A Good Age: New era for active older adults at expanded Marshfield Senior Center

MARSHFIELD – Carol Hamilton has had visions of this day for more than 20 years.

"We like to think people will see this as a cool new hangout," she said.

Those are encouraging words for a place – a community senior center – once associated mostly with "old people."

When Hamilton started as the director of the Marshfield Council on Aging in 1998, the senior center was just one room in the Ventress Memorial Library. This month, the center has begun welcoming people to its expanded two-story home at 230 Webster St.

It is part of a transformation in how local towns are viewing life after 60, and even 50, for its residents and those of nearby communities.

With architectural and design features both trendy and practical, the senior center that opened in 2003 has nearly doubled its 12,600-foot space. The stylish two-story addition has added 11,200 square feet with enhanced exercise options and made flexible fun more possible.

"We were just so crammed in before," former selectman and council on aging board vice chair Sheila Gagnon said. "We owe the town a debt of gratitude."

Gagnon was a key player in the five-year campaign to gain town support for a bigger, better senior center.

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"Luckily we built this at a time when we got a good interest rate on the bond," she said. "We were proud to finish on time and come in under budget. But this was an outstanding vote of confidence in Carol Hamilton. She is an amazing person who was pushing constantly to have more services and to have seniors feel comfortable."

When she came on board 24 years ago this month, Hamilton, a Braintree resident, soon developed ideas on programs that might be added.

Exercise classes. Art workshops. Dance. Tai chi. Life-long learning. Bridge. Wood carving. Pickleball. Social day care for people with memory loss, begun last year during the pandemic, may soon increase to three days.

Grand opening preparations underway

The expanded senior center's grand opening and celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 25 at 230 Webster St. Shuttle bus transportation will be provided. The free event includes a catered lunch at noon, entertainment at 1 p.m., souvenirs and tours.

Dr. Jan Mutchler, head of the UMass-Boston Gerontology Institute, and several local public officials will speak.

This past week, as Hamilton and Merilee Comerford, activities coordinator, helped orient seniors to classes in the new space, there was a buzz of excitement.

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In the fitness room, John Bartos, a retired attorney, was becoming familiar with the workout equipment selected specifically for seniors.

"I've done two sets," on the chest press, he told Kristen Noonan, the staff's volunteer coordinator. Noonan has a fitness background and is showing seniors how to use the ellipticals, treadmills, recumbent bicycles, stretch cage, bench press and other equipment.

"I'm here to get the body trim," Bartos said. "Fortunately all I have to do is firm it up."

His doctor has cleared him for up to 50 minutes of workout time. After retiring, Bartos and his wife relocated from California to Marshfield to be near their daughter, Alexandra Sullivan, principal of Deer Hill School in Cohasset.

Other South Shore communities – Duxbury, Scituate, Cohasset – also have made major additions or built new senior centers in recent years. Each has been a transformation for that town's older population.

"I couldn't even have imagined what it could be like," Hamilton said. "Some people asked, 'Why do we need all that space?' but once they're here, its a whole new world."

New additions to the senior center

One of the key additions is the Seaflower Cafe, with a varied menu for breakfast and light lunch provided by experienced food service manager Jim Lowell.

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The new gym has a special shock-absorbent floor, easier on the joints. The dance studio has a softer suspended floor and mirrors and bars for balance. The game room has ping pong for now but will soon have two regulation pool tables.

There is a secondary health room; a new media room for showing movies and Zoom groups; a secondary art studio as classes grow, a multi-sport gym room and a beauty salon.

Outside a walking trail goes around the ballfields and connects to the Webster Wilderness trail. The bocce court, outdoor ping pong tables and pickleball courts are next to large new parking areas.

For safety, there are security cameras in the common areas, and after all their activity is over, seniors can head for the massage chair in the salon.

"We have always tried to cater to people and what they want and keep them healthy," Hamilton said. The center is putting together a focus group to attract more men. More space will mean "more robust" programming, more flexibility in moving activities around, making room for an added movie or impromptu discussion group.

"We will be able to grow and improve what we offer to our senior community," Hamilton said.

"The center was always a cordial and active place and the fabulous two-story addition just makes it better," Matt Currie, who served on the building advisory committee, said.

In 2019, people 60 and older accounted for 28 percent of Marshfield; over the next 10 years, that is expected to reach between 36 and 38 percent.

"As the school population trended down, the town population has been level, but more boomers are aging in place and becoming a larger part," Hamilton said

"Because people are excited about the expansion, they are bringing other people in to show them. If people are hesitant, once you get their foot in the door, along with friends, family, even neighbors, that encourages more to come."

Reach Sue Scheible at sscheible@patriotledger.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Expanded Marshfield Senior Center will cater to active older adults