FY 2027 Budget Narrative: Franklin Council on Aging (COA) / Franklin Senior Center

From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.

General Purpose

The Franklin Council on Aging (COA) / Franklin Senior Center enhances the independence and quality of life of Franklin’s older adults by identifying evolving needs and delivering programs, services, and supports that promote mental, social, emotional, and physical well-being. We serve as a community focal point for aging issues and a trusted access point for resources, benefits navigation, and caregiver support. The Senior Center serves as a liaison to local, state, and federal resources for the aging population and their families.

Our work strengthens community health by reducing isolation, supporting caregivers, and helping older adults remain safely in their homes for as long as possible.

Core Functions

● Programming and Community Engagement: Provide a wide range of social, educational, cultural, and wellness programs that foster connection and support healthy aging. These programs help prevent social isolation, which is linked to increased risks of depression, cognitive decline, and other health concerns among older adults. Participation tracking is essential to program planning and to demonstrating impact for municipal and grant funding.

● Nutrition and food access: Provide daily nutrition services for both the public and participants in the Supportive Day Program. Through the Common Grounds Café, the Senior Center offers weekday breakfast and lunch, creating an accessible space for residents to enjoy affordable meals and social connection.

● Dementia-capable programming and caregiver support: The Senior Center hosts a daily supportive day program (Sunshine Club) for individuals with dementia/cognitive decline and older adults experiencing social isolation, offering structured engagement and respite for caregivers.

● Health, wellness, and prevention supports: Offer prevention-focused supports to help residents manage chronic conditions and stay active. These services include educational programs, support groups, basic health screenings, and access to wellness resources that support the physical, emotional, and social well-being of older adults.

● Social services, advocacy, and benefits navigation: Assist older adults and their families with resource connections, referrals, applications, and advocacy. This includes housing guidance, benefits enrollment assistance (such as SNAP, MassHealth, and fuel assistance, support), navigating Medicare and insurance questions, and referrals to home care and other community services that help residents remain safe and independent.

● Provide transportation through the Senior Center van to reduce barriers to participation and help residents access programs, essential services, and community connection. Serve as a liaison with the local Regional Transit Authority and other transportation providers to help older adults access medical appointments and regional services.

Staffing

● One (1) Director

● One (1) Deputy Director

● One (1) Executive Assistant

● One (1) part-time Administrative Assistant

● One (1) Chef & Kitchen Manager

● Two (2) part-time Line Cooks

● One (1) Transportation and Volunteer Coordinator

● Two (2) part-time Van Drivers

● One (1) Social Service Coordinator

● One (1) Activities Coordinator

● One (1) Supportive Day Coordinator

● One (1) Supportive Day and Special Projects Coordinator

● One (1) part-time Community Wellness Nurse

 

Strategic Initiatives & Accomplishments

● Demonstrated significant community impact through measurable growth in membership, program delivery, nutrition services, respite hours, volunteer engagement, and social service support.

● Expanded access to programs through implementation of an online registration platform, improving ease of enrollment, reducing administrative barriers, and increasing participation accessibility.

● Secured external grant funding to expand health and wellness programming and improve accessibility. The Senior Center received $24,660 in grant funding to modernize the fitness space and replace aging equipment with two recumbent bikes, two seated ellipticals, and two treadmills, improving access to safe,

low-impact exercise options for older adults. In addition, the Franklin Cultural Council awarded $1,800 to support a monthly Memory Café, a welcoming, social gathering designed for individuals living with memory loss and their care partners.

● Maintained continuity of operations during a temporary building closure by relocating programs to partner sites, ensuring uninterrupted access to meals, social engagement, and essential services. During this period, the Senior Center delivered 49 programs across eight off-site locations, allowing vital services, including respite care through the supportive day program, food services, fitness classes, and support groups, to continue without interruption while demonstrating strong cross-community collaboration and continuity planning.

● Strengthened caregiver support infrastructure through expanded respite programming and dedicated caregiver appreciation initiatives.

