Westwood Senior Center Will Offer New Transportation Services in September

For seniors in the town of Westwood, the Council on Aging is providing a new service starting in September. Extra vans will allow drivers to pick up seniors around the community and drive them to important errands, to lunch and other daily activities.

“It allows seniors to go out and meet other people, get out of the house, be involved in the community, and get their errands done, “ Council on Aging Program Manager Trish Tuck said.

Right now, transportation is available to take seniors to the mall, trips to the Senior Center, and assistance to town events, as long as the person in need of service gives two-day notice. In addition, the Medical Van is available to take senior Westwood residents to their doctor’s appointments.

Tuck said the service would be one of many services already offered at the Westwood Senior Center.

“We have a very active community center,” Tuck said. Among some of the classes provided for seniors, Tuck said exercise classes including tai chi and yoga are very popular, in addition to low impact aerobics. In addition, the Senior Center has different presentations on history. Recently, one presentation was given on the first ladies of the Civil War and another was given on the Emancipation Proclamation, the executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln, which freed slaves in ten different states in the South.

Besides a history presentation, the Senior Center offers a bereavement group for seniors who have lost family members or friends, quilting and knitting, movies once a week, painting, manicures and waxing, in addition to free legal help.

“Some of our seniors need help with insurance or with Medicare, so that service is available for those who need it,” Tuck said.

Some of the other programs the Senior Center offers include all sorts of games, financial assistance classes, computer classes, musical programs, lunches at noon every Monday through Friday, tax preparation, a blood pressure clinic, a senior tax write-off program, amongst others. Classes are run by volunteers and are often in cooperation with other organizations. For instance, the tax preparation class is held in cooperation with the IRS and AARP. A trained volunteer provides assistance.

Tuck said for seniors in Westwood, the active community center is a valuable resource. “As you grow older, friends pass away or move away.  It’s nice when you retire, that there’s a place you can go. You can get lonely,” she said. “The Senior Center programs are a great way for them to meet new people. They are all part of the community still.”

Tuck said seniors who utilize the Senior Center and it’s programs are always very appreciative. “They love learning new things, they can use a computer. It gives them a purpose to get up and go out in the morning,” she said. “It gives you hope.”

For more information on the Senior Center, visit the town’s Council on Aging website.