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Lowell Senior Center
Lynne Brown-Zounes, Executive Director
The Council On Aging is a Senior Citizen's Center that provides services of nutrition, health, recreation, transportation, information, and referral programs to the elderly of Lowell.
Services Provided Include:
- Breakfast Program
Coffee and pastries are served Monday through Friday from 6:30a.m. until 9:00a.m., free of charge
- Daily Meals
These meals are prepared on site and served Monday - Friday (excluding 3rd Friday of each month, due to special dinner dance & Monday Holiday's).
The hot lunch program is sponsored by The Lowell Council on Aging with funding provided by the Older Americans Act as granted by Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, Inc. These meals are available for a donation of $2.00 per day, if able to pay. - Meals on Wheels
These meals are delivered to the homebound seniors in Lowell; there are actually two programs.
The Lowell Council On Aging delivers hot meals Monday through Friday, and frozen meals on weekends and holidays for participants who meet the following criteria:
- Recipients to be 60 years of age or older
- Recipients must be a resident of The City of Lowell
- Recipients must be homebound (confined to a bed, chair, apartment, or house). This would mean that the recipient is unable to leave his/her residence except for hospital, clinic, or doctor visits.
- Recipients must be on a regular diet.
- **Temporary cases of emergency meals are available; this must be waived by the Director of the program. The Merrimack Valley Nutrition Project provides meals on wheels including diet type on percentage basis from each site in Lowell. Participants are asked to make a donation of $2.00 per day. This project accounts for 25% of all meals served at the various sites. Age requirement for this program is 60 and over.
- Weekend Meal Program
This program provides a weekend meal program for the City of Lowell's senior citizens (age 60 and over); meals are served on weekends and holidays at 11:30a.m. The program requires a "ticket" be purchased in advance per meal; tickets are on sale in the Director's office all day Monday through Thursday, and Friday from 9:00a.m. - 12:00p.m. for $1.50 each.
Transportation is available by calling (978) 458-7030, between 8:00a.m. and 9:00a.m. on the day transportation is needed.
- Drop In Center
We have many drop in areas for seniors to utilize. One area has pool tables, another library with computers and reading materials, a game room with playing cards, shuffleboard, board games and cribbage games for visitor's use. A separate lounge area is available with a large screen color TV/VCR & golden age radio with oldies music with comfortable furnishings and reading materials.
- Parking
The Lowell Council on Aging has approximately one hundred free parking spaces for seniors who utilize our programs.
- Senior Group Meetings
The American Association of Retired People (AARP) group meets on the third Monday of each month at 1:30p.m. At these meetings, there are speakers to inform senior citizens on updated issues concerning health care, insurance, and many other relevant issues. Refreshments are served for free.
- Monthly Meetings
Our Civic Events Director puts on a series of monthly meetings. We have these informative meetings once a month. Representatives from various organizations come in to discuss elder needs and offer a question and answer period following their discussions. Look for upcoming meetings in the "Heritage" newsletter.
- Nursing Services
Podiatry clinics are offered once a month with for $20.00 per person. Please call Michelle @ (978) 970-4133 for appointment.
Volunteer registered nurse's are available on Tuesday's from 10:00 AM-12: 00 noon and Friday's 11:00 AM-12:00 noon.
Free blood pressures are rendered and body weights are taken. The volunteer nurses are from Commonwealth Nursing and the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA). - Newsletter
The Lowell Council on Aging provides a free monthly newsletter, the Heritage. The Heritage includes a Director's message, which informs readers of new programs and information for senior citizens and the elderly. It also lists activities for the month, and other events that might be of interest. The Heritage is distributed throughout the city to pharmacies, housing projects, and businesses the elderly frequently visit. The Heritage is always available at the center.
- Mini Bus Transportation
Mini bus transportation is provided in most areas of Lowell
The Lowell Council On Aging mini bus will pick up seniors, drop them off at the center for lunch, and return them to their homes afterwards. This transportation is available seven days a week.
Transportation for shopping on Thursdays for St. Jeanne D'Arc, St. Michael's and Father Morrisette Manor..
- Telephone Reassurance Program
We provide a daily telephone reassurance program for the seniors in Lowell who are alone and need to hear a friendly voice. We check on these seniors daily to make sure they are doing well, and are not in need of medical assistance.
- Tax Preparation
The Lowell Council On Aging provides seniors with qualified tax preparation assistance annually. The AARP also offers free tax service for the seniors at the center.
- Portuguese Outreach Program
The Lowell Council On Aging has a Portuguese outreach worker available for senior non-English speaking residents. Services are available Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays between 8:00a.m. and 12:00p.m. Immigration assistance is also available.
- Tax Abatement Program
Seniors who are eligible can work up to 100 hours per year and earn up to $500 off of their property bill. For additional information, please call (978) 970-4133.
- Home Care Services
The Lowell Council On Aging is a member of the Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley. This service is commonly referred to as "home care." The purpose of home care is to assist elderly persons in their own home by providing homemaker services, light and heavy cleaning, additional chore services, and helping out with errands. A Lowell Council On Aging outreach worker will conduct a home visit to determine the amount/type of services necessary, and refer clients to the Elder Services as appropriate.
