Watertown’s Marshall Home Fund recently awarded $65,000 to a variety of local organizations that serve older adults. Grant recipients recognize that it’s more important than ever to connect with vulnerable, isolated older adults and are finding creative ways to deliver their programs and services while following the state’s distancing guidelines.
For example, Project Literacy is offering online English classes and individual tutoring to older immigrants, using laptops donated by a local company. Perkins Library staff called each patron in Watertown to check on them and connect them with local senior services resources, and they are holding virtual monthly book clubs and hang-outs to maintain social connections. The Health Department plans virtual meetings of older adults at risk of eviction, injury, social isolation, and depression due to severe clutter conditions in their homes.
The following lists all the 2020 grantees, organized according to World Health Organization goals for an age friendly community, one where all older residents can be healthy and productive.
Provide direct health, mental health, and social services for vulnerable individuals: Springwell’s Elder Independence and Safety Fund; Watertown Council on Aging’s Emergency Assistance Block Grant; Watertown Health Department’s Compassionate Connections Program addressing challenges associated with severe clutter; and the Watertown Farmers’ Market SNAP Match and Volunteer Programs for older adults.
Offer accessible, affordable, fun social activities for groups of older adults: Lexington Chamber Music’s classical concerts by young musicians for Watertown’s older residents; Mosesian Center for the Arts’ Aging Creatively Program; and the Together is Better events sponsored by Watertown Families Together and the Church of the Good Shepherd.
Support affordable and accessible housing and transportation for older adults: Cascap, Inc’s renovation of the handicapped entrance to Marshall Place senior residence; the Watertown Fire Department’s Fire and Life Safety Educational Series for Older Adults; Watertown Council on Aging’s Supplemental Transportation for Seniors; and the Watertown Recreation Department’s student-provided snow shoveling program for older residents.
Ensure potentially isolated older adults are integrated into the community: Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired Technology Training for Seniors with Sight Loss; Perkins School for the Blind’s Thriving with Vision Loss Program; and Project Literacy’s English Language Instruction for Ages 55+.