Visit us here for the latest information, news and items of interest to seniors.
5/15/23 – Athol Council on Aging is looking for a tech savvy individual who would enjoy assisting our seniors with their cell phones and tablets. If this interests you please call Athol Senior Center at 978-249-8986.
5/3/23 – On May 24 at 10:30 AM Beth Burns will be here to let people know about Vitra Health, an organization that helps to “keep families together in the comfort of their own homes” by assisting caregivers or providing trained caregivers. Each client is also assigned a Registered Nurse to oversee needs and create custom care. Beth will also be at the pizza lunch that day to answer any questions. Vitra Health works directly with MassHealth. Clients must have MassHealth Standard, MassHealth CommonHealth or Senior Care Options.
4/24/23 – LifePath Walkathon
Saturday, May 6, 10 AM to 1 PM
LifePath Offices
101 Munson Street, Greenfield, MA
“In 2023, LifePath’s Walkathon will celebrate 31 years of bringing together comunity members whose efforts provide for older adults, individuals with opportunitiesm and caregivers served by our agency. Walkathon participants walk and fundraise to give access to LifePath programs and servies that keep individuals in their own homes and communities.”
We are looking for your help and support!
Please inquire within the Athol Senior Center office on how you can participate in this wonderful event, whether walking with a fundraising team or simply making a goodwill donation all of which are greatly appreciated!
4/24/23 –New Medicare Care Scam – Steven Weisman, Esq.
For many years Medicare used a person’s Social Security number as his or her Medicare number which put Medicare recipients in serious danger of identity theft, Medicare resisted changing the Medicare number to a safer random number for many years. Finally, in April 2018, new cards began being sent by regular mail to all 60 million Americans enrolled in Medicare and since 2020 the switch over to new more secure Medicare card numbers was compl
But this has not stopped identity thieves. Many older Americans are receiving emails or phone calls purporting to be from Medicare either offering new plastic cards to replace their paper cards or new Medicare cards with microchips. All the targeted victim has to do is merely verify their Medicare number. And while your Medicare number is no longer your Social Security number, giving it to an identity thief can cause you substantial problems when you try to access Medicare as well as cost the American taxpayers millions of dollars.TIPSIt is easy to determine when you receive a phone call, email or text message from Medicare. They don’t contact you by email, text message or by phone so anytime you are contacted in this manner, you can be confident it is a scam. As for phone calls purporting to be from Medicare, you should never provide your Medicare number, Social Security number, credit card number or any other personal information to anyone who calls you on the phone because you can never be sure they are legitimate. Even if your Caller ID indicates the call is from Medicare, the IRS or some other legitimate organization, through a technique called “spoofing” your Caller ID can be tricked into making it appear that the call is legitimate.The real Medicare also will not contact you and ask you to verify your Medicare number and there are no new plastic cards or Medicare cards with microchips. If you get a call asking for personal information that appears legitimate, merely hang up and call the company or agency at a number that you independently know is legitimate to find out the truth.
Navigating the Journey of Aging Well
Feeling lost as a caregiver?
Don’t know where to start to plan your own care in your senior years?
Need guidance with legal, financial or healthcare matters for yourself or an aging loved one?
Join Care Central VNA & Hospice and local elder care professionals who can help identify your needs and find ways to meet them. Learn about maintaining independence as we age, planning for care in later years and ensuring you and your loved one’s wishes are known and achievable.
This event is open to the public and anyone is invited to attend, whether they are planning for their own future or as a caregiver struggling to find help in caring for a loved one.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 17TH
TIME: 11:00AM – 2:00PM
PLACE: 34 PEARLY LANE GARDNER MA 01440
RSVP: LISA GOLDEN 978-632-1230 EXT 311 OR BY USING THE QR CODE BELOW:
4/12/23 – Town of Athol Public Input Survey on the Accessibility of the Town Facilities, Programs, and Services.
The Town of Athol would like your help! We are in the process of developing a Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan to ensure residents and visitors have access to all Town facilities, programs, and Services. The Town has engaged the Edward J. Collins Center for Public Management to assist with the plan, which is required by the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1991 (ADA). An important part of this planning process is providing opportunities for the public to offer input and voice concerns.
