Services and Activities of Berkshire County Councils on Aging (COAs)


Click on your town for specific information:

 

         Adams

         Alford

         Becket

         Cheshire

         Clarksburg

         Dalton

         Egremont

         Florida

         Gt. Barrington

         Hinsdale

         Hancock (No COA)

         Lanesboro

         Lee

         Lenox

         Monterey

         Mt. Washington (No Active COA)

         New Ashford (No COA)

         New Marlborough

         North Adams

         Otis

         Peru

         Pittsfield

         Richmond

         Sandisfield

         Savoy

         Sheffield

         Stockbridge

         Tyringham

         Washington

         West Stockbridge

         Williamstown

         Windsor




Adams Council on Aging:

 

Director:                 Barbara St. Pierre

Center:                   Community Center          

                           20 East Street 

                           Adams, MA 01220

Phone:                    (413) 743-8333

FAX:                        (413) 743-8334

Email Address:      bstpierr@town.adams.ma.us


Exercise/Fitness Classes:

 

Osteoporosis Class -                   2 classes/week in Social Day Care

Walking Club -                             Monday thru Friday at Community Center

Sit and Be Fit Chair Exercises -    Monday 1:00 p.m. at Community Center            

Water Classes for Seniors -         Saturdays at Hoosac Valley High School Pool

Call for current schedules.                                    


Health Testing and Information:

 

Are you OK? -                              365 Days Year/24 Hours a Day by Adams Police Dept.

Foot Clinic -                                 Monthly at Center - Call for Information

VNA Health Clinic -                      Monthly at Center - Call for Information

Blood Pressure Clinic -                Monthly at Center - Call for Information

Memory Screening -                    Available by appointment

Flu Shot Clinic -                           Yearly at the Center from Adams Board of Health

Adult Day Health Program -         Adams Social Day Care at the Center

File of Life -                                  Available to all


Education/Support:

 

SHINE Program -                         Information and Referral

AARP Tax Assistance -               Annually

VA Agent Support -                      Guest speaker

Legal Referrals -                          As needed

Nursing Home Information  

AARP Meeting

Lectures/Speakers -                    Regular educational speakers. Call for information.

Information and Referral  

Advocacy as needed

Caregivers Workshop -                Yearly or Twice Yearly at Town Hall

AARP Driving Course -                 Yearly


Social/Recreational:

 

Quilting Club -                               Nimble Fingers at Center Thursday 7:00 p.m.

                                                     Adams Quilters at Center Tuesday 1:00 p.m.

Line Dancing -                            Wednesday 1:00 p.m. at the Center

Sing a Longs -                             Monthly at center

Social Day Care -                        Monday thru Friday at Center

Painting -                                     Part of Social Day Care Program

Bingo -                                         Wednesday and Friday 10:30 a.m. at Center

Games -                                        Card Games Monday thru Friday

Intergenerational Programs -       with Youth Center and Local School AOAP


Community Services:


Visits, Calls, Cards to Homebound

Grocery Shopping by COA Van

Shopping trip to Supermarket - Weekly 


Transportation by COA Handicap Accessible Van:


To Medical Appointments and Social Activities in Adams, North Adams, Williamstown

To Center Meal Site -                  Monday thru Friday

To Other Places:                           Grocery store, hair, bank, visit family, library. Anywhere from Adams north.


Food Related:


Food Co-op - Mother Hubbard Food Co-op Monthly at Center.

Brown Bag Monthly at Center

Congregate Meals Monday thru Friday at Center





Alford Council on Aging:

 

Chair:                      Barbara Whelan

Phone:                    (413) 528-9238

Email Address:      farmedge@netzero.net


Excercise/Fitness Classes:

 

Osteoporosis Class:                     Wednesday at Egremont COA


Education/Support:


Quarterly Newsletter


Transportation:


To Medical Appointments and Meal Site through Southern Berkshire Elderly Transportation Company. (SBETC)



Food Related:


Alford, Egremont and Sheffield hold Annual Picnic for Seniors.




Becket Council on Aging:

 

Chair:                    Joan Moylan

                                Town Hall

                                557 Main Street (Route 8)

                                Becket, MA 01223

Phone:                    (413) 623-5830


Health Testing and Information:


Are you OK?

