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operate at our current high level without them. We
<br /> Report of the estimate that our volunteers provide 15,000 hours of ser-
<br /> Council on Aging vice per year. Mrs. Eleanor "Ellie" Hatcher was named
<br /> by Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands as the
<br /> Mashpee Volunteer of the Year and was so honored at
<br /> To the Honorable Selectmen the annual dinner/meeting of the Board of Directors of
<br /> and the Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: Elder Services at the Sheraton Tara in Hyannis.
<br /> Mrs. Evelyn Buschenfeldt was appointed to fill a
<br /> As Chairman, I am pleased, on behalf of the officers vacancy on the Council on 1990.
<br /> and members of the Mashpee Council on Aging, to sub-
<br /> mit this 1990 Annual Report. Robert Connell is our Director and Lynne Waterman
<br /> our Outreach Coordinator. The Council also has two of-
<br /> The Council on Aging is the town department with the fice assistants; Viverette Robinson, whose position is
<br /> mandated responsibility of providing services and pro- funded by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs Elder
<br /> grams designed to meet the needs of the 2500+ elderly Service Corps program, and Barbara Peat, whose posi-
<br /> of Mashpee, whether as the direct provider, sponsor or tion is funded by the Elder Services of Cape Cod and the
<br /> co-sponsor, or the source of information and referral. Islands Senior Aide program.
<br /> Comprehensive health screening programs, conducted The Senior Center now hosts 30 organizations,groups
<br /> in conjunction and cooperation with the Board of Health and associations. As in 1989, a wide variety of interests
<br /> and the Visiting Nurse Associaiton of the Upper Cape, and purposes are represented, including: Indian Educa-
<br /> included blood pressure clinics, diabetic screenings.. tion, hospice, civic and fraternal, voting, the environ-
<br /> cholesterol screenings, colo-rectal cancer screening and ment, scouting, amateur radio, Alcoholics Anonymous,
<br /> foot screening; eye testing and hearing testing were con- home and land associations and those concerned with the
<br /> ducted by volunteer area podiatrist, optometrist and health and welfare of the senior citizens of Mashpee.
<br /> audiologist, respectfully. Flu shots were administered by
<br /> the VNA to over 400 Mashpee residents in October and Despite a stagnant economy and consequent funding
<br /> November of 1990. limitations, be assured that our outlook is positive, our
<br /> enthusiasm high, and our dedication to improving the
<br /> Assistance programs provided by the Council and our quality of life for all of Mashpee's senior citizens
<br /> staff of trained volunteers included: medical and sup- unwavering.
<br /> plemental health insurance, financial counseling, income
<br /> tax preparation, fuel and weatherization assistance and Respectfully submitted,
<br /> commodity food distribution. Food and other necessities
<br /> of life were distributed by Council staff and volunteers For the Council on Aging officers and members:
<br /> to needy and/or homebound elderly during the
<br /> Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Robert Traylor, Vice Chairman
<br /> John Walsh, Treasurer
<br /> The Council offered many fitness and recreational pro- Elizabeth Jones, Secretary
<br /> grams during the year, including: exercise (2 classes); Evelyn Buschenfeldt, Member
<br /> walking group; arts; wood-carving; crafts; bridge(2 ses- Victor Berube, Member
<br /> sions); swimming; bowling; and many trips to plays, John Kosachook, Member
<br /> events and games. Our outdoor shuffleboard.court was
<br /> completed in 1990, but a painting problem prevented it's Robert Osborn
<br /> use.This minor problem should be corrected in the Spring Chairman
<br /> and the courts ready for use in the early Summer.
<br /> The senior survey was completed in December 1990 and
<br /> the results are being used to provide services and pro-
<br /> grams in those areas as expressed in the survey responses.
<br /> The survey responses also provided the information
<br /> necessary to do direct mailings to individuals who share
<br /> common interests or problems.
<br /> The Board of Selectmen have appointed a new Senior
<br /> Center Building Committee and plans are underway to
<br /> construct an addition to the Senior Center during 1991.
<br /> The life blood of our organization - our volunteers -
<br /> has reached one hundred in number. The valuable "co-
<br /> workers" are very active in transportation, friendly
<br /> visiting,telephone reassurance, the senior survey, office
<br /> work, the cable project, assisting at the nutrition site,
<br /> schools and library. It wold be impossible for us to
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