● Delivered large-scale community-wide events that strengthened connection, reduced social isolation, and fostered intergenerational engagement. In the calendar year 2025, the Franklin Senior Center hosted several signature events, including Winter Wonderland (523 attendees), Senior Olympics (112 participants), and the first Caregiver Appreciation Day (serving 77 caregivers and their families).

● Strengthen operational efficiency through program review and stabilization: As participation and service demand continue to grow, FY27 will focus on reviewing programs, processes, and scheduling to ensure the department is making the most effective use of existing resources. With participation expected to continue rising, staff will prioritize efficiencies and thoughtful program evaluation to ensure the Senior Center can continue delivering high-impact services while maintaining current staffing levels.

● The following metrics highlight both the scale of services delivered and the continued growth in participation across the Franklin Senior Center.

○ Membership: 615 new members, 231 average daily attendance, 2,102 total active members (4,343 Guests), 57,608 Event Check-Ins

○ Programs: 6536 total programs delivered; 122 unique monthly programs

○ Nutrition: 18,990 meals served

○ Supportive Day Program: 11,724 respite hours

○ Social Services: 1,538 contacts

○ Transportation: 1,785 rides provided; 158 unique riders, funded an additional 4,119 rides to the Senior Center and Food Pantry through GATRA

○ Volunteers: 2,029 volunteer hours; 94 volunteers

● The following charts illustrate the continued growth in participation and service delivery across several core program areas of the Franklin Senior Center.

Continue reading this section. The PDF contains additional text and charts not shared here  https://drive.google.com/file/d/15T9lcrw3x_11lFrv8_XGpRlcOrCZTF13/view?usp=drive_link

For the full FY 2027 budget narrative  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8912/FY27-Budget-Narrative-FINAL-1

The FY 2027 budget information can be found 

https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=577

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 ???

Wednesday, April 22

3pm Stop the Bleed (Franklin Fire Department, 40 W Central St)

7pm Smarty Pants Trivia (Raillery Public House)

For Library events -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

Note: Senior Center checking on why their events are suddenly being shown as "All Day". You can use the monthly newsletter for specific program/event times

***  Town Meetings today   ***

Council on Aging Board Meeting

Wednesday, April 22 Time: 11:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04222026-2264 

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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Potpourri agenda for last Town Council meeting in 2025

Franklin Town Council

Agenda & Meeting Packet

December 17, 2025 = 6:00 PM

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 9 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.

b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

c. Upcoming Town Sponsored Community Events.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS

a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. In compliance with G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 20 et seq, the Open Meeting Law, the Council cannot engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Council may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter. Nothing herein shall prevent the Town Administrator from correcting a misstatement of fact.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

a. November 12, 2025   

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7849/November-12-2025-TC-Meeting-Minutes--Draft-for-Review

b. November 19, 2025   

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7833/3a-November-19-2025-TC-Meeting-Minutes--Draft-for-Review

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

a. 8th Grade Franklin Panthers Football Team

b. Franklin High School Cheerleading Team

c. Franklin High School Girls’ Volleyball Team

5. APPOINTMENTS

a. Council on Aging - Christopher (Kit) Brady   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7856/5a-Appointment-Kit-Brady

6. PUBLIC HEARINGS - 6:00 PM - None Scheduled.

 

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

a. Annual License Renewals

i. See attached “2026 Town of Franklin Alcohol License Renewals”  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7857/7a-1---MEMO---License-Renewals

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a. Snow Presentation - Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW Director & Carlos Rebelo, Highway/Grounds Superintendent   

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7855/Snow-Presentation---December-17-2025

b. Social Equity Policy Discussion  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7841/Local-Approval-Process-and-Social-Equity-Policy

c. Town Charter Presentation  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7848/2023-11-01-Town-Charter-Presentation

d. Citizen Satisfaction Survey: the town is headed in the wrong direction  

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/polco.nrc/viz/TheNCSReport-FranklinMA2025/About

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Resolution 25-83: Gift Acceptance - Veterans Services Dept. ($91,072.88), Senior Center (21,275.73), Police Dept. ($710.74)

(Motion to Approve Resolution 25-83 - Majority Vote)  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7854/9a-Gifts

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

slide from the snow presentation

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Scheduled.

