The Needham Council on Aging, a department of the Town of Needham, is dedicated to serving seniors and assisting their families and friends with aging issues. In cooperation with other organizations, the Council on Aging serves both elders who are well and those with some degree of frailty. Our professional and office staff, both paid and volunteer, are at your service at the Stephen Palmer Senior Center. We welcome your questions and suggestions.
Needham Council on
Aging
Stephen Palmer Senior Center
83 Pickering Street
Needham, MA 02192
(781) 455-7555
fax (781) 455-7599
Drop-In Center: The Stephen Palmer Senior Center is a good place for people to join a friend for coffee, make new friends, or attend one of the many ongoing programs or activities. You can also usually find a quiet spot to read a good book from our library or the daily and weekly newspapers.
Weekdays 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sundays 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Information & Referral: The Council on Aging staff provides information on transportation services, homemaker services, housing, medical insurance including Medicare and Medicaid, financial assistance programs, how to make the most of retirement, volunteer opportunities, and many other aging related subjects. In addition, the staff of the Council on Aging at the Stephen Palmer Senior Center works with local, state and federal agencies to bring you accurate, useful and up-to-date information.
Outreach & Counseling: The Council on Aging staff includes a full time professional outreach worker who is available to elders and their families for support, counseling and information concerning the many and varied issues facing elders.
Transportation: The Council on Aging provides rides at no cost between your home and the Senior Center. A Dial-A-Ride service operates on Saturdays for residents ages 65 and over, offering service to destinations within Needham and to the Newton Highlands and Waban MBTA stations and Dedham Medical Associates. Weekday rides to area medical facilities are provided by West Suburban Elder Services and the Needham Community Council.
The Council on Aging Shopper Bus, sponsored by Roche Bros., takes seniors grocery shopping on Wednesday mornings. The Community Council offers van transportation for errands on Tuesdays and Fridays. There are other specialized services for those unable to use the above listed means of transportation. Call the Council on Aging at 455-7555 for details on all transportation.
Informational Programs: Information of special interest to elders is available at the Senior Center. There are lectures, fliers and pamphlets that address topics related to legal matters, consumer issues, health and medical information, etc. Many of these programs and informational materials are provided by community agency professionals from Deaconess-Glover Hospital, Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, Boston College Legal Assistance Bureau, and West Suburban Elder Services, Inc., among others.
The Council on Aging maintains video and audio tapes of presentations that may be borrowed for home viewing. Town officials, Needham department heads and our state legislators visit the Senior Center regularly to report to seniors and to listen to concerns and answer questions.
Sunday Program: The Senior Center is open for people to drop in on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday dinner is served at 12:30 p.m. Entertainment programs, such as movies, music and live, professional performances are scheduled on most Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Sunday dinner reservations are necessary and can be made by calling the Council on Aging no later than 11:00 a.m. on Thursday for the following Sunday.
Lunch: A noontime meal is served at the Senior Center at 12:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. Reservations for weekday meal must be made by noon of the previous day and for Sunday as described above. A donation of $1.50 for all meals is requested to help defray the cost. To make a reservation call 455-7555. This service is provided by West Suburban Elder Services, Inc.
“Lunch Together” is a brown bag lunch group that meets on Tuesday and Thursday at 11:15 a.m. for those who wish to bring their own sandwiches. Coffee and dessert are provided.
Musical Programs: Performing artists are scheduled periodically on Sundays at 1:30 p.m. The Songsters, a choral group, and the Swing Band meet weekly at the Senior Center and perform for special occasions. The music appreciation group meets monthly to discuss both classical and modern compositions.
Health Insurance Information:
Health insurance policies and claim procedures may be confusing to many, but not to our well trained SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) volunteers. They can help you understand what policies are available, the benefits of each, and how to claim benefits. They also are excellent at straightening out claim problems. There is no charge for this service.
Wellness Programs: Keep Well Clinics are held twice a month at the Senior Center. At this individualized health screening offered by the Visiting Nurse Associates Care Plus, Inc. (VNA) blood pressure is taken and health concerns can be discussed. Exercise classes and a walking group, sponsored by the Park & Recreation Department meet regularly to help keep you fit.
Monthly Newsletter: The Needham "Senior Compass," our monthly newsletter, is the "who, what, when and why" of events scheduled at the Senior Center that are of interest to Needham seniors and their families. Call the Council on Aging to be put on the mailing list. The newsletter is underwritten (printed and mailed) by the Friends of Needham Elderly, Inc.
Tax Preparation: In cooperation with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), federal and state income tax preparation assistance is provided by appointment with trained volunteers.
Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers fill a variety of positions at the Stephen Palmer Senior Center. They lead groups, provide office support including utilizing computer skills, offer hospitality, transport elders and undertake special projects. There are also many other ways they help at the Center. If you would like to volunteer or have special skills or interests to share, please give us a call.
Library Books & Newspapers:
The Senior Center library’s regular size and large print books can be read at the Senior Center or borrowed to be read at home. Books include the classics as well as current titles from the Needham Free Public Library. The “Share Your Reading” group is a friendly gathering of book lovers that meets monthly to discuss favorite books and recommend new ones. Also available are daily and weekly newspapers from Needham and Boston to be read at the Senior Center.
Recreation: There are many different kinds of recreational activities at the Senior Center. Drop-in card games and bridge, cribbage, mahjong and scrabble are popular. Movies are shown on most Fridays and sometimes on Sundays. Day trips to various places throughout New England are offered regularly. In addition, there is ping pong, pool, bocci, horseshoes and shuffle board as well as pool, bridge and golf tournaments sponsored by the Park and Recreation Department.
Cooperating Organizations
