As a member of the South Hadley Council on Aging, I’ve seen the enormous impacts that our Senior Center has had in our community.
Visit the Senior Center any weekday and you’ll see the results of South Hadley’s historical investments in supporting its 23%–and growing—population of residents over the age of 65.
The Senior Center is at the core of responding to the social, emotional, and physical needs of older adults. Daily congregate meals at the Center promote nutrition, while exercise programs designed for aging bodies keep people moving and enhance balance, strong bones, and general fitness.
As we all know, access to quality healthcare, particularly specialty care, isn’t always available to our community members—even those on Medicare. A foot nurse regularly visits the Center, as well as vision and hearing specialists. A support group provides invaluable advice to those whose loved ones are facing dementia.
In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General identified loneliness as a public health epidemic. Isolation isn’t confined to the elderly, of course, but aging frequently comes with the loss of relationships. Our Senior Center combats this growing problem through a range of group activities, such as painting classes, card games, book clubs, an LGBTQ+ support group, and so forth.
The many physical and mental health supports provided by the Senior Center contribute to a healthier and more vital population in our town. These effects aren’t confined to older adults alone. Our entire community benefits, both socially and financially, by a healthier population (that includes residents over the age of 65).
It’s important to note that older adults and retirees offer a great deal to South Hadley. We’re a community that depends on volunteers. Service on town committees is a hallmark of our older residents. They offer not only their time to the Town but also the wisdom and skills earned through a lifetime of work in professions and trades.
Of course, the Senior Center isn’t just for those 65 and over. It’s really a community center and does double duty as a place that accommodates a wide range of meetings. It’s also an important crossroads for the kind of intergenerational support that further enhances community well-being.
None of this would be possible without the superb and caring staff of the Senior Center. If you feel the “good vibes” that many of us do every time we walk through the Senior Center doors, it’s due in large part to their professionalism, competence, and hard work in providing much-needed services.
The structural deficit currently facing our town puts much of this in jeopardy. Staff hours will need to be reduced, meaning that the Center can neither keep its current hours nor provide the same level of services.
Furthermore, the deficit we’re facing in the FY27 fiscal year will continue to be compounded in future years, meaning that any hope for returning to adequate staffing and service levels will be unrealistic.
I hope that you’ll join me in voting for an override that will appear on the April 14th Town ballot, which will help to protect the Senior Center from the “fiscal cliff” it will experience without an override. The Selectboard has asked voters to consider an $11M override (over five years) or a $9M override (over four years).
I’ll incur additional property taxes due to an override, but I consider that one of the best investments I can make over the next 4-5 years. And tax exemptions currently exist to help some older adults and those with disabilities (more could be possible under MA state law).
VOTE YES FOR AN OVERRIDE ON APRIL 14th