15. ADJOURN

Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Agenda doc contains remote participation info -> 

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12172025-2062 

Franklin, MA: Agenda for the last Town Council meeting of this term - Weds, Oct 29, at 7 PM

Franklin Town Council

Agenda & Meeting Packet

October 29, 2025 = 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Franklin Municipal Building 

355 East Central Street - 2nd Floor, Council Chambers

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 9 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.

b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

c. Upcoming Town Sponsored Community Events.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS

a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. In compliance with G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 20 et seq, the Open Meeting Law, the Council cannot engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Council may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter. Nothing herein shall prevent the Town Administrator from correcting a misstatement of fact.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - None Scheduled.

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS - None Scheduled.

5. APPOINTMENTS

a. Agricultural Commission - Jennifer Sweeney (Associate Seat)

b. Council on Aging - Roberta Trahan

6. PUBLIC HEARINGS - 7:00 PM

a. Multiple modifications of a Section 15 Package Store All Alcoholic Beverages License: Change of License Manager, Change of Officers/Directors & Change of Stock - Dharma Bhakti Corporation d/b/a Liquor World, Located at 365 West Central Street - Continued from October 22, 2029

i. License Transaction #7a

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

a. Multiple modifications of a Section 15 Package Store All Alcoholic Beverages License: Change of License Manager, Change of Officers/Directors & Change of Stock - Dharma Bhakti Corporation d/b/a Liquor World, Located at 365 West Central Street - Continued from October 22, 2029

b. Farmer-Winery Farmers Market License - Blisspoint LLC d/b/a Blisspoint Meadery

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a. Presentation: Franklin Elks Riders Donation to Veterans’ Services Department

i. Legislation for Action #9a

ii. Legislation for Action #9b

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Resolution 25-68: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Department ($2,000)

(Motion to Approve Resolution 25-68 - Majority Vote)

b. Resolution 25-69: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Department ($10,480)

(Motion to Approve Resolution 25-69 - Majority Vote)

c. Resolution 25-70: Adoption of Cannabis licensing Local Approval Process and Cannabis Social Equity Policy (Motion to Approve Resolution 25-70 - Majority Vote)

d. Resolution 25-67: Expenditure Limits for FY2026 on Departmental Revolving Funds Established by Franklin Town Code Chapter 73, as Provided in MGL Chapter 44, §53 E½, as Amended (Electric Vehicle Charging Stations)

(Motion to Approve Resolution 25-67 - Majority Vote)

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Capital Budget Subcommittee

b. Economic Development Subcommittee

c. Joint Budget Subcommittee

d. Police Station Building Committee

e. GATRA Advisory Board

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Scheduled.

15. ADJOURN

Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Agenda doc also has remote participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10292025-1978

Franklin, MA: Agenda for the last Town Council meeting of this term - Weds, Oct 29, at 7 PM

Bob & I review the COA Letter and reveal the town records on the position funding (audio)

FM #1489 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1489 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Robert (Bob) Kaufman, member of the Council on Aging which oversees the Senior Center in an advisory capacity. We had our discussion on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 in the Franklin TV & Radio Studio.

 

We talk about 

• The circumstances that created the situation

• The points of the COA Letter

• Rebuttal or alternate explanations for the points of the letter

The point of our conversation was to more fully explain the details around the letter and ensure that we could have a better and civil discussion. While this happened this year, given the financial situation of the town, we will likely see this again. We, the collective "we", need to determine how "we" are going to solve our budget problem.

