The Shutesbury Council On Aging (COA) is dedicated to serving Town residents 55 and over, their families and caregivers.
Our meetings, currently on Zoom, are on the second Wednesday of every month from 5:30 to 7pm. Anyone is welcome to attend. The COA works with LifePath, our Area Agency on Aging (see more below!), and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs to provide older adults opportunities to live well in Shutesbury. Our town is also part of a new regional Network of Age-Friendly Communities.
Friday, May 3: Make Friends with Your Smartphone
Last fall’s Using Your Smartphone Smarter has inspired a new free class for Shutesbury seniors! A workshop on May 3 co-sponsored by the COA and the M.N. Spear Memorial Library will have you wading through the best apps, a deep dive into settings while staying away from the sharks. Bring your questions and share your favorite apps. Register by April 26 (details below).
- Session 1 10-11:30 A.M. for iPhone Class size limit: 6
- Session 2 1-2:30 P.M for Android Class size limit: 6
- Place: Town Hall, Lower Level
- Presenter: Barbara Friedman
- Register early, by April 26. Email library.director@shutesbury.org or call 413-259-1213.
Create Your Own "Peace of Mind" Binder!
Should you or your loved ones face an emergency, have these documents at hand!
Council on Aging Services
Classes and Passes Co-sponsored with the M.N. Spear Memorial Library: Weekly fitness classes on Zoom, and passes to the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and the Mass. Museum of Contemporary Art. See the library's website for details.
Foot Clinic Visits Although the Council's monthly Foot Clinics in the Senior Lounge at Town Hall remain on hold, appointments in your home with a registered Food Care Specialist can be scheduled by phoning FootCare By Nurses, LLC, an agency based in Greenfield. Call 413-367-8369 and let them know you are part of the Shutesbury COA's foot care program. The COA suggests clients donate toward the visit's cost; state grant funds will be used to cover the balance.
Med Ride Program During the COVID-19 period, the COA's own transportation program to medical and dental appointments remains suspended. Meanwhile . . .
- Village Neighbors has an active transportation program (see entry on Village Neighbors at the bottom of this page).
- The Franklin Regional Transit Authority provides medical rides, but only to appointments outside of Franklin County. Click the Transportation tab at the top of this page to learn more about this service.
Community Potluck Lunches On hold during the COVID-19 period. These meet, greet, and eat lunches in the Senior Lounge at Town Hall had been held on the first Tuesday of each month at noon.
Other Resources for Seniors
Shutesbury's Public Health Nurse
The recent creation of the grant-supported Valley Health Collaborative has brought Shutesbury residents the free services of a Public Health Nurse! Sarah Fiske can be found in the COA's Senior Lounge (lower level of Town Hall) each Tuesday from 12:30 - 4 pm or by appointment. She can be reached at 413-531-0657 or sarah.fiske@greenfield-ma.gov. For examples of services available, click the Health and Vision tab at the top of this page. (If you are viewing this page on a smartphone, the list of tabs may appear on the upper left under the heading "COA sub-menu." On an iPhone, you may also need to turn your phone sideways before you can see the tabs running across the top.)
Local Property Tax Exemptions
Shutesbury provides exemptions that reduce all or part of the taxes assessed for the fiscal year to seniors 65 and older who meet specific requirements set by state laws. Exemptions may also be available to veterans, people who are legally blind, and other residents.
Click the Tax Exemptions tab at the top of this page for more information from Shutesbury's Assessors Office. (If you are viewing this page on a smartphone, the list of tabs may appear on the upper left under the heading "COA sub-menu." On an iPhone, you may also need to turn your phone sideways before you can see the tabs running across the top.)
Board of Health Pandemic Information Page
Click here for the latest from Shutesbury's Board of Health on booster shots and more!
LifePath
This Area Agency on Aging supports Franklin County citizens 55 years and over through numerous individual, home and community services. You can subscribe to a free weekly newsletter, download or request an annual directory of local resources, and learn about nearby events, workshops and other opportunities by visiting https://lifepathma.org/ If you have questions or need assistance, you can also call 413-773-5555.
Help with Money Management
LifePath’s free Money Management Program assists elders who have difficulty writing checks or managing living expenses for many reasons, including problems with vision and memory. Trained volunteers help with writing checks, balancing checkbooks, sorting bills, developing budgets, and more. Contact LifePath at 800-732-4636 or TDD 413-772-6566, Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.
Local Meal and Grocery Programs
To see some options in our area, click the Food and Nutrition tab at the top of this page. (If you are viewing this page on a smartphone, the list of tabs may appear on the upper left under the heading "COA sub-menu." On an iPhone, you may also need to turn your phone sideways before you can see the tabs running across the top.)
Age-Friendly Communities Project
In 2022, LifePath, Senior Centers, Councils on Aging like ours, and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments began surveying residents over 50 years old as well as caregivers of older adults. The project is part of the Global Age-Friendly Communities movement started more than a decade ago by the World Health Organization and administered in the United States by the AARP.
Village Neighbors
This non-profit member/volunteer-run organization helps adults 60 and older age in place in Shutesbury, Leverett, New Salem and Wendell by assisting with transportation, computers, small tasks at home, or friendly visits. Membership is free! To learn more, call 413-345-6894, write to Village Neighbors, P.O. Box 501, Shutesbury, MA 01072, or email generalinfo@villageneighbors.org.