This Accessibility Public Input Survey is intended to gather preliminary data to assist the planning team in identifying any barriers to access for individuals with disabilities at Town facilities or within the programs and services it currently offers. Once the initial study is completed, the Town will solicit additional input on how to best address any deficiencies that are found.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey
Click here to complete the survey online.
Paper copies of the survey are also available at Athol Senior Center
3/29/23 – Attention MassHealth Members – During the pandemic state of emergency, most accounts were not updated. With the end of the state of emergency, MassHealth is now sending notices requiring updates and renewals. If you have MassHealth you need to take steps now to keep your health coverage this year
Take three steps to renew your coverage:
1. Update your info
2. Check your mail
4. Respond to MassHealth
Call 800-841-2900 or visit http://www.masshealthrenew.org
2/2/23 – Bingo is starting Tuesday, March 21, from 1 to 3 PM Seating is limited. Registration is required. Please call 978-249-8986.
1/5/23 – Sand For Seniors – The Athol Lions Club, with assistance from the Athol Council on Aging, is offering the “Sands For Seniors” program. This program will provide citizens with sand for their walkways during the winter months. All requests, new or refills must be made by calling the Athol Council on Aging at 978-249-8986. Five day notice is required. Must be age 65 plus. Athol residents only.
10/5/22 – The Sharing Our Father’s Bread meal, sponsored by the North Quabbin Catholic Community will have free weekly sit-down meals on Wednesdays at 5:00 PM in the St. Francis Church Hall, 110 Main Street, Athol.
9/21/22 – North Quabbin Memory Café. We are excited to announce that the Athol Council on Aging and the Petersham Council on Aging have been awarded funding from LifePath, Inc., and the Church Street Home Fund to create a new initiative called the North Quabbin Memory Café. The new program will offer a monthly meeting place for individuals living with changes in their thinking or memory, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder. It will be a place to relax, have fun, and meet others along with their care partners. Each month will feature a theme, activities for participants and care partners based on the interests of the group, a time for socializing, and refreshments. The Café will be free of charge and promote inclusion. Starting on February 6, 2023, the Café meets at the Athol Senior Center on the 1st Monday of each month from 10 am to 12 noon. Please call or stop by the office to register 978-249-8986. Share this information with your friends and family and help spread the word!!
8/23/22 – The Salvation Army will deliver a hot meal to you on Tuesday evenings along with any other food items you may need. Please call the Salvation Army office for more information and to set up regular delivery. 978-249-8111
8/22/22 – Be sure to check out the Events and Activities page. There is a lot going on at the Senior Center. Don’t miss out!
7/18/22 – The Department of Transitional Assistance has issued warnings to SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) recipients regarding Skimming and Phishing scams. The agency and its investigations team became aware of banks and retailers who appear to have had their ATMs and card processing terminals compromised. These scams are aimed at obtaining credit, debit and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card information and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs). DTA is advising clients to change their PIN numbers regularly. People should never provide their personal information or EBT/P-EBT card number over the phone to unidentified callers. If any DTA client believes he/she may have fallen victim to a skimming or phishing scam, they are encouraged to report it to DTA’s fraud hotline at 1-800-372-8399.
The agency also created a webpage on Skimming and how to protect benefits.
7/13/2022 – Caregiving can be a challenge. Here are 12 books on caregiving recommended for caregivers by Daily Caring.
6/7/2022 – Mondays from 8 to 9 AM, Ocean State Job Lot in Athol is giving a 20% senior discount on all food products.
2/15/22 – HIP at Quabbin Havest
9/29/21 – RMV is now offering “Senior Hours” at 27 service centers on Wednesdays from 9 to 10 AM to conduct Registry transactions. Reservations are required.
For reservations: Call (857) 368-8005, Email, or Online *For online reservations, click on the link “Online” link above, select “Make/Cancel a Reservation”, select “Senior Hours-All transactions Except Road Tests (Must be 65 years or older”) button.
If you are a AAA member you can make a reservation now to renew or upgrade your dirver’s license/ID or registration at a AAA location. Click here to schedule an appointment.