The recording runs about 59 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1489-coa-letter-robert-kaufman-07-30-25/

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History of the grants and Friends of Franklin Elders (FOFE)

Robert’s email -> bobkaufman@msn.com 

COA Letter as discussed -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/franklin-council-on-aging-letter-to.html 

History of the grants and Friends of Franklin Elders (FOFE) funding for the cook and nurse from 2010 through 2017 when the Town budget provided the funding https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iOz6F1W9Rq-H67C2jmhthNNPL7GZCyMQ/view?usp=drive_link 

To save some from searching, Bob did struggle to recall the name of the last Republican Mayor of Chicago -> a source of the history for “Big Bill” Thompson is available https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hale_Thompson 

-------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Franklin Council on Aging letter to Franklin Town Council RE: Private Donation

Date: July 11, 2025

To: Franklin Town Council

From: Franklin Council on Aging Board

RE: Private Donation

Dear Members of the Town Council,

The Franklin Council on Aging respectfully recommends that the Town Council not accept the recent private donation made to the Senior Center, which is restricted to funding the salary of a part-time nurse.

While we appreciate the generosity and intent behind this contribution, accepting such a donation raises several significant concerns:

1. Equity and Fairness: Allowing private funds to direct staffing decisions opens the door to unequal treatment and the risk that individuals with financial resources could exert disproportionate influence over municipal human resource decisions in the future.

2. Policy Consistency: Accepting this donation would create inconsistency across town governance. The Town of Franklin School Committee has an established policy prohibiting private donations from being used to fund salaries (e.g., supplanting):

Donations of Non-Budgeted Funds 

The Franklin School Committee gratefully accepts donations made by Booster Groups, Parent Communication Councils (PCCs), other private entities and Educational Foundations to support the Franklin Public School System. In an effort to ensure equity, consistency and compliance with Massachusetts General Law, any donated funds shall not supplant the operational budget voted by the School Committee. (This would include payment of salaries, instructional stipends, operating cost of buildings and curriculum programming or other recurrent budgetary items.)

3. Operational Integrity: Staffing decisions at the Senior Center should remain under the purview of its management, who are best positioned to assess and deploy resources in service of our constituents.

4. Respect for Voter Decision: In June 2025, Franklin voters chose not to pass a Proposition 2½ override, with the understanding that such a decision would necessitate reductions in staffing and services across the Town of Franklin. Accepting private funds to restore positions contradicts the democratic will expressed through that vote.

Accepting this donation could set a troubling precedent that undermines transparent governance, community equity, and proper management authority. We urge the Town Council to consider the broader implications and decline the offer.

Thank you for your attention and continued support of the Franklin Senior Center and its mission.

Sincerely,

Below Signed Members, Franklin Council on Aging 

10 Daniel McCahill Street

Franklin, MA 02038

Carolyn O'Brien, Chair

Phyllis Malcom, Vice Chair

Faith Flaherty, Secretary

Elizabeth Sawver

Kimberly Mu-Chow

Tina Powderly

Copy of the original signed letter ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LwnxHzW_MLw4tev6E6Ot8IYAPK98qVcn/view?usp=drive_link

Franklin School Cmte policy on non-budgeted funds (as referenced above) ->   https://www.franklinps.net/page/kcd-donations-of-non-budgeted-funds

Franklin Council on Aging letter to Franklin Town Council RE: Private Donation

Annual Report Franklin Senior Center (COA): FY 2023 Report

The Franklin Senior Center is located at 10 Daniel McCahill Street and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Senior Center provides programs, services, and activities along with outreach, information and referral to serve the needs of older adults, people with disabilities and their families. Social services assistance is available to all adult residents in Franklin.

The Senior Center offers health and wellness, nutrition, social service coordination and resources, socialization, recreation and fitness, assistance with transportation, support groups, educational and cultural programs, a supportive day program, volunteerism, intergenerational opportunities, and a variety of other amenities.

The Center's mission is to enhance the independence and quality of life for Franklin's older adults by:

■ Identifying the needs of this population and creating programs that meet those needs.

■ Offering the knowledge, tools and opportunities to promote mental, social and physical well-being.

■ Advocating for relevant programs and services in our community.

■ Serving as a community focal point for aging issues and as a liaison to local, state, and Federal resources for older adults.