Foot Clinic

VNA Health Clinic

Blood Pressure Clinic

Weight Control

Flu Shot Clinic

Wellness Counseling

Nutrition Counseling

Hearing Clinic

File of Life


Education/Support:


Outreach Worker

AARP Tax Assistance

Newsletter

Legal Referrals

Nursing Home Information

Lectures/Speakers


Social/Recreational:


Day Trips

Bingo

Travel Club


Community Services:


Visits, Calls, Cards to Homebound

Grocery Shopping by Volunteers

Senior Work Off for tax credit


Transportation:


To Medical Appointments, Social Activities, and Meal Sites

by volunteers in their cars


Food Related:


Brown Bag

Out to Lunch Bunch

Pot Luck Luncheons/Dinners

Annual Picnic

Monthly Meal Site Parties

Project BREAD

Congregate Meals Tuesday and Thursday at Town Hall



 

Cheshire Council on Aging:

 

Chair:                     Anna Farnums

                                Senior Center

                                119 School Street

                                Cheshire, MA 01225

Phone:                    743-1172


Health Testing and Information:

 

Foot Clinic -                                  Every other month at Center

VNA Health Clinic -                       4th Wednesdays, 12 to 2 p.m. at Center

Blood Pressure Clinic -                 4th Wednesdays, 12 to 2 p.m. at Center

Annual Flu Clinic -                        at Center


Education and Support:


Quarterly Newsletter

Periodic Lectures & Speakers

Member trained in Crime Prevention available for lectures


Social/Recreational:

 

Social-                                           Twice a year with a dance and show.

Bingo-                                           Wednesdays after the COA meeting.

Art Classes-                                  Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Painting Classes-                          Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.


Community Services:


Visits, calls and cards to the homebound

Grocery Shopping by COA Van Mondays and Thursdays


Transportation:


COA Van to Medical Appointments Monday thru Thursday.

Van also available for laundromat and hospital visits. Call Town Hall, 743-1690.


Food Related:


Brown Bag

Town Picnic serves over 100 people.

Congregate Meals, serve about 20 per week, on Wednesday at Senior Center



 

Clarksburg Council on Aging:

 

Chair:                     Lily M. Kuzia

                                Town Hall

                                712 West Cross Road

                                Clarksburg, MA 01247

Phone:                  (413) 663-8253


Exercise/Fitness Classes:

 

Walking Club -                              Three times a week


Health Testing and Information:

 

Osteoporosis Program -               Lecture and Exercise Demonstration twice Annually

Flu Shot Clinic

Nutrition Counseling

File of Life


Education/Support:


Newsletter

Legal Referrals

Lectures/Speakers

Triad (Crime Prevention)

Information and Referral



Social/Recreational:


Line Dancing

Sing-a-Longs

Day Trips

Crafts Workshops

Bingo - Twice a month for 10 months of the year


Community Services:


Grocery Shopping by Volunteers

Senior Work off for Tax Credit


Transportation:


Volunteers using own cars bring elders to Medical Appointments, Social Activities, Meal Sites, Errands and Shopping.


Food-Related:


Brown Bag

Pot-Luck Luncheons

Monthly Breakfasts

Annual Picnic


Other:


Clarksburg COA is currently in Town Hall, but is awaiting new Senior Center construction. Once relocated, will enlarge schedule of events.



 

Dalton Council on Aging:

 

Director:             Susan Jacobs

Center:                   Dalton Community Center 

                           400 Main Street 

                           Dalton, MA 01226

Phone:                    (413) 684-2000

FAX:                    684-4033

Email Address:      dcoa@bcn.net


Exercise/Fitness Classes:

 

Osteoporosis Exercise -               Tuesday 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Thursday 10:00 a.m.


Health Testing and Information:

 

Foot Clinic -                                 4th Tuesday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Every other month at COA; other months at Pine Grove Manor

Blood Pressure Clinic -                3rd Thursday of the month 11:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.

                                                     

Glucose Testing -                        Instruction on glucometer use/interpretation of results

Flu Shot Clinic -                           Annually - Usually in November

Wellness Counseling -                 by Appointment

Nutrition Counseling -                   by Appointment

File of Life  


Education/Support: 

 

SHINE Program -                         15 Hours per week

Outreach Worker  

Quarterly Newsletter  

Legal Referrals

Nursing Home Information

Lectures/Speakers -                    Monthly Wellness Instruction

Triad (Crime Prevention) -           3rd Wednesday of the month - 1:00 p.m. at

                                                     Dalton VFW

Weekly Television Show -            Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Information and Referral


Social/Recreational:

 

Line Dancing -                             By Community Recreation Association (CRA) - Starting October 2002

Crafts Workshops -                      October, November and December each year

Painting -                                    Oil Painting Class

Travel Club -                                6 to 8 trips yearly

Intergenerational Programs -       Preschool Reading Program - Wednesday

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Dalton United Methodist Church

                                                     Occasionally with local schools

Life Group -                                  Round table conversations between community and nursing home residents. Meetings every other Monday 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Craneville Place Nursing Home.

