The Commission on Aging (COA) last month agreed to work with Friends Of Newtown Seniors (FONS) to help spread the word about FONS Chore Services. The decision to collaborate on the outreach came after Chore Services Coordinator Beverly Bennett-Schaedler presented background and personal stories to the commission during its more recent meeting.

The commission met February 26, having postponed its regular meeting from the previous week due to Presidents Day. Most commissioners were present at Newtown Senior Center for the meeting. Chair Anne Rothstein and Commissioner Judit DeStefano participated via Zoom. The commission also welcomed its new clerk, Wendy Devereaux.

Director Report

The meeting opened with Director of Human Services Natalie Griffith presenting her monthly report, which began with the announcement that a tabletop shuffleboard set approved the previous month by COA had arrived.

The new set had been assembled, but was not yet being used, she said, because “the wood is acclimating to its environment before we open it for use. Members are very eager to get playing, though,” she added.

Griffith updated the commission on the grant application process discussed in January, both due by early March. A Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging grant will be applied for through FONS, she said, to create a nutrition series at the senior center. The grant, she said, “will design a program while it will include an educational component and cooking demonstrations.”

The second grant is The Flagship Grant through AARP. A committee consisting of members of COA, FONS and the Town of Newtown Department of Human Services has been formed, Griffith confirmed, “to pursue the grant for enhancements to the patio project.

“If awarded, we will look to these additional funds to connect the new front patio with the back patio already established and add fencing to aid in privacy and safety, as a barrier from the parking lot,” she said.

During her presentation, Griffith requested suggestions for local people and/or businesses who would be interested in sponsoring part of the senior center’s patio’s improvements. The grant application, she noted, asks if any in-kind donations are being made toward the project seeking funding.

While noting funds are coming through the senior center’s American Rescue Plan Act funds, Grifffin explained, “we’d like to show that the community is also interested, through donations of items or time.”

COA Chair Anne Rothstein agreed, asking for those suggestions to be forwarded to her so that she could compose a letter to send to local nurseries and other businesses.

Commissioner William Darrin said local garden clubs might be interested in helping with maintenance of planned gardens for the patio.

Griffith also highlighted several events and new programs she hoped COA would help share information about, including a March 18 St Patrick’s Day Celebration at the senior center, an April 11 FONS Membership Dinner at Newtown Community Center; the Bring Me Back Home Registry, a new program now available across the state; the statewide respite care program; a Nuvance Virtual Health Seminar, which Griffith said was an example of the information that will be forwarded to COA through Griffith’s recent appointment to the Nuvance Community Council; and an invitation from the Newtown High School Drama Department to attend a senior dinner theater event on March 13.

Griffith was excited to note that the third annual Senior Center Billiards Tournament, being planned for March 22, had 19 players already registered as of that afternoon.

“We’ve had a huge response from players, and thanks to a very generous donation facilitated by one of our esteemed pool players and tournament leader, the prizes for this year’s winners are gift certificates from Newtown Hardware,” she announced, before encouraging fellow COA members to consider attending the tournament to cheer on the players.

Griffith also distributed reports covering the activity of the senior center and its members. As of February 19 there were 671 registered members of Newtown Senior Center, with 567 of those members Newtown residents. Sixteen residents used the center for programs or special events during the four-week period of January 19-February 19, and three nonresidents took advantage of the offerings.

The most prolific group for that period were those aged 65-69 (seven people, or 36.8% of those who visited the enter). Three people age 85+ (15.8%) were active; two people in each age bracket of 60-64, 70-74, 75-79 and 80-84 (10.5% each bracket) visited the center; and one person over age 85 also visited the center during that period.

FONS Chore Services

Bennett-Schaedler was an invited guest for the February 26 COA meeting. Before reading a prepared statement she passed out information sheets that shared details about FONS Chore Services.

“I want to make sure everyone knows what Chore Services is, and what Friends of Newtown Seniors has done through Chore Services,” she began.