FY 2023 Highlights

This fiscal year, the vibrant Franklin Senior Center has continued to expand not only in numbers, welcoming 600 new members throughout the 2022 calendar year, but increasing the number of programs and opportunities available to members, and even adding two new line cooks, Marilyn Howe and Lauretta Taddeo. We also had some change in staffing, as we said goodbye and best wishes to staff, Sue Barbour, Program & Volunteer Coordinator, and Maggie Gundersen, Social Services Coordinator, in November,  previous  Deputy  Director,  Christina LaRose, in February, and Supportive Day Coordinator, Donna Haynes, in June. In March, we welcomed Sarah Amaral as the next Deputy Director, Raeleen Gallivan as the new Social Services Coordinator, Ariel Doggett became the new Program & Volunteer Coordinator, and Kathleen Laughran became the Supportive Programming Coordinator.

Unfortunately, in February the Senior Center was temporarily closed due to a pipe break and water damage. The innovative Senior Center staff, town, and members came together to reinvent and relocate programs to make the best out of the situation. Thank you to the Facilities Dept. for leading the restoration efforts.

New programs and events were added to our active and engaging calendar, most notably Eat Around the World, 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, Winter Wonderland, Movie and Pizza Nights, Mobile Food Pantry, monthly technology clinics, Bereavement Support Group, and a partnership with Dean College providing classes for seniors.

Director Danielle Hopkins, and previous Deputy Director Christina LaRose were tasked with developing a multi-year strategic plan for the Franklin Senior Center. With assistance, surveys, and S.W.O.T. analysis from the COA Board, FOFE, the community, and the staff, they presented the vision to the Town Council in January and it was received with many accolades. For more information, view this presentation on the town website.

Health and Wellness Programs

Our Wellness Program promotes Healthy and Active Aging through programs and services with assistance from our Health & Wellness Nurse as well as collaborating with the Town's Public Health Nurse and Epidemiologist.

■ Health Clinics: Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, Pulse Ox readings, Podiatry, Flu Vaccinations, and bi-weekly hearing clinics.

■ Fall Prevention: Our Wellness Nurse continuously offers multiple Safety & Balance clinics to evaluate and address balance and muscle strength, while offering tips and techniques to enhance safety.

■ Grab Bar Program and Home Safety: We are able to provide Home Safety Assessments to evaluate elders' homes to determine if the risk for dangerous falls can be reduced. If needed, we have a volunteer that is able to install grab bars and or adaptive devices free of charge. We have successfully been able to install grab bars in two homes every month. The Grab Bars are graciously purchased by F.O.F.E. (Friends of Franklin Elders) for continued success of this program.

■ Fitness: We offer a multitude of classes and fitness opportunities tailored to older adults including Cardio Strength, & Balance, Zumba, Chair Yoga, Tai Chi, Chair Exercise, Walking Club, Bocce, Pickleball, Chair Volleyball, Pound Fitness, Reversing the Aging Series, Line Dancing, and Meditation. This year we added to this roster a Vinyasa Yoga class, a dance class, and a self defense class tailored specifically for seniors. We were able to provide some of these classes virtually. The Senior Center's Fitness Room offers free use of equipment, including treadmills, an elliptical bike, and stationary bikes.

■ Support: Support Groups offered include Low Vision, Hearing Loss, Autoimmune and Mobility Disorder, and Caregivers Support. This year, we started a monthly Bereavement group.

■ Weight Loss: Many struggle with weight loss, so we decided to have fun while empowering our members in healthy 6-week weight loss competitions: "Don't Be a Butterball" (fall) and "Don't Be a BeachBall" (spring). Each week, our Health and Wellness Nurse and Head Chef offered weekly classes for support covering topics such as food journaling, meal prepping, information on fad diets, portion control, and accountability/ consistency. Every Friday, we also have T.O.P.S. (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) who meet weekly to help members support their weight loss journey.

■ Mental Health Counseling: The Senior Center is part of a consortium of local Senior Centers, which provides access to timely, flexible mental health services with a licensed clinician. This enables elders who experience mental health challenges to get effective, appropriate treatment.

