Harvard’s Council on Aging, in collaboration with the Permanent Building Committee, has chosen a building at 16 Lancaster County Road to be the town’s new senior and community center.
At the Oct. 16 Town Meeting, voters will be asked to purchase the property and renovate the interior to provide much-needed space for COA offices and programs and community activities. The proposed new senior center would be a more practical and economical alternative to the COA’s previous proposal for a $4.3 million stand-alone addition to Hildreth House, which was voted down in 2020.
The asking price is $1.425 million for the property. The renovation cost estimate is still under review, but the total cost for the property and building will likely be less than $3 million, significantly lower than the original $4.3 million request.
The critical importance of senior centers
During the COVID-19 pandemic that has lasted almost two years, the Council on Aging has worked tirelessly to help the most vulnerable Harvard residents cope with acute social isolation and anxiety. More than ever, it has become apparent how important an active senior center is, and we’ve been fortunate to be able to provide services people needed most, even when Hildreth House itself was closed to the public.
Operating out of Hildreth House, the COA staff organized a full range of exercise classes and other programs via Zoom, and regular food deliveries to people who requested them. Outreach workers kept in close touch with many homebound residents by phone to make sure they had what they needed and knew who to call to get help. In fact, during fiscal 2021, the COA supported over 800 seniors while battling this pandemic. And the need for services to Harvard’s older population is likely to continue growing.
As of Sept. 15, the number of Harvard residents older than 60 was 1,755, or roughly 29.9% of the total population, (information obtained from town clerk). Participation in meals served at Hildreth House increased 65% over the past seven years; transportation demand increased by more than 73%, and social service needs have grown by over 100%. Demand for space for Council on Aging programs and services continues, and some Harvard seniors are unable to participate in COA events due to space restrictions.
Our residents have supported the COA generously over the years—in ways large and small. Our programs and services would not be possible without a dedicated staff and a small army of volunteers, donations of all kinds, and the support of the town of Harvard. For more than five years we have worked toward building a facility that will support our growing population of older people in Harvard. When our request for a $4.3 million Hildreth House addition failed at the May 2020 Town Meeting, we found a less costly facility that would serve our need for additional space. The pandemic has shown us the critical importance of providing an adequate amount of physical separation while offering socialization to fight loneliness and depression.
Most of us have been stuck at home for almost two years, so we have a new appreciation for the simple pleasure of seeing friends and sitting down together for a meal. We can all see how important socialization is for people of all ages, but for older people, it is essential to maintaining their mental and physical health.
A new normal
It seems safe to assume that social distancing will be the new normal for senior centers, even after we have enough people vaccinated so the rules can be somewhat relaxed. At Hildreth House, assuming a 6-foot distancing requirement, none of the COA’s most popular programs could be held. The twice-weekly lunches, weekly men’s coffee, and other programs and events just would not fit, some not even outside on the porch. The current dining room’s capacity would be limited to four to six people; the porch would hold five to six tables, which means 15-18 diners at most—all straining to hear each other and only in good weather.
Before COVID-19 hit, there would typically be 20 diners at lunch, and at least 20 men would gather for coffee each week. Despite the pandemic, 56 ice cream lovers showed up for the annual ice cream social, which took up the whole porch and the parking lot outside. That cannot happen once the weather gets cold.
The owner of the Lancaster County Road building has agreed to keep it off the market until Fall Town Meeting. If we are ever going to be able to serve our older population properly, we must have more space. This is not a luxury we can’t afford. It is a necessity we cannot afford to put off any longer.
Debbie Thompson is the director of Harvard’s Council on Aging.
