The Town of Franklin, like every city and town in our Commonwealth, has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the impact on our most vulnerable population, our seniors, has been especially trying. The Town of Franklin is fortunate to have the leadership and support of our Senior Center Director, Karen Alves, and her staff. The Franklin Senior Center has evolved over the years and is now housed in a beautiful facility that was built in 2007 and added on to in 2016, The staff at the Senior Center are dedicated to assisting in the health and well-being of our elders and their caregivers. Karen Alves has been the Director of the Franklin Senior Center since 2001 . She has served 19 years her role and has been an integral part of the growth and success of the center. After a long career, Karen will be retiring this September. Taking her place is current Social Services Director Erin Rogers, who has worked in Franklin since 2013 and has been overlapping with Karen to transition to the role.
The Senior Center provides a wide variety of programs, services, and activities for its population of 50+ adults in our town. Currently serving over 2,000 members, they aim to meet a wide variety of needs, from making connections and building friendships, health and wellness support to addressing more critical needs.
The Senior Center facility is typically a bustling place full of activity! It features a Cafe and full kitchen, where breakfast and lunch are offered daily, Monday through Friday. Chef Paul prepares delicious meals for members to enjoy.
"Our meal program is so important. It not only provides healthy options for our community, but it also provides socialization, which studies have shown to be vital. Older adults need stimulation and socialization so they can age in a healthy manner." shared Karen.
Specialized programs are offered to Franklin seniors, such as respite care. The Supportive Day Program (The Sunshine Club) provides a structured, stimulating environment for those living with dementia and offers support to their caregivers. The onsite Health and Wellness Nurse provides preventative care such as blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring along with one-on-one consultations. Members and their families can borrow medical equipment if needed, like wheelchairs, all at no cost, which has been a very successful program. Senior Center members can also receive help obtaining benefits like food stamps, fuel assistance and other forms of assistance, if they are in need.
Members truly enjoy the recreational programming such as bingo, card games, arts and crafts, music, movies and more. The fitness program is quite popular, offerings classes including aerobics, tai chi and balance programs. Amenities are available for members too, including hairdressing, podiatry and manicures.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic changed virtually everything about how the Senior Center operates and serves its members. Initially Karen, Erin, and the rest of the staff had to take care of any and all immediate needs.
"Food insecurity has been a major issue for many seniors, as they must obtain meals and medications. Helping with these needs was a priority," explained Karen. Isolation was and continues to be a concern for some members. The staff started with weekly reassurance calls, to check in or just to have a chat to be sure people felt connected, comforted and cared for.
After assisting their community with the new normal and handling the most vital tasks, the staff focused on how to continue to offer programs to their members remotely, many of which stopped abruptly in March. The Senior Center staff jumped right in, offering programming via Zoom, such as coffee hours, fitness classes, wellness chats and educational talks on health issues and other areas of interest. A virtual cocktail hour was created, Quarantini Time, which has been quite popular and fun. Creating virtual programs for the Franklin seniors has been successful and has helped many members stay in touch with friends and staff.
To help with food insecurity and to help provide some additional connection, the Curbside Cafe opened on June 1st and has been a wonderful addition to the offerings! This grab-and go-meal service provides lunches prepared in the kitchen Monday through Friday, with a selection of sandwiches and a special available each week.
"The Curbside Cafe has been great! It is so nice to see familiar faces and we have also been meeting new folks.” shared Erin. The meals program is been funded by a grant from MetroWest Health Foundation and the Council on Aging. Both Karen and Erin feel fortunate to offer this option and are grateful for the support they have received.
In order to accommodate the needs of their diverse population, the center offers audio support groups for the members with hearing issues and is continuing their work with outreach. The Dementia Friendly Franklin program works with organizations in the community and individuals to understand Dementia and help to de-stigmatize it. The coordinator still offers this program online and is working with the Alzheimer's Association to provide training for those who would like to learn more.
However, virtual programming does not work for all, and the staff has been working hard to support all of their members. The Senior Center made a big commitment to their low vision population, running audio book clubs and a Low Vision Support group.
"This group highlights one of the big challenges for our seniors, which is access. Not all of our community is online. We have many more members online than 5 years ago, but there is still a significant part of our population that is not. We make sure we are doing all we can to support all of our members by reaching out to connect and holding conference call social groups to provide socialization for those who are the most isolated.” explained Karen.
The Senior Center also had to suspend its respite program including the supportive day/ companion program. However, the coordinator is still in touch and has been sending out email blasts twice a month called “Ariel’s Inspirations!” This communication highlights YouTube videos and lots of other fun activities to support caregivers and their loved ones. Her efforts have been very popular, even with those not in the support group, as over 100 people have signed up to receive these emails.
While addressing the present concerns and situations, Karen, Erin and the staff are looking towards the future. They are working with a state-wide task force to prepare for the eventual reopening of their Sunshine Club, though they acknowledge many unknowns. When it comes to returning to normal and entering the building, that also is filled with uncertainty.
“The goal is at some point, to be back to where we were, but health and safety come first. We will work towards slowly rebuilding, but at this point, we just do not have a timeline at all.” said Erin.
Until the Senior Center’s operations go back to normal, these new methods of operations, including the Curbside Cafe and virtual programs will continue to be used. Karen and Erin are hoping to expand and offer more options through Franklin TV to help close the digital divide. They are working closely with the Massachusetts Council on Aging and they are following their guidance when it comes to what steps the Senior Center should take next. There is a lot to consider, as Karen noted.
"We are trying to do as much as possible with the building being closed. We have discussed the possibility of small groups as a way to have a potential phase in and we are paying close attention to the metrics. But in the end, we need a safe environment. In the meantime, the staff is doing everything possible to keep our town’s seniors active, busy, and healthy."
The timing and decision-making is still quite uncertain for our elder population and this is definitely not the way Karen envisioned her career as Senior Center Director to come to a close, but her confidence in her successor is clear.
“I can’t imagine a better person to manage the center than Erin. She just has a beautiful personality and she works so well with our community. Erin is so calm, never ruffled, which is such a great quality to have.”
Erin, who is looking forward to fully embracing the position as Director, responded by sharing how beneficial it was to learn from Karen.
“Everyone always talks about how lucky we are to have Karen. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her. I have learned so much.”
There is no doubt that our Senior Center and their members are and will continue to be in great hands, no matter what the future brings!