- Outreach Services
The Lowell Council On Aging works through outreach workers. These outreach workers conduct home visits to determine the needs of the City of Lowell's elderly clients. Clients are often referred to us through various means, including: visiting nurses, social services, and friends. Outreach workers coordinate access to meals on wheels, assist with prescription advantage programs, and help refer clients to other elder services as appropriate.
- Civic Events Program
This program assists with recreation and provides reduced tickets to plays and concerts.
Bingo games are held for seniors every Wednesday between 1:00p.m. and 3:00p.m. Cash prizes are awarded and refreshments are served.
Dance with DJ "Chet Harnden's Big Band Sound is held from September through June, free of charge, with a live band, on the first Friday of each month; free refreshments are served.
Day trips are provided to area restaurants, malls, and other locations throughout the year at a reasonable rate. The center also offers discounted overnight trips available for seniors. The Civic Events Director coordinates these activities.
For additional information, please call (978) 970-4134.
- Special Dinners
Special dinner/dances are provided throughout the year such as St. Patrick's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner and our annual Chicken Barbecue. These dinners include a full course meal door prizes and entertainment with DY, Ray Tremblay. These dinner/dances have a minimal fee of $3.00.
- Fitness Program
Aerobic classes are available with a certified instructor weekly on Monday's and Thursday's from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM. Free of charge from October -May.
Fee payable to Instructor of $1.50 per person during summer month's (June-September).An exercise equipment room is available with treadmills, bikes, free weights, and other useful machines. A volunteer is on site 20 hours per week for assistance with equipment. Use at your own discretion.
Men and women's separate showers are available in exercise room.
- Classes
Art Classes are available ten weeks per year on Tuesday's from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, for ten weeks a year (if grant is obtained). A qualified art instructor teaches oil painting. Seniors must bring their own supplies.
Knitting & crocheting classes are available throughout the year and are free of charge. Seniors and volunteers get together on Tuesday's from 1:00 PM -3:00 PM. We have plenty of yarn. Everyone is welcome to come and utilize the knitting and crocheting room at any time. It's always available.
Country Line Dance classes are available on the 1st, 3rd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, these classes are offered from September to June. Classes are $3.00 per person.
- Shoveling / Lawn Care Assistance
The Lowell Council On Aging has coordinated with the schools throughout the city, and has put together a list of students who will do your show shoveling and lawn care for a nominal charge. Call Michelle @ (978) 970-4133 to get the name of a student in your area.
- Picture IDs
The Lowell Council On Aging offers free Picture IDs with your senior citizen card. The identification cards are issued the first Tuesday of each month from 1:00p.m., to 2:00p.m.
- Bingo
The Lowell Council on Aging offers bingo on Mondays (excluding Monday holidays) and Wednesday's from 1:00-3:00 PM. Cards go on sale for .50 cents each at 12 noon. All monies collected for cards are distributed to Bingo game winners. Coffee and pastries are served free of charge at intermission.
- Whist Tournament
Every Thursday afternoon, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM the Lowell Council on Aging sponsors a Whist Tournament. It is $1.00 admission to participate in this tournament. All monies collected are distributed to the winners in the tournament.
- Cribbage Games
Every Tuesday afternoon, from 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM the Lowell Council on Aging sponsors a Cribbage game. . It is $1.00 admission to participate in this tournament. All monies collected are distributed to the winners in the tournament.
- Computer Training
The Pollard Memorial library annex is located in the new senior center. The library will be offering classes in computer training. Please keep your eyes open for monthly schedules in upcoming newsletters. Call (978) 970-4120 "Pollard Memorial Library" to sign up.
Seniors can sit and utilize the PC's that are currently set up in the library.
- Pollard Memorial Library Annex
The Pollard Memorial library has a branch inside the senior center where you can rent books and videotapes. Please take advantage of this great service.
- Pool Room
The senior center now has a beautiful poolroom with three brand new state of the art tables. Come play daily Monday through Friday from 8:00 am-4: 00 PM. Also, keep your eyes open for upcoming pool tournaments.
- Talent Group
The senior center has a talented group of seniors that practice singing together along with a pianists on Monday's at 12 noon. They then visit area nursing homes to entertain seniors who are homebound around Lowell. If you are interested please come down and join in.
- Falan Dafa (Falun Gong)
Free classes of meditation are offered Monday-Friday at 7:30 AM in the upstairs Classroom. The classes taught by instructor, Mr. Lucio are a teaching of peace and spirituality through which it's practitioners cultivates both mind and body.
- Ask The Doctor
Twice per month from 11:00 Am - 12: AM, the Lowell Council On Aging, along with Dr. Bown, offers a question and answer period for seniors who have any medical questions they would like answered. Look for dates in the newsletter.
- Friends of the Council on Aging Group
The Lowell Council on Aging Friends Group was formed to fundraise for the senior center. Monies raised are utilized for new programs and activities for seniors. If you are interested in becoming a Friend member the annual fee is $5.00. With your membership you receive a monthly mailing of the "Heritage" newsletter, minutes of meetings and voting rights. All donations are accepted and happily welcomed! This group meets on the last
Friday of month at 10:30 AM in the upstairs classroom.
