Today I had the privilege of attending an information meeting on Councils on Aging around the State of Massachusetts.  I am part of the Board of my local Council on Aging and must admit that I didn’t totally understand the role or reponsibilities of a Council on Aging.  I learned a lot.

One of the most interesting things I learned was how the demographics of our society are rapidly changing.  Obviously, the baby boom began in 1946, and those babies are now turning 65 and retiring.  Today we have 22 elders for every 100 working people.  In 2030 we will have 35 elders for every 100 working people.  How will that impact our society?

In Massachusetts a Council on Aging (COA) is a department of municipal government.  In most communities COA’s are the only public service agency.  The basic mission of the COA is to link needs with resources.

One of things pointed out in the presentation was that people want to remain living in their own homes independently for as long as possible.  The services of the COA can help with that goal.  Some of the services the various COA’s offer are meals on wheels, transportation to the Senior Center, educational opportunities at the Senior Center, and help with issues senior citizens may face (for example, wading through the paperwork involved in Medicare and other benefits).

My purpose in writing this article is first to make people who are elderly or who are dealing with an elderly relative aware that there is a place in their town where they can get answers and various services.  Secondly it is to say how impressed I am with the number of people in Massachusetts who volunteer in some way to be part of the Council on Aging or help the Council on Aging provide services to local residents.  Almost everyone involved with the Council on Aging is a volunteer.  That is a wonderful and amazing fact.