Chore Services has been operating since October 2020, she has served as coordinator since then, and the program has assisted over 400 resident senior citizens “with referrals and projects that they can no longer do as they age in place in their own homes,” Bennett-Schaedler said.

“Through volunteers donating their time and labor, we have been able to replace a roof, skylights, and even build a ramp,” she said. “We have repaired leaking roofs on five other homes, for a minimal cost, and we’ve done yardwork for over 20 seniors,” she added.

The handout provided to the commission and meeting attendees included 14 additional projects the program has accomplished since its introduction.

“These are just to name a few,” she said of the list.

She shared the story of hearing from a man who had not had water for three days.

“After speaking with him and arranging for a plumber to visit, we realized the pump had been struck by lightning and a portion was covered by insurance. Within hours, this gentleman had his water restored,” she said.

Bennett-Schaedler shared a few other anecdotes, keeping those who were helped anonymous while presenting stories of success.

In addition to residents, Bennett-Schaedler has been contacted by adults who live well outside of town, from people seeking help for family members.

“I’ve been receiving calls from adult children, seeking help for their senior parents,” she said. “I’ve gotten calls from California, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Washington state, to name a few. They have been relieved of the stress and worry of who to call for their parents, after calling Chore Services for recommendations and help.”

Bennett-Schaedler said she and other FONS members are actively working to launch a program to provide rides for Newtown senior citizens, two afternoons each week, for errands and medical appointments.

She was in front of COA that afternoon, she said, to ask the commission to join forces with FONS.

“Help our seniors age in place in their homes, and seek out those who are alone and isolated. They are out there,” she said. “They are out there, they just don’t know what to do. I often wonder if they are just too proud to ask for help, or they don’t know who to ask.

“Let’s get the word out to those who may not have a computer, or do not get the paper, or have no social connections,” she said.

Among COA’s missions, she said, is to study the needs of the elderly and aging in Newtown, and to coordinate programs for the elderly and aging.

“Please, let’s join forces and do something toward those goals,” she said. Bennett-Schaedler invited the full board to attend the April 11 FONS Membership Drive Dinner event. She encouraged them to attend, she said, because part of that event will be to encourage attendees to tell FONS what they need and want to remain in their homes independently.

In response to a question from COA Chair Rothstein, Bennett-Schaedler said she receives approximately ten calls a month from people looking for Chore Services assistance. The number has increased in recent months, and remains steady, she said.

“I think there’s still a lot of seniors that we need to find and reach out to,” she reiterated.

Discussion ensued on ways to let the town’s older population know about FONS and Chore Services. Commissioner LeReine Frampton suggested FONS set up a table outside polling locations.

“That’s a perfect opportunity right there. Thank you!” Bennett-Schaedler responded. “We just need to do things like that.”

The commission also discussed adding notes to meals being delivered to homes, asking local police officers and ambulance personnel to share information about the program, and providing fliers to local home healthcare agencies.

“We just have to keep going,” Bennett-Schaedler said. “It’s been three years and I’m not getting tired. I’m very determined, and we hope that you will join forces with us.”

Griffith told the commissioners Human Services relies on FONS.

“We have a narrow field of what we can say and do, who we can refer, but Bev and FONS have a wider life of referrals, and they’re all vetted,” she noted.

Rothstein asked Commissioner Judit DeStefano about results from a survey the latter had been tasked with posting on Facebook a few months ago. The commission has been actively discussing how to connect with and offer assistance to local senior citizens since autumn, and DeStefano had volunteered to create and post a survey.

At February’s meeting, however, she said there had been “very little use of the survey.”

DeStefano also said FONS Chore Services seemed “in a lot of ways redundant” to a presentation to COA last year by UR Community Cares. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Manchester, UR Community Cares is designed to match vetted volunteers with those who need free at-home support such as household chores, yardwork, and companionship visits.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.