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Report of the 2022 was a momentous year for the Mashpee
<br /> Council on Aging. The COA said goodbye to former
<br /> Council on Aging Director, Lynne Waterman, who retired after 34 years
<br /> with the town; 25 as the Outreach Coordinator and
<br /> nine as the Director. We'd like to thank Lynne for
<br /> To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the her professionalism and dedication to Mashpee and
<br /> Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: its seniors; her accomplishments over the years will
<br /> The Council on Aging is a department of the continue to benefit the Council on Aging.The Council
<br /> Town of Mashpee.Its charge is to sponsor,coordinate, on Aging also said goodbye to part-time Outreach
<br /> or conduct human service, educational, social and Coordinator, Darlene Perkins in May. We'd like to
<br /> recreational services and programs at the Mashpee thank Darlene, as well as Assistant Town Manager,
<br /> Senior Center, as well as to identify and create Wayne Taylor, for filling in while the search for a
<br /> opportunities and solutions for the empowerment new Director was being conducted. In May, the town
<br /> and betterment of the Town's seniors and their care welcomed Heidi McLaughlin as the new Council on
<br /> partners. This is accomplished with the support of a Aging Director. Heidi was the Assistant Recreation
<br /> volunteer advisory board, also known as the Council Director for Mashpee Recreation for 18 years.
<br /> on Aging. In 2022, a long-term board member The Council on Aging Outreach Coordinators
<br /> Virginia McIntyre retired after serving decades on assisted Mashpee seniors and their caregivers by
<br /> the Board. Current board members include Chairman providing information,support and referral to resources
<br /> David Egel, Vice-Chairperson Michael Murphy, and such as housing, home care, grocery shopping,
<br /> Secretary Rachel Hodgeman. Other members include transportation, fuel assistance, medical equipment,
<br /> Colleen Meehan and Merrill Blum. New member financial assistance programs, and caregiver support,
<br /> Sherry Norman was appointed on November 7, 2022. etc. Early in 2022, Outreach spent significant time
<br /> The board continues to meet on the second Wednesday assisting people in obtaining COVID vaccines. This
<br /> morning of the month. was extremely valuable for those individuals with no
<br /> Town Clerk records indicate that there were access or ability to use the vaccine website. Outreach
<br /> 1,536 seniors in Mashpee in 1990, and 3,050 seniors was successful at finding vaccine appointments for all
<br /> as of the 2000 census.A check with the Town Clerk in those requesting support. Outreach worked with the
<br /> 2022 showed a tally of 6,686 seniors,an increase of 97 Board of Health to obtain vaccines for those identified
<br /> seniors in one year.
<br /> housebound residents. All Outreach programs have
<br /> been fully operational in 2022. This includes the
<br /> After a few years of dealing with the challenges of Friendly Visitor program, the Greater Boston Food
<br /> COVID,the Council on Aging has not only returned to Bank low income food program called "The Brown
<br /> its previous levels,but the number of program offerings Bag", the Reaching Seniors program, the 90+
<br /> and attendees has increased significantly.A few of our birthday program, Police and Fire Interface, and the
<br /> most popular programs continue to be Zumba, Yoga, Reassurance program. The Outreach programs ending
<br /> and the Sea Mist senior swim program,which resumed with the Holiday Gift program serving 40 individuals
<br /> in September. The benefits of the Council on Aging's who are isolated, alone or experienced a significant
<br /> Senior Center have become more valuable to our senior event during the year.
<br /> residents as evident by their increased use of the Senior
<br /> Center programming. To continue to enhance our The Outreach Coordinator completed Boston
<br /> mission of helping seniors remain socially connected, University's School of Social Works Behavioral Health
<br /> mentally engaged, and physically active, we sent out in Aging Program in 2022.
<br /> more than sixty broadcast emails throughout the year The Council on Aging minibus transportation
<br /> to our members. We also continued with the mailing service operated throughout the entire year. 1,484
<br /> of our monthly newsletter to those 80 and older and to individual passenger trips were provided, serving 471
<br /> individuals requesting it. Finally, the COA continued Mashpee seniors and a total of 7,571 miles were driven.
<br /> writing a weekly column for the Mashpee Enterprise The minibus operated three days per week on Monday,
<br /> and providing a monthly script for Mashpee TV. Wednesday and Friday between 9:OOam — 1:30pm.
<br /> Seniors were provided with a safe and reliable means
<br /> of transportation to medical and dental appointments,
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