Councils on Aging – homes away from homes
All 32 cities and towns in Berkshire County have Councils on Aging (COAs), municipal departments dedicated to the needs of the senior population. Since 1956, the mission of COAs, which rely heavily on volunteers, has been to link seniors’ needs and resources by developing and coordinating services, community education, and advocacy.
While each COA is unique to its community, services commonly offered include information and referral, transportation, outreach, food distribution programs, health education and screening, fitness, social and recreational programs, supportive adult day care, pre-retirement programs, computer training, and many other activities and services.
Through the use of dedicated volunteers, many COAs also provide grocery shopping assistance, telephone reassurance, friendly visiting, and other in-home activities, peer support groups, supportive day care, educational lectures and trainings, computer training, and inter-generational programs — all developed in response to their community’s needs.
There are 19 senior centers in the Berkshires, ranging from part-time volunteer-staffed rooms in town halls to multipurpose COA facilities with exercise and recreational space. Many of the senior centers serve hot noontime meals prepared by Elder Services’ nutrition program. Senior centers are truly a “home away from home” for Berkshire County’s 30,000 seniors. They are an important part of a county-wide senior network making it possible for seniors to remain independent and productive for as long as possible. Please refer to the list of Berkshire County Councils on Aging for additional information about the COAs.
Berkshire Councils on Aging
TOWN/CITY .............CONTACT PERSON......ADDRESS..............PHONE
Adams ............Barbara St. Pierre, Director ..........Community Center, 20 East Street............743-8333
Alford .............Barbara Whelan, Chair ..................11 Jay Lane ............................................528-9238
Becket .............Joan Moylan ................................Town Hall, 557 Main Street......................623-8934
Cheshire ..........Anna Farnams, Chair .....................37 Flaherty Road, P.O. Box 411............ 743-1172
Clarksburg .......Lily Kuzia, Chair ..............................Senior Center, 712 W. Cross Road.......663-8253
Dalton ..............Susan Jacobs, Director ................Community Center, 400 Main Street..........684-2000
Egremont .........Rachel Shaw, Chair .........................P.O. Box 368 .......................................528-3488
Florida .............Suzan Oleson, Director .............Senior Center, 367 Mohawk Trail, Drury.......662-2811
Gt. Barrington ....Grace Zbell, Director .......Claire Teague Senior Ctr., 909 S. Main Street.......528-1881
Hancock .............Joan Burdick ........................P.O. Box 1084 ..............................................738-5225
Hinsdale .............Amy Wohl ...........................P.O. Box 209 .................................................655-2652
Lanesboro .........Debbie Decelles, Director .............Town Hall, North Main Street..................448-2682
Lee ...................Norma Maroney, Director ................21 Crossway .......................................243-5545
Lenox .................Sue Holmes .............Community Center, 65 WalkerStreet............................637-5535
Mt. Washington ........Leslie Ann Fitch ...................Town Hall, 118 East Street.........................528-2839
Monterey ..................Cynthia Weber ..................................P.O. Box 308 ..............................528-2839
New Ashford.............Select Board ...........................Town Hall, Mallery Road.........................458-5461
New Marlboro ...........Margaret Smith, Chair ....................P.O. Box 99, Mill River ..................229-8278
North Adams ............Sandra Lamb, Director .........Spitzer Center, 116 Ashland Street........... 662-3125
Otis ............................Pat Ryan ............................................P.O. Box 237.............................269-0100
Peru ...........................Dawn Warner, Chair ........................P.O. Box 179 ..............................655-8280
Pittsfield ........Jean Beauchemin, Director ..........Ralph J. Froio Senior Ctr., 330 North Street.....499-9346
Richmond .................Joanne Lahey ...................................Town Hall, 1529 State Road............698-3319
Sandisfield ...............Mary Slater ......................................P.O. Box 603 ..................................258-4711
Savoy .........................Ronna Brandt ....................................720 Main Street ...........................743-4290
Sheffi eld ...................John-Arthur Miller .............................Dewey Hall, Box 327 ....................229-7022
Stockbridge ..............Beth McCormack, Director .............P.O. Box 514 ..................................298-3118
Tyringham .................Barbara Adams ................................P.O. Box 415 ................................ 243-3297
Washington ...............Lorraine Deane ................................282 Stonehouse Road .....................655-0232
W. Stockbridge ........Joan Rehn, Chair ...........................165 W. Center Road .........................232-4317
Williamstown .....Brian O’Grady, Director .......Harper Senior Center, 118 Church Street............458-8250
Windsor .....................Paul Hoag ........................................1220 Old Route 9 ..........................684-3882