Peabody Council on Aging Services
The Mission of the Peabody Council on Aging is to develop and offer programs and services for all senior citizens of Peabody, age 60 and older, in a healthy and safe environment. We further commit to enhance the lives of all we serve by continuing to provide care and activities that stimulate the bodies, minds and well-being of those who use our facilities at the Peter A. Torigian Senior Center.
The Peabody Council on Aging is primarily a social services agency. For over 50 years, we have based many of our core services on the Older Americans Act of 1965. The tenants outlined in that legislation include Transportation, Social Services and Nutrition. Aside from our core services, we have a myriad of classes and activities to keep older adults engaged and living independently in the community. There are so many positive health benefits arrived from participating in social activities. There is no better place to stay socially engaged than the Torigian Senior Center as is evident by the number of people enrolled in classes and that participate in the numerous activities that are offered here.
Looking back on last year’s statistics our transportation service "Project Mobility" provided 31,961 trips of those 6,197 required the use of our wheelchair lift, making our service more accessible to all. The rides were for medical appointments, grocery shopping, and rides to the senior center to participate in classes, activities and attend the lunch program.
Our Social Services department provided 16,378 units of services with help with health insurance, Mass Health, fuel assistance, SNAP program, subsidized housing applications, I & R, commodity food program and other miscellaneous requests.
Our Center operates its own lunch program and Café where the food is prepared on-site, last year we served 31,770 meals. As is mentioned so many times from so many sources the devastating effects of social isolation on the health of a community is a much talked about topic. Our program makes it easy to share a meal with friends making it a much more enjoyable experience.
When Mayor Torigian cut the ribbon opening our center 33 years ago he spoke of all those seniors that enter our center will be welcome- something that has not only been our policy, but our strength from the beginning.
From that opening day in November 1991, we have been a welcoming place to older adults from Peabody and many surrounding communities, just as Peabody residents are welcome in other local senior centers. In fact many of our volunteers hail from other communities, but choose to volunteer their time and talents here ay our center.
Aside from our core services, we have a myriad of classes and activities to keep older adults engaged and living independently in the community. There are so many positive health benefits arrived from participating in social activities. Everyone is always looking for that “Miracle cure” to stay feeling young and mentally fit, but the one tried and true solution is to stay active and socially engaged. There is no better place for this than the Torigian Senior Center as is evident by 12,486 people signed in for fitness and exercise programs, 19,802 activity and class attendees, and 3,456 tickets sold for our special events.
One extremely important service that we offer is The Roger Trask Adult Day Health program licensed by the Department of Public Health. This is a medical day program that provides vital services to participants and their caregivers to help them remain in the community. We are so fortunate to have the most wonderful and dedicated staff members that provide these excellent day services.
Currently, every available space in the center is being used. We realize that the next generation of retirees that have started to join us are looking for more exercise programs, we recently completed an outside recreation area that has a modern pickle ball court, bocce court, and corn hole and basketball hoop. This addition has transformed an unused area into a place with incredible activity! This project was funded by the CPA.
In the near future, we will start a capital campaign to build a larger woodshop and add much needed classroom space to meet growing demand for our services. We are always thankful for the continual support of the City of Peabody and the Friends of the Peabody Council on Aging that make so much more possible here at the senior center.
Looking forward to seeing you at the center!
For more information about our many services please visit our website at www.peabodycoa.org or set up a tour of our center by calling 978-531-2254.
