By Kathy Kurtz Ferrari
Staff Writer
5/14/09
Even though a column runs regularly in the Milton Times keeping readers up to date on the happenings of the Council on Aging, Director Mary Ann Sullivan still has a hard time getting the word out about just what the COA is.
The impressive facility in which it’s housed, located at 10 Walnut St., behind Town Hall, was built eight years ago. But Sullivan said people still have a misconception about what goes on inside the yellow building.
“I had a man walk in off the street the other day and he said, ‘Where are your residents? … Isn’t this like a nursing home?’ So a huge part of what we do is trying to demystify what the Council on Aging is,” said Sullivan, as she guided a visitor around the building. “We’re not a nursing home. We’re not an overnight facility.”
Part of the problem with the identity and the reluctance of some to find out more, Sullivan and Transportation Director Philip Driscoll feel, is the name. When the new center was being built, they wanted to have it called the “Center for Living,” rather than “Aging.”
“A lot of the problem is they don’t want to get through the front door,” explained Driscoll. “Once they get in the front door, they’re fine.”
The COA and its workers offer services such as get-togethers, financial and legal advice, transportation, and even cooking classes to the town’s seniors. Any resident over the age of 60 is eligible to utilize the many offerings.
On any given day, a visitor can take part in knitting classes, yoga, chair aerobic exercise classes, and even the newly popular Tai Chi. Every Friday the
council offers lunch and a movie, and they even have raucous rounds of Wii, the video game that gets participants up and moving.
And Sullivan is quick to point out some stereotypical activities that you won’t find.
“In the 16 years I’ve been here, we have never done a trip to Foxwoods. We don’t do Bingo. That’s not what we want to promote. We want to promote healthy aging. We want to promote the fact that seniors, when they take care of their mind and their body, they can still be valuable contributors in their community,” she stressed.
A visit inside the welcoming COA dwelling confirms the town’s commitment to all of its residents. Along with new schools, the renovated library, and a quality community hospital, it’s
apparent the COA is another reason why Milton continues to hold its real estate value.
The most utilized service the COA provides is transportation. On average, over 800 rides per month are provided to the town’s seniors via the council’s five vehicles. Trips are taken to medical appointments, grocery store and pharmacy visits, and many other destinations both locally and in Boston. The COA asks riders to make a donation for its use, but the system only generates a small amount of funds.
The COA is a department funded by the town, albeit with one of the smallest budgets, according to Sullivan. Gas for the van transportation alone quickly depletes the budget, so the council needs to do a lot of fund-raising. There are six part-time van drivers, as well.
The town pays $6,000 a year for gas, and $18,000 for the drivers’ salaries, but according to Sullivan, $63,000 was needed last year on salaries alone. The COA also receives a generous annual donation from the Copeland Foundation, which she said is much appreciated.
The COA is gearing up for its largest fund-raiser, the 13th annual Friends of the Milton Council on Aging Golf Tournament, which is slated for Monday, June 1, at the Hoosic Club in Canton. With the sluggish economy, donations have been lagging, and Sullivan explained that this year’s tournament is being planned “on a wing and a prayer.”
Many businesses in the community have been habitually supportive of the seniors, which ensures the programs can continue to be offered.
“For this golf tournament, we’re out there literally begging people for donations, because we’re so passionate about it,” Sullivan explained, acknowledging how the economy has impacted charitable donations across the board. “Anything we can do to raise funds to keep this going. It’s certainly not a fiscally sound way to run a program, but it’s what keeps us going.”
Last year, the Friends of the COA raised $18,000 on the golf tournament.
“This year if we make $10,000 I’ll be very, very happy,” Sullivan said.
The passion she has for her job is contagious, as there are several others at the COA who dedicate themselves to the cause of taking care of the town’s elder residents. Sullivan’s COA News column in the Times often mentions Driscoll, whom she describes as “better than a husband.” Also on staff are Outreach Coordinator Nancy Stuart and Outreach Worker Alice Mercer.
“It’s a fun place to work,” said Driscoll, adding that he’s anxious to get to work early every day.
“I think we all feel the same way,” added Sullivan. “It’s a privilege to work with the seniors. We learn so much from them.”
The COA is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.miltoncouncilonaging.org or call (617) 898-4893.