2 weeks Ago By Jen Garofalo
Supported by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging and The Albert Gallatin Human Services Agency Inc., the Masontown Senior Center is helping seniors by providing a variety of resources and offerings to enhance, improve or assist the lives of seniors in the area. Despite their name, Caroline Marella, former Executive Director and now consultant said there’s a common misconception regarding who they serve.
“We serve anyone in the Albert Gallatin School District, more than140 square miles,” Marella said. “We also have a satellite site in Smithfield.” Knowing who they serve is important because chances are, seniors in the area can benefit from all the Masontown Senior Center has to offer.
“We prepare several hundred meals on site and offer them at the senior center, we offer grab-and-go (meals), at the Smithfield location once per week and also offer homebound meal delivery,” Marella said. Meals are $2 per serving but if a senior is unable to pay, no one is ever turned away. Homebound meals are delivered based on need, not income.
In addition to receiving a hot and nutritious meal, the center offers a variety of entertainment and educational classes. “We have a variety of health and wellness programs. We work hand in hand with local officials to make sure our seniors are receiving help, whether they come to the center or not,” Marella said.
“Most recently, we offered free flu shots at all of our sites, and we often bring in a speaker to talk about new information, important to the senior population.” They receive visits from the Heart Association, the Masontown Police Department, tax experts and local physicians. “There’s always something going on here,” Marella said.
“I try to include speakers that reflect what our seniors want to learn more about, and we cover a myriad of subjects.” In addition to information and education, the senior center provides companionship and friendship too. Marella said for at least 50% of the homebound delivery clients, the center volunteers may be the only human contact the client regularly receives.
“We don’t just drop off a meal. We have to see them or hear them, and we’re responsible for their safety. If we go there and no one answers or the driver notices something is off, we report it,” Marella said.
“I’ve had relatives call and thank us because if we weren’t there, they wouldn’t have known their loved one was in distress.” At the center, however, Marella wants to stress, everyone is welcome. There’s a misconception that a senior facility is full of elderly people with little activity, but nothing could be further from the truth.
“We have daily activities, and everyone is welcome here, regardless of age group, social status or anything else. When you walk in this door, you’ll make new friends, and you’ll find people from all walks of life here,” Marella said. The community can volunteer for their mission.
If anyone has a special skill or trade, the center, a nonprofit organization, is always looking for assistance with projects from simple maintenance to lawn care. Volunteers can serve meals, donate bottled water or help during a special celebration. “We just had a polka dance at the American Legion.
It takes a village to put on these large events but it’s worth it. I adore the seniors, and this agency is very important to me,” Marella said. Visit the Masontown Senior Center on Facebook for more information.
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