 

Community Services:


Visits, Calls, Cards to Homebound

Grocery Shopping by Volunteers - As needed; generally on a weekly basis

Handyman Program -                  Provided by local Knights of Columbus thru

                                                     St. Agnes Parish

 

Volunteer Program -                    With annual Recognition Dinner


Transportation:

 

To Medical Appointments & Social Activities -  Dalton, Pittsfield

To Meal Sites -                            Dalton, Hinsdale

To Other Places -                       Employment/Shopping


By COA Van and by Volunteers in their cars


Food Related:


Food Co-op

SERVE Food Distribution

Sunday Lunches

Monthly Meal Site Parties

Congregate Meals Monday and Thursday at Grace Episcopal Church

Dalton serves residents of other towns.             



 

Egremont Council on Aging:

 

Chair:                      Rachel F. Shaw

                                Town Hall

                                Route 71

                                North Egremont, MA 01252

Phone:                    528-3488


Exercise/Fitness Classes:

 

Osteoporosis Exercise                  9:30 a.m. each Wednesday

(Exercise Program includes Alford, Sheffield and Gt. Barrington Seniors.)


Health Testing and Information:

 

Blood Pressure Clinic -                 11:30 first Wednesday of month, Town Hall

Flu Shot Clinic -                            Annually, Town Hall

 

Education/Support:         

 

Newsletter -                                  Annually in June

AARP Meeting -                            Gt. Barrington Senior Center, Second Tues., 2 p.m.

Durable Medical Equipment -       COA accepts good used equipment and redistributes.


Social/Recreational:

 

Bingo -                                          12:30 Tuesday, Gt. Barrington Senior Center

Holiday Luncheon -                       Around Dec. 10, for older singles and/or shut-ins.


Community Services:

 

Calls to Homebound -                   Made daily in evenings

Senior Work-Off for Tax Credit -   Wednesday Noon, Egremont Town Hall


Transportation:


Elders transported by Gt. Barrington van system, SBETC, (supported in part by Egremont COA) to Medical Appointments, Social Activities, and Meal Sites.


Food-Related:

 

Annual Picnic -                              Shared picnic with Sheffield, and Alford, approx. 100 attend.



Florida Council on Aging:

 

Chair:           Sue Olesen

                       367 Mohawk Trail

                       Drury, MA 01343

Phone:         (413) 662-2811

e-mail:          flmass@bcn.net


Health Testing and Information:

 

File of Life -  Sent to each senior household; also available thru Fire Department.


Education/Support:

 

SHINE Program -    Trained SHINE volunteer available for counseling in person or by phone.

Newsletter -             Monthly except July & August. Health-related articles, SHINE information, Town News, Birthdays.

Occasional Lectures/Speakers  

Information and Referral


Community Services:


Cards to hospitalized seniors and sympathy cards to bereaved.


Transportation:


To medical appointments by volunteers using own cars.


Food-related:


Annual Christmas Party - First Friday in December

 

 


 

Great Barrington Council on Aging:

 

Director:                 Grace Zbell

Center:                   Claire Teague Senior Center

                                909 South Main Street

                                Gt. Barrington, MA 01230

Phone:                    528-1881

FAX:                       528-1881 - Call first to have them switch to Fax Mode


Exercise/Fitness Classes:

 

Yoga -                                           Wednesdays

Fall Prevention -                           Wednesdays

Tai Chi -                                        Tuesdays and Fridays

Aerobics -                                     Mondays and Thursdays

Line Dancing -                              Tuesdays

Senior Swim -                               Wednesdays through September


Health Testing and Information:

 

Foot Clinic -                                  First Friday of the month

Osteoporosis Program -               Fall Prevention- Wednesdays

Blood Pressure Clinic -                 First and last Thursdays

Weight Watchers -   Wednesdays

Flu Shot Clinic -                            VNA in November

Nutrition Counseling -                   Speaker on Diabetic Diet

Hearing Clinic -                             First Thursdays

Diabetes Support Group -             Second Tuesdays

File of Life -                                   Info kept on file

First Alert -                                    Info kept on file


Education/Support:

 

SHINE Program -                          Counseling by Appointment

AARP Tax Assistance -                February

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren - Support Group monthly

Farmers’ Market Coupons -         Annually

Newsletter -                                  Monthly, distribution over 400 copies

Legal Referrals  

Nursing Home Information -         speakers on occasion

AARP Meeting -                            Monthly

Lectures/Speakers -                     Health issues - monthly speakers

Television Show -                         Local Channel 11


Social/Recreational:

 

Quilting Club -                               Every other Friday 1:00 p.m.

Line Dancing -                     Tuesday 1:00 p.m.

Sing a Longs -                              Wednesday 11:30 a.m.

