The word “aging” in the acronym COA is too narrow a description for the work and the services provided by the Tri-Town councils on aging. On any given day, hundreds of seniors benefit from everything from an educational class, exercise, shopping, filling out complicated federal forms, or dental cleanings. Supporting a human being in nearly all areas of their lives is the job of a council on aging. Primarily for those 60 years of age and older, COAs also help younger folks and sometimes entire family units.
“I had a person call asking about services for her 92 year old father who had just moved into their home,” says Susan Schwager, director for Marion COA.
Until the day a parent comes to live with their family, contacting a COA is probably not on the adult child’s radar screen. But in reaching out to the COA, the family begins a crash course in taking care of an aging parent. That can be daunting, but with the assistance of the COA, navigation is easier.
Schwager understands how families may feel.
“I try not to overwhelm them with too much information all at once,” said Schwager. “I give them enough to get them started thinking about what types of services they might use and then tell them to come back to me with questions.”
For Schwager and Marion’s outreach coordinator, Oro Mae Torres, their days are filled with providing referral information and connecting the dots between an elder’s need and a service provider. But Marion’s COA does even more.
“We are the social services agency for the town,” Schwager said. With the construction of Little Neck Village and Marion Village Estates, said Schwager, the COA is assisting a much larger group of residents than in decades past. “We provide transportation too,” she added, taking people to doctor appointments, shopping, or numerous other places and residents, other than seniors, benefit from this service.
In Mattapoisett, COA Director Jackie Coucci’s philosophy is that seniors should “live longer, stronger.”
Coucci’s office also provides referral services and has seen what happens when families or individuals are trying to source help.
“People tend to be reactive rather than proactive,” said Coucci. In a reactive situation, time may be of the essence in getting someone help, Coucci said, while in proactive situations the senior may just be exploring what’s available to enhance their lives as they transition from full-time employment to retirement. In both cases, a COA can make all the difference.
“I can send out numerous press releases to newspapers but, until something is relevant to a person, they might not read it and wouldn’t know of a program or service that could help them at some point.” This, Coucci said, is why she often releases duplicate notices.
“When someone reduces their working hours, they can spend a bit more time thinking about themselves and what they want to do,” she said. “We can help them prepare for the future.” She continued, “We know how to access the help someone may need rather than the person struggling to pull information together on their own.” With Outreach Coordinator Susan Keir as part of the team, Mattapoisett residents and their families can more easily network for assistance.
Coucci also encourages seniors to share their talents with others.
“This is the place to use the skills and talents you’ve developed over time. It’s an opportunity to help others,” said Coucci. “Be that teaching someone the game of backgammon or supporting someone going through difficulties.”
Like Marion, Mattapoisett also provides seniors with transportation to shopping and activities held in other locations. The FISH program augments transportation needs in this community by providing rides to medical appointments.
Over in Rochester, the COA is well entrenched in the daily lives of seniors and others.
“This is a grassroots operation and the first stop for many people,” says Rochester COA Director Sharon Lally. “We either have what they need here or can lead them to the right source.” Along with Outreach Coordinator Lorraine Thompson, Lally’s agency services a wide-ranging population.
Lally said, due to Rochester’s community culture, the COA building is a hub for sourcing all types of services, whether the resident is a senior or not. And as for transportation she said, “We are the MBTA…. We provide transportation for the entire town. We are the human services agency for the town. Everybody comes here for everything.”
She said that because the building is used for a variety of community activities, such as voting, the residents know about the COA.
Of the 1,522 individuals that the Rochester COA serviced in fiscal year 2015, 32 percent were male.
“Unlike some other COAs, we see a lot of men.” And she said that they see caregivers, people under the age of 60, who are taking care of family members contacting the COA for help. Lally added that ‘out-of-towners’ also figure in to the total serviced.
“We see a lot of people from New Bedford,” Lally said.
The range of programs and services provided by the COAs is vast, indeed. Whether a person needs a simple referral to a local doctor, needs nursing assistance, help in managing finances, or even sourcing food, the COA can help. And, if someone is looking to get involved with a program that offers a social outlet like line dancing, exercising, or simply sharing a cup of coffee before heading out on a day trip in the senior van, the COA is there.
But the business of helping others gets serious when families need to pull together services for a loved one. That’s when knowing the COA is the best place to start is critical.
“If we don’t have the answer,” Schwager said, “we know where to go and get the answer.”
For a full list of services available from your community’s COA, contact Susan Schwager in Marion at 508-748-3570, in Mattapoisett contact Jackie Coucci at 508-758-4110, and in Rochester contact Sharon Lally at 508-763-8723.
By Marilou Newell
