Town of Glastonbury, CT - Senior Services

The Senior Services Department is a town-funded, municipal department which operates and administers programs and services for Glastonbury citizens age 60 years and older. Any senior resident is welcome to participate in our activities at any time as no membership dues are required. Active seniors as well as those who remain house-bound are served by this department. The Senior Center offers a wide variety of social, educational, recreational, intergenerational, wellness, cultural and informative programs which help promote independence, personal enrichment and enhance the quality of life.

Dial-A-Ride provides transportation in town for Glastonbury's senior and disabled adult population. Transportation is provided to a variety of in town locations for activities such as medical appointments, shopping and senior programs. Monthly out of town shopping trips are offered as well. The program operates from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Additional evening hours are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays on a limited basis.

For ride reservations during the day, call 652-7643 by 11:00 a.m. one business day before the requested ride. For evening ride reservations, call 652-7655. For more information or to cancel a previously requested ride, call 652-7641.

The Friendship Circle is a social and recreational program designed for Glastonbury Seniors with special needs such as minor physical limitations, moderate memory impairment and/or limited mobility. The program offers stimulating mental and physical activity in a structured, supervised setting. The program is intended to bridge the gap between independent senior programs and a higher level of supervised care such as Adult Day Health Care.

Activities are planned and implemented by a Certified Recreational Therapist with the assistance of volunteers. The goal of the program is to help each participant reach and maintain their highest level of functioning in a comfortable, supportive atmosphere. At the core of the program is our belief that a person's senior years should remain a time of growth, vitality and contentment.

The program operates two sessions; one session meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays while the other group meets Wednesdays and Fridays. Both groups meet from 9:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Riverfront Community Center with a morning snack and lunch being provided. Dial-A-Ride transportation is available to transport participants to and from the program. A monthly fee of $55.00 will be charged to each participant and must be paid by the first of each month.

To register for the Friendship Circle or for more information, call the Senior Services Department at 652-7638. An Outreach Social Worker will make a home visit to explain the program, to determine if the program will meet the applicant's needs and complete an application.

Caregiving can present many complex challenges to both the caregiver and care recipient. The Caregiver Support Services Program has been developed to enhance the caregiving experience for both the dependent older adult and the caregiver.

Information, referral and support services including a monthly support group and consultation services are available to any Glastonbury resident 60 or older, or to anyone caring for a Glastonbury resident 60 or older. For more information, please call 652-7652.

The Elderly Outreach Program provides social work services to persons 60 years of age or older who live in Glastonbury. Information and referral services are also available to any Glastonbury resident who is caring for an older person. The goal of the program is to link seniors with the services and programs that they need to remain in the community.

Outreach Social Workers are available to meet with the older person and/or their family in their home or at the office. Telephone consultation is also available. Information and assessment are provided for the following types of issues:

home health care, housing options, financial assistance, advocacy, transportation, socialization/ recreational therapy, adult day health care, assistance with health insurance issues, and long-term care plans. Social Workers can assist with the completion of housing and financial program applications. Follow-up and case management services are available.

The Glastonbury Senior offers social, cultural, educational and wellness programs on Tuesday and Thursday Evenings and on Saturdays. Dial-A-Ride is also available for transportation to and from the program as well as other in town destinations during the evening hours. For additional information, please call 860-652-7655.

The Friendly Shopper program helps Glastonbury seniors age 60 + and disabled persons who need some assistance with their grocery shopping. It is a cooperative effort between Glastonbury Senior Services and Breakthrough to the Aging. Friendly Shopper volunteers either drive and assist a senior with shopping, or shop for a person unable to go to the store. Shopping trips may be once a week or twice a month, depending on the person's needs.

Friendly Shopper volunteers are trained, screened and then matched with a person in need of shopping assistance. The goal of the program is to enable the participants to maintain their independence and continue to provide for their own nutritional needs, as well as enjoy some companionship during the trip.

To become a participant of this program, contact the Senior Services Department at 860-652-7644. An Outreach Social Worker will visit you in your home to explain the program and to determine the need for this service. If you are interested in being a Friendly Shopper, please call the same number.

The Friendly Visitor Program offers an opportunity for meaningful contact with the outside world to the elderly or disabled person who is homebound or isolated. Friendly Visitor volunteers bring interest, information and activity to the person and offer the comfort of having a friend who cares enough to visit on a regular basis. There is no charge for this program.

People served by this program are 60 years of age or older, or disabled, and reside in Glastonbury. They may be in fair health, partially disabled or confined to bed. Their immediate physical needs are being met, however, they need someone to take an on-going interest in their lives.

The Friendly Visitor volunteer is trained, screened and then matched with a senior or disabled person in need of companionship. The volunteer visits the person once a week and may chat about everyday affairs, read aloud, share a hobby, write letters, play cards or make a phone call upon request.

Are you looking for a great place to get a nutritious and tasty meal plus meet new people? The Senior Lunch Program offers a full lunch program Monday through Friday. This program is open to all Glastonbury residents age 60 +.

The lunch program is held at The Riverfront Community Center which is located at 300 Welles Street. Lunch is served at noon. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 860-652-7651 by 11:30 a.m. one business day before the desired luncheon.

The daily entree can be found in the department's monthly newsletter, The Sharing Tree. A listing of the complete menu by month can be obtained at the Senior Center. The cost for the full course meal is $2.00 for most lunches with tickets for a special theme lunch costing $3.00.

Additionally, The Riverfront CAfe is opened Monday through Friday from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm. This venue is a great option for seniors that have forgotten to make a reservation; are looking for a lighter option or are busy and want a lunch to go. The Cafe features a different soup, sandwich and / or salad each day. Prices range from $1.50 for soup, to $2.00 for a sandwich or salad.

Glastonbury's Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator is responsible for monitoring substance abuse needs in the community. She coordinates community substance abuse prevention and intervention initiatives and programs. This includes youth prevention and education programs, parent / adult substance abuse education programs and senior education programs. The Coordinator is able to provide information and references regarding treatment and aftercare to individuals and their families. The Prevention Coordinator is available to provide professional development and education to community groups upon request. For additional information, please call 860-652-7531.

The GAPS Transportation Escort Program provides trained volunteers to travel with and give assistance to Glastonbury seniors or disabled persons riding on Dial-A-Ride or ADA Ct. Transit minibuses. The program's goal is to enable greater access of services and programs for seniors and disabled persons who may have mobility problems, vision loss or the beginning stages of memory loss.

There is no charge for this service, but persons must be pre-registered before requesting a volunteer. To register, please call the Senior Services Department at 860-652-7644. An Outreach Social Worker will visit the person in his/her home to explain the service, complete the registration form and determine if the program is appropriate. If you are interested in volunteering for the Transportation Escort Program, please call 652-7644.

The Senior Services Department offers a wide variety of opportunities for individuals to share their time and talents, learn new skills and get to know some truly wonderful people. Volunteers contribute their time and talents in may ways, such as helping with senior center programs, friendly visiting or shopping for homebound seniors, helping with holiday programs, tax assistance, newsletter preparation. For more information about how you can become involved, please visit our office or call 860-652-7655.