Fri. includes a 20 passenger bus & a 10 passenger van w/wheelchair lift. Call at least 24 hrs. in advance. Will go to Marlboro Nursing Home and Marlboro Hospital.
Marlborough Senior Center
250 Main Street
Marlborough , 01752
Tel: (508) 485-6492
Website: www.marlborough-ma.gov
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Council on Aging and the Senior Center are located in the same building. Services offered include: information and referral; access to AVCOA transportation and home delivered meals; assistance in financial and insurance related issues; Wellness Clinic; fitness classes; computer courses; recreational activities; trips and events. There is a volunteer program and a skilled outreach program. The Center's hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Friends of the Marlborough Seniors support all aspects of the senior community and its needs, and sponsor the senior newsletter.
42 Central Street
Southborough MA, 01772
Tel: (508) 229-4453
Information, assistance and recreation programs for seniors in Southborough / Fayville.
Fairbank Senior Center
40 Fairbank Road
Sudbury MA, 01776
Tel: (978) 443-3055
The Fairbank Senior Center is open 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. They provide: Outreach Programs; Community Education Programs; SHINE Programs; Special Interest Groups; Congregate Meals; Social Clubs/Drop In Centers/Senior Centers; Flu Shots; Transportation. Trans. for Med.app'ts Tues.-Fri. 9 am to 3 pm with a vol. donation. Mon. the Van driver will do mall shopping. call Center by 9 am same day.
41 Cochituate Road
Wayland MA, 01778
Tel: (508) 358-2990
Hours of Operation: M-F 9:00a.m.-3:00p.m. Wayland COA does have an Outreach Program- the coordinator is Susan Hatton 508-359-3644. Services provided: Informtion and Referral , fuel assistance, free legal clinic, SHINE, telephone reassurance, In Home Fix it Program, Elders @ Risk in weather emergencies program, F.I.S.H. transportation, free legal clinic. One could call or pick up a monthly schedule. This building is Handicapped Accessible.
Wellesley Community Center
219 Washington Street
Wellesley MA, 02481
Tel: (781) 235-3961
The Wellesley Council on Aging offers many programs and services for persons aged 60 and older. They have a meal site at the Community Center which is located at 219 Washington Street. The Council conducts classes and seminars on many topics of interest. They operate a senior room at the Community Center and host Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs as well as SHINE (Senior Health Insurance News and Education) counseling. Information and Referral is available to all callers. In addition to this, the outreach worker visits and provides information to homebound elders in the area.
Westborough Senior Center
4 Rogers Road
Westborough MA, 01581
Tel: (508) 366-3000
Hours of Operation: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm ; Mon.- Fri. The Senior Center has activities for the elders within the community. Recreation, social events, exercise programs, English as a second language are also offered. A social worker, homemaker, handyman and nurse are on staff. Please phone the agency for further information. They can also provide transportation to medical appointments as well as take seniors to the grocery store. In addition, hot lunchs are provided on site- Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 12:00 p.m. One must phone in to notify the agency the day before by 10:00 a.m. There is a voluntary donation. They also have a program for meals on wheels for 5 days per week.
20 Alphabet Lane
Weston MA, 02493
Tel: (781) 894-0839
Hours of Operation: 9am-4pm M-F. The Weston Council on Aging sponsors Caregiver Support Group meetings, with both daytime and evening sessions. The daytime meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month from 10:00am to 11:30am at the Weston Council on Aging. The evening meetings, on the fourth Monday of the month at 7pm are held down at the Council on Aging. The evening support group is specifically for adult child caregivers. For further information or to register, call Shirley Earle, Alzheimer's Consultant, at 781-894-0839. The number for the Weston Council on Aging is 781-893-0154. The group is open to anyone in the Springwell area. Second Contact: Emily Hutcheson (781)-891-8046, The Weston Council on Aging maintains the loan closet. They stock items such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, commodes and other durable medical equipment. They accept donations of equipment in good condition. The person borrowing the equipment must come in Monday through Friday from 9am - 5pm to pick it up and return the item when no longer needed. The equipment can be kept as long as it is needed but should be returned as soon as it is no longer being used.
Volunteer Opportunities for Seniors
1175 Herndon Parkway, Suite 900
Herndon, VA 20170
Phone: 1-800/634-0245 or 703/487-3612
Fax: 703/487-3066
Web: www.score.org
SCORE matches entrepreneurs with retired executives who volunteer their time. If you are retired and have spare time, and miss being part of the business world, SCORE provides a format for you to be a mentor and help an entrepreneur succeed as a small business owner.
1201 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20525
Tel: 1-800-424-8867
Email: help@joinseniorservice.org
Web: www.seniorcorps.gov
The Senior Corps is part of The Corporation for National & Community Service which administers many programs for volunteers age 55 and over including The Foster Grandparents Program, The Senior Companion Program and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, (RSVP).
- The Foster Grandparent Program matches senior volunteers with children and teens who could benefit by having an older adult involved with their life.
- The Senior Companion Program matches seniors with adults who could use a hand with everyday tasks like shopping, light chores or just stopping by for for a visit.
- RSVP, (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), matches volunteers who want to make a difference with opportunities ranging from building houses to protecting the environment and more. RSVP matches volunteers based on their skills and abilities with local community based organizations.
Visit "I'm Ready to Get Involved" to get more information about how to get involved with any of these Senior Corps based programs.