Day Trips -                                   Monthly Bus trips

Painting -                                      3 Art Classes, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday

Bingo -                                          Tues. 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; Thurs. 10:00 a.m.

Activities Day -                              Memory Game - Sing-a-long

Movies -                                        movie and muffins once a month

Art Classes -                                 Call for information

Literature/Poetry Classes -           Poetry Class every Wednesday; Literature group led by professor from Berkshire Community College

Bridge Club -                                 Friday at 1:00 p.m.

Games -                                        Scrabble Monday at 12:30 p.m.

Pool (Billiards) -                            Every day

Bowling -                                       Friday mornings (Senior League)

Writers Group -                             Monday Night (summer)

Travel Club -                                 Senior Travel Club


Community Services:


Visits, Calls, Cards to Homebound

 -Grocery Shopping by COA Van - Every Wednesday and Friday,

                                                     Otis and Sandisfield Thursday

Grocery Shopping by Volunteers

Activity Programs at lunch


Transportation by COA Van and volunteers in their cars:


Medical Appointments

Social Activities -                          After Hour Social Activities, local plays, etc.

Meal Sites

Lunch in local restaurants once a month.


Food Related:


Brown Bag

Out to Lunch Bunch

Pot Luck Luncheons/Dinners

Monthly Breakfasts

Dessert Gatherings

Annual Picnic

Sunday Lunches

Monthly Meal Site Parties

Congregate Meals Monday thru Friday at Senior Center


Other: Great Barrington serves residents of 9 southern Berkshire towns.



Hinsdale Council on Aging:

 

Director:                 Martha Freshler

Phone:                    (413) 655-2652


Exercise/Fitness Classes:

 

Walking -                                       Wednesday, Friday 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Are you OK? -                              Through Triad

Blood Pressure Clinic -                4th Wednesday 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Flu Shot Clinic -                           VNA

File of Life -                                  Through Triad


Social/Recreational:

 

Day Trips -                                   Call for info

Bingo -                                        Wednesday & Friday at noon

Book Lending Library -                Wednesday & Friday A.M.


Community Services:


Grocery Shopping by Volunteers - As needed.


Transportation:

 

To Medical Appointments and meal site by volunteers in their cars.

Food Related:

 

Sunday Lunches -                        Dalton - Location varies

Congregate Meals -                     Wednesday, Friday 11:30 a.m. at Town Hall


Hinsdale serves residents of other towns, and has a Food Pantry which is sponsored by the two local churches.



Lanesborough Council on Aging:

 

Director:               Debbie Decelles

                                Town Hall

                                83 North Main Street

                                P. O. Box 1492

                                Lanesborough, MA 01237

Phone:                    (413) 448-2682


Exercise/Fitness Classes:

 

Fall Prevention -                          Weekly

Walking Club -                             Tuesday and Thursdays


Health Testing and Information:

 

Blood Pressure Clinic -                Monthly

Flu Shot Clinic -                           Yearly


Education/Support:

 

Newsletter -                                 Quarterly


Social/Recreational:

 

Day Trips -                                   4 Per Year, 1 Week Long Trip

Pool (Billiards) -                           Tuesday Afternoon

Cards -                                         Tuesday and Thursday


Community Services:


Grocery Shopping by COA Van - Thursdays or as needed

Senior Work Off for tax credit -    Each person works 75 hours for $500.00 rebate


Transportation:


Medical Appointments, Social Activities, Meal Site, Hairdresser, library, post office, education, employment, in Lanesborough and Pittsfield


Food Related:

 

Pot Luck Luncheons/Dinners -     Monthly

Congregate Meals -                     Tuesday and Thursday at Town Hall



Lee Council on Aging:


Director or Chair: Norma Maroney

Center:                   Lee COA 

                           Railroad St. 

                           Lee, MA 01238

Phone:                    (413) 243-5545 

                           

Exercise/Fitness Classes:

 

Osteoporosis Exercise -              Monday 9:00 a.m.



Health Testing and Information:

 

Are you OK? -                              Town Community Center

Foot Clinic -                                 2nd Tuesday each month

Osteoporosis Exercise Class

Blood Pressure Clinic -                4th Tuesday each month

Flu Shot Clinic -                           Annually, LVNA

Hearing Clinic -       3rd Thursday each month

File of Life -             Given Ambulance Squad


Education/Support:

 

SHINE Program -                         By appointment Monday thru Thursday

AARP Tax Assistance -               February and March

AA Support Group -                     Weekly, Wednesday 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Newsletter -                                 Monthly

Lectures/Speakers

Information and Referral


Social/Recreational:

 

Line Dancing -                             Thursday 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Sing a Longs -                             Holidays

Day Trips -                                   4 to 6 times a year