■ Health Education: Monthly informational and educational presentations were offered by our Health & Wellness Nurse and our Public Health nurse and Epidemiologist: Five Wishes, Stop the Bleed, Hands Only CPR, Anatomy of the Brain, Neuropathy, Cellulitis, Arthritis, Basic First Aid, and more.

Dementia Friendly

The Town of Franklin and The Senior Center continue to be a Dementia Friendly Community. The Senior Center provides the following programs to support caregivers and their loved ones:

■ Supportive Day Program: The Sunshine Club provides a structured, supervised, and stimulating day program for seniors with mild to moderate dementia or cognitive decline, chronic illness, or those who are socially isolated. In turn, it provides a respite opportunity for their loved ones/caregivers. Members enjoy activities that encourage  independence,  social  interaction, fitness and gentle exercises, intellectual stimulation, music, crafts, games, and friendship.

■ Caregivers Support Group offers support to caregivers caring for their loved ones with Alzheimer's or Dementia, and is led by two facilitators who have completed a training program with the Alzheimer's Association.

■ Memory Cafe - a monthly gathering where those living with dementia and their care partners can enjoy a social event without stress and anxiety. It's an hour of music, socialization, and engagement and is supported in part by a generous grant from the Franklin Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

■ Education. Partnering with local resources such as the Alzheimer's Association and various Memory Care Operations, we provided educational opportunities such as Compassion Fatigue and Burnout, 10 Warning Signs, Normal Aging vs. Memory Loss, Various Forms of Dementia, and more.

Outreach/Social Service Coordination

The Senior Center provides assistance in obtaining housing, employment, home care services, tax abatements, long-term care placement, transportation, evictions, legal referrals, prescription drug programs, SNAP, fuel assistance, COVID-19 vaccine appointments, Mass Health, mental health, elder dental services, Disability and Supplemental Security Insurance, as well as assistance with low income and financial hardship referrals. Our Social Service Coordinators can assist Franklin's adult and disabled residents regardless of age, and can provide home visits to homebound residents.

The Senior Center's Vision and Hearing Support programs have been recognized at both state and national level. These programs provide support, information, referral, and training. Our vision program grant continues to allow our Senior Center to house a regional office for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI), where residents can meet with a MABVI professional for individual vision consultations. Weekly, the Senior Center provides both in-person and telephone programs for blind, low-vision, and homebound seniors. We, in collaboration with MABVI, provide a monthly adaptive technology class, support group, and low vision adjustment counseling.

The Community Intervention Team (CIT), partnering with the Franklin Fire Dept., continues to create greater coordination of community resources and services to assist Franklin residents who are high- risk. Currently 20 vital service groups throughout the town of Franklin are involved.

The Senior Center also offers a monthly legal clinic and the SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) program, which provides assistance for Medicare/Medicaid and other health insurance needs. AARP was also able to provide free income tax preparation at the Center for 179 individuals this year, and Self Help Inc., processed over 460 applications for fuel assistance from residents, many of which were prepared by the Senior Center staff.

Nutrition and the Common Grounds Cafe

The Common Grounds Cafe, which is located inside the Center and offers  breakfast and lunch daily, continues to have much success. The Cafe offers freshly prepared, nutritious, and affordable meals. Along with our Full-Time Head Chef and Kitchen Manager, we also hired two part-time line cooks. The Cafe is open to all, and is a great way for newcomers to get acquainted with the Senior Center. Last year, we served over 11,180 meals at the Cafe. Monthly Parties. The Senior Center hosts monthly social events with live entertainment and a delicious 3-course meal. Themes have included: Luau, Tailgate, Illusions, Friendsgiving, April Showers. We are also extremely appreciative of the Franklin Police Department who provided and served a delicious Turkey Dinner in January, and the Franklin Fire Department, who cooked and served a fantastic Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner. 

So much going on, this is not the complete report. The full Senior Center report can be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rYSQ9xwZ9tu6U5ND_G7EY3cdwwsjG2uM/view?usp=drive_link

The full Town of Franklin FY 2023 Annual Report can be found online

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/annual_report_2023_0.pdf

Annual Report Franklin Senior Center (COA): FY 2023 Report