CUMBERLAND — How the community can help its seniors, and what seniors in turn can offer, will be topics at the town’s Aging in Place Committee forum Saturday, Oct. 31.
The forum – to be held at Greely Middle School from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. – is an opportunity for the committee to “start a dialogue with the community,” panel Chairman Dale Denno said Oct. 15. “It’s also to make people aware of what services are already available to them.”
The committee, formed last September by the Town Council, offers seniors help with transportation, medical equipment, getting enough food, keeping warm safely during the winter and fuel assistance. The committee’s website, aginginplacecommittee.wordpress.com/committee, offers information on local activities, as well as help with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Along with making residents more familiar with the Aging in Place program, next week’s forum also delves into the medical, home-based and transportation resources available for seniors.
Town Manager Bill Shane and School Administrative District 51 Superintendent Jeff Porter will take questions from community members about issues such as property taxes and public school costs, according to Denno.
The event is open to all ages. “A lot of people who talk to us have parents … or neighbors or friends that are aging, or are thinking about their own future in this community,” Denno explained.
“We’re really shooting for … more of a sense of community,” he added. “Not just what can we do for older people, but what can we as a community do for each other to be supportive, and make a better community.”
Denno noted that it’s not just about providing services to older people, but also involving them more in the community, through volunteer activities such as working in the schools.
“It’s not just a one-way street,” Denno added.
The 351 Tuttle Road event is free, and lunch will be provided. Those who plan to attend are asked to RSVP by calling 829-2205 so meals can be planned. Transportation is available by request, and registration is at 9:30 a.m.
Since the event is being held on Halloween, costumes are optional.
Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.
Dale Denno is chairman of Cumberland’s Aging in Place Committee, which will hold a forum Saturday, Oct. 31.
Copy the Story LinkSend questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.