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Report of the
<br />Council on Aging
<br />To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the
<br />Citizens of the Town of Mashpee:
<br />The Council on Aging is a department of the
<br />Town of Mashpee. Its charge is to sponsor, coordinate,
<br />or conduct human service, educational, social and
<br />recreational services and programs at the Mashpee
<br />Senior Center, as well as to identify and create
<br />opportunities and solutions for the empowerment and
<br />betterment of the Town's seniors and their care
<br />partners. This is accomplished with the support of a
<br />volunteer advisory board, also known as the Council
<br />on Aging, which met on the second Wednesday of the
<br />month at the Mashpee Senior Center. The meetings
<br />were, and shall remain, open to the public.
<br />David Egel was elected as Chairman, Marijo
<br />Gorney was elected Vice -Chairperson, Virginia
<br />McIntyre was elected Treasurer, and Jean Noussee was
<br />elected Secretary. Other members include Norah
<br />McCormick; and Rachel Hodgman and Michael
<br />Murphy, who joined the board in 2019.
<br />Town Clerk records indicate that there were 1,536
<br />seniors in Mashpee in 1990, and 3,050 seniors as of the
<br />Year 2000 census. A check with the Town Clerk in
<br />2019 showed a tally of 5,961 seniors, which represents
<br />39% of the population of Mashpee.
<br />In 2019, Activity Coordinator Julie Silva planned
<br />and scheduled many new and successful programs, such
<br />as a seated dance class, genealogy classes, meditation
<br />classes, presentations on vaping, stroke, a stop the bleed
<br />training, a chili tasting, corn hole tournament, AARP
<br />safe driving course, presentations on reverse mortgages
<br />and medical debt by South Coastal Counties Legal
<br />Services, a step challenge program, a self-defense class
<br />conducted by the Mashpee Police department, a talk on
<br />emergency preparedness conducted by the Mashpee Fire
<br />department, etc. In addition, through the Town's
<br />contract with the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape
<br />Cod, health programs including a health fair, three-part
<br />nutrition series, Fit and Strong exercise classes, group
<br />health coaching, etc., and a monthly coffee hour with a
<br />nurse, were conducted at the Senior Center. We continue
<br />to research, plan and conduct activities and programs to
<br />meet the diverse needs and interests of the entire senior
<br />community, from baby boomers to those in their 90's.
<br />Also, in 2019 a significant upgrade of the audiovisual
<br />equipment at the Senior Center was completed.
<br />There were personnel changes in 2019. The
<br />Minibus Driver, Robert Morton retired after thirteen
<br />years of service. The Council on Aging wishes to
<br />express our gratitude for his many years of service and
<br />dedication to Mashpee seniors. Outreach Coordinator
<br />Lauren Haddad resigned to accept a new position, and
<br />Lori Nelson was hired to assume the position. Lori
<br />possesses a Master's degree in counseling and has
<br />significant experience working with people with
<br />behavioral health challenges and disabilities. Also,
<br />through the support of the State formula grant, the
<br />department was successful in adding a Part -Time
<br />Outreach Coordinator position, needed due to the
<br />significant growth of the senior population in Mashpee.
<br />Both of these outreach positions focus on assisting
<br />seniors to live safely and independently in the Town,
<br />by providing seniors with information and referrals to
<br />housing, home care, transportation services, fuel
<br />assistance, other financial and food assistance
<br />programs, caregiver support, etc.
<br />The Council on Aging, through the Mashpee
<br />Senior Center, promoted a number of volunteer
<br />opportunities both at the Senior Center and in the
<br />community. With the assistance of our Volunteer and
<br />Program Support Coordinator Nina Cocomazzi, the
<br />Council on Aging benefitted from 175 citizens who
<br />volunteered their skills, talents, abilities, and shared
<br />their time with their fellow seniors. They volunteered
<br />in many areas including, friendly visiting,
<br />transportation, newsletter mailings, Senior Center
<br />clerical tasks, Senior Center reception desk,
<br />entertainment and activity leadership, brown bag food
<br />distribution, etc. In June 2019 the Council on Aging
<br />recognized our volunteers for their service at our
<br />annual volunteer breakfast. Receiving the "Most
<br />Valuable Volunteer" recognition was Charles Bellone
<br />for nearly ten years of service friendly visiting several
<br />of Mashpee's older men, to provide companionship.
<br />Receiving the "Rookie Volunteer of the Year" was
<br />Lawrence Bonfilio, who provided countless hours of
<br />transportation service. All our volunteers, as well as
<br />the volunteers of the Mashpee Public Library, were
<br />recognized at this successful event.
<br />In 2019 Mashpee Council on Aging Director
<br />Lynne Waterman continued serving as a member of
<br />COAST (Cape Cod Senior Center Directors), as a
<br />member of the Mashpee Inclusion and Diversity
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