The Shutesbury Council On Aging (COA) is dedicated to serving Town residents 55 and over, their families and caregivers.
Our meetings, currently on Zoom, are on the second Wednesday of every month from 5:30 to 7pm. Anyone is welcome to attend. The COA works with LifePath, our Area Agency on Aging (see more below!), and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs to provide older adults opportunities to live well in Shutesbury. Our town is also part of a new regional Network of Age-Friendly Communities.
NEW! Demand Response ride service from Franklin Regional Transit Authority
Shutesbury residents age 60 and up can now use this curb-to-curb service Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Trips must be scheduled between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the FRTA call center, 413-774-2262 ext. 0 The cost is waived with state grants through the end of June, 2025.
Demand Response Brochure, Orange,New Salem, Shutesbury, Warwick, Wendell 2024.pdf
You may book same day or next day transportation, but best to schedule rides with as much notice as possible.
The drivers will assist you onto their vehicles and again when disembarking from the vehicle, but cannot assist you into buildings or your home. Drivers are not to assist with groceries or other parcels; bring only what you can carry. If you need assistance, the FRTA allows you to have someone to travel with you. They must be there to assist the passenger with the trip (not there to do their own errands).
If you choose to bring a friend or companion, they will pay the same fare as you. Simply notify dispatch that someone will be accompanying you on your trip. All of the vehicles are wheelchair accessible and have lifts to accommodate our mobility disabled consumers.
Call 413-774-2262 ext 0 for an application or download it http://frta.org/wp-content/uploads/Demand-Response-Application-Rev-2022.pdf. Complete and submit it to make your reservation. Once approved, a Demand Response information packet will be forwarded to you. Wear a seatbelt, unless you have a medical condition that prohibits it.
SAND FOR SENIORS RETURNS!
Here is how it works:
If you are a resident of Shutesbury and a senior (or someone with a disability or just someone in need), contact the Shutesbury Police Department by phone 413-259-1279 and leave a message with your name and phone number. Please state in your message that you are calling in regards to the "Sand for Seniors program." An Officer will call you back and get your information and deliver the Sand to your doorstep. Buckets have been generously donated by the Hadley Home Depot. If you already have a bucket and need a refill just let us know.
We can not wait to connect with our Seniors and anyone who just needs a little extra help.
Call today and we will get your started!
Kristin M. Burgess
Chief of Police
Shutesbury Police Department
1 Cooleyville Road
Shutesbury Massachusetts 01072
Ph# 413-259-1279
Create Your Own "Peace of Mind" Binder!
Should you or your loved ones face an emergency, have these documents at hand!
Council on Aging Services
Monthly Foot Clinic! Appointments with a registered Foot Care Specialist are available to residents of Shutesbury on the third Wednesday of each month in the Senior Lounge at Town Hall. These visits had been suspended at the start of the pandemic. The half-hour appointments between 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. will include nail trim and massage. Home visits can be arranged if needed.
Appointments in your home may be scheduled by phoning FootCare By Nurses, LLC, an agency based in Greenfield. Call 413-367-8369 and let them know you are part of the Shutesbury COA's foot care program.
The COA suggests clients donate toward each visit's cost; state grant funds to the COA will be used to cover the balance. Call 413-259-3796 for more information and to schedule an appointment.
Classes and Passes Co-sponsored with the M.N. Spear Memorial Library: Weekly fitness classes on Zoom, and passes to the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and the Mass. Museum of Contemporary Art. See the library's website for details.
Med Ride Program During the COVID-19 period, the COA's own transportation program to medical and dental appointments remains suspended. Meanwhile . . .
- Village Neighbors has an active transportation program (see entry on Village Neighbors at the bottom of this page).
- The Franklin Regional Transit Authority provides medical rides, but only to appointments outside of Franklin County. Click the Transportation tab at the top of this page to learn more about this service.
Senior Potluck Lunch! From now through December 2024, we will hold this gathering on the SECOND Tuesday of the month (not the first) at noon in the Senior Lounge at Town Hall. Come meet, greet, and dine with your neighbors!
Other Resources for Seniors
Shutesbury's Public Health Nurse
The recent creation of the grant-supported Valley Health Collaborative has brought Shutesbury residents the free services of a Public Health Nurse! Sarah Fiske will now be available in Shutesbury Town Hall on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 am to 1 pm in the COA's Senior Lounge (lower level of Town Hall). She can also can be reached at 413-531-0657 or sarah.fiske@greenfield-ma.gov. For examples of services available, click the Health and Vision tab at the top of this page. (If you are viewing this page on a smartphone, the list of tabs may appear on the upper left under the heading "COA sub-menu." On an iPhone, you may also need to turn your phone sideways before you can see the tabs running across the top.)
Local Property Tax Exemptions
Shutesbury provides exemptions that reduce all or part of the taxes assessed for the fiscal year to seniors 65 and older who meet specific requirements set by state laws. Exemptions may also be available to veterans, people who are legally blind, and other residents.
Click the Tax Exemptions tab at the top of this page for more information from Shutesbury's Assessors Office. (If you are viewing this page on a smartphone, the list of tabs may appear on the upper left under the heading "COA sub-menu." On an iPhone, you may also need to turn your phone sideways before you can see the tabs running across the top.)
Board of Health Pandemic Information Page
Click here for the latest from Shutesbury's Board of Health on booster shots and more!
LifePath
This Area Agency on Aging supports Franklin County citizens 55 years and over through numerous individual, home and community services. You can subscribe to a free weekly newsletter, download or request an annual directory of local resources, and learn about nearby events, workshops and other opportunities by visiting https://lifepathma.org/ If you have questions or need assistance, you can also call 413-773-5555.
Help with Money Management
LifePath’s free Money Management Program assists elders who have difficulty writing checks or managing living expenses for many reasons, including problems with vision and memory. Trained volunteers help with writing checks, balancing checkbooks, sorting bills, developing budgets, and more. Contact LifePath at 800-732-4636 or TDD 413-772-6566, Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.
Local Meal and Grocery Programs
To see some options in our area, click the Food and Nutrition tab at the top of this page. (If you are viewing this page on a smartphone, the list of tabs may appear on the upper left under the heading "COA sub-menu." On an iPhone, you may also need to turn your phone sideways before you can see the tabs running across the top.)
Age-Friendly Communities Project
In 2022, LifePath, Senior Centers, Councils on Aging like ours, and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments began surveying residents over 50 years old as well as caregivers of older adults. The project is part of the Global Age-Friendly Communities movement started more than a decade ago by the World Health Organization and administered in the United States by the AARP.
Village Neighbors
This non-profit member/volunteer-run organization helps adults 60 and older age in place in Shutesbury, Leverett, New Salem and Wendell by assisting with transportation, computers, small tasks at home, or friendly visits. Membership is free! To learn more, call 413-345-6894, write to Village Neighbors, P.O. Box 501, Shutesbury, MA 01072, or email generalinfo@villageneighbors.org.