See what’s happening at the East Lyme Senior Center!
Senior Center is Closed to the Public
The East Lyme Senior Center is currently closed to the public until further notice.
The staff of the East Lyme Senior Center are reporting in daily. Our duties have changed and we are delivering meals for our Meals on Wheels program so you will see our vehicle out in the community between the hours of 10am and 12:30pm.
If you or someone you know is having trouble, don’t hesitate to call the Senior Center at 860-739-5859. You may have to leave a message but rest assured, we will get it and respond to you.
STITCH HAPPENS via Zoom- Wednesdays
Open to all folks who knit, crochet, or sew.
No supplies provided – just good company and some occasional suggestions!
Time: 10:30
UNITED STATES CENSUS 2020
The census is coming and it is mandatory. The Constitution mandates that everyone in the country be counted every 10 years and it’s your way to participate in our country’s democracy. Remember the census determines many things for our country. For example the number of seats in the House of Representatives each state get is based on the census. Each state will review their legislative districts based on the census. The distribution of federal funds, grants and support to states and counties are based on the census. If you have questions, you can go to 2020census.gov.
DAY TRIPS 2020
No residency restrictions. Detailed flyers available.
Registration begins on the dates noted below. Payment due upon registration. Register as soon as you can. Trip counts are required a month in advance.
The 55 passenger motor coach will depart from the East Lyme Community Center Parking Lot.
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Thu, Apr 2nd – Join us for a trip to the Mohegan Sun Casino. Departure from the East Lyme Senior Center but checks made out to the Lymes’ Senior Center. No meal included but you will receive a casino package. Trip fee is TBD. Registration begins 02/03. Moderate walking.
Thu, Apr 16th – Come join us for a guided tour of Blithewold Mansion in Bristol, RI and experience their Daffodil Days – an explosion of sunny daffodils bursting out of the ground. Lunch at The Lobster Pot in Bristol. Trip fee TBD. Registration begins 02/03. Moderate walking.
Sat, Apr 25th – We’re heading to West Point Academy for their annual U.S. Military Academy Cadet Review. Lunch included at The Thayer Hotel as well as a step-on guide to share their knowledge of the Academy. You need to provide a proper Govt issued photo ID for the trip. Trip fee $130pp. Registration begins 02/03. Lots of walking.
Sat, May 2nd – New York City on your own – Bus leaves East Lyme at 7:45am and leaves NYC at 7pm. Trip is TBD. Registration begins 02/03. No meal included in trip price. Lots of walking.
Thu, May 28th – We’re going to tour of Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC and discover their Catacombs by Candlelight. Lunch on your own at Urbanspace Food Hall. Trip fee is $95pp. Registration begins 02/03. Lots of walking.
Fri, June 19th – Trip to the Newport Flower Show at Rosecliff Mansion in Newport with lunch/shopping on your own at the Wharf. Trip fee is $50pp. Registration begins March 2nd. Moderate walking.
Wed, June 24th – Join us for a lovely Tea Lunch at the Delaney House in Holyoke, MA. Then we’re off to river cruise aboard The Lady Bea for a 75 minute narrated tour as it makes it way up the Connecticut River. Lunch is included. Trip fee is $98pp. Registration begins March 2nd. Moderate walking.
Baby Boomers and the Change They Continue to Create. – Content by Judy
For those who aren’t certain – Baby Boomers are the children who were born after World War II. As the soldiers returned and married there was a population explosion creating a baby boom thus the name Baby Boomers! These babies were born between 1946 and 1964. They now are between the ages of 55 and 75. And there are more than 76 million Baby Boomers!
As this bunