The Council on Aging is a Town Department serving residents age 60 and older. The COA serves an elderly population of nearly 2500 seniors, representing 17% of all residents, with those born between 1946 and 1964 (Abington’s Baby Boomers) the fastest growing segment of this group. It is the purpose of the Council on Aging to act as an advocate for Abington seniors and their families as well as foster senior health, independence and well-being through nutritional and outreach programs, education, and exercise programs and transportation services.
The Council on Aging office is located at the Senior Center at 441 Summer Street. We will soon be celebrating two years in our new facility as we moved here during April of 2008. The building is a spacious 12,544 square feet and includes an auditorium that is starting to be used more and more often as a location for meetings and events sponsored by the town, including the schools and the health department. Whenever a medium to large size venue is needed the Senior Center is a good option. The auditorium, kitchen and dining room are also available for rent for parties and other private use.
During 2009 improvements have continued to be made to the Senior Center through the generosity of both the Friends of Abington Seniors and the Abington Elderly Services. The Friends group has paid for a brand new state-of-the art commercial kitchen, a public address system for the 300 seat auditorium and the dining room area, purchased dining room chairs and tables and added flat screen televisions to the dining area for patrons’ enjoyment. Abington Elderly sponsored the construction of a fitness room dedicated to Abington’s Alice Frame complete with treadmill, recumbent bike, Bowflex strength machine and flat screen TV. The Center also offers computer classes for seniors learning to surf the Web and use current software. Several kinds of exercise classes are offered including a yoga class that was added in 2009. Other activities include: Bingo (a bingo system was purchased this past year from the KFC), Cribbage, Pool, and Quilting. New programs and activities are always being considered in case you have any ideas. Upcoming events are communicated through our monthly newsletter, the “Senior Informer”.