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By Lourine Weller,
AmeriCorp Community Health Worker
Somerset Public Health
SKOWHEGAN — Somerset Public Health, a division of Redington-Fairview General Hospital, has been working with towns and community organizations in Somerset County to set up senior-gathering sites for older adults. The sites are in local communities and are organized by and for seniors to socialize, increase their knowledge and skills, while accessing services and support to help them live a healthy life in their community.
SPH has worked with four senior-gathering sites — Skowhegan, Smithfield, Madison and Canaan. An important goal of the program is to increase opportunities for older adults to gain knowledge and skills. In April, Smithfield’s senior-gathering hosted a Lunch-N-Learn event with a presentation on food insecurity and a tour of their local food pantry. Since the spring, Smithfield’s gathering has been hosting a Gentle Yoga class for seniors in the area.
The Skowhegan senior-gathering participants had a speaker from SPH discuss the benefits of volunteering, sharing with them local opportunities. In the next few weeks, some of the of the sites will partake in balance screenings so older adults can learn if they are at risk of falling and how to prevent a fall.
Senior gatherings periodically plan and host events for their regulars and for other local seniors not yet connected with the sites. For example, in early spring, the Skowhegan senior gathering hosted a soup-making day. Attendees were encouraged to each bring a vegetable to contribute. They created a delicious soup filled with as much variety as the people who came. In a second example, a few weeks ago, the Skowhegan gathering hosted a summer barbecue and potluck meal. People came from many different areas of town to share food with each other, talk, play games and just have a good time.
SPH plans to establish four more senior-gathering sites by the end of next year. Each site is eligible to receive $950 to support its basic costs. There are several requirements for communities or organizations. For more information on joining an existing site or creating a new site, contact Deb Casey at 207-858-8458 or e-mail her at dcasey@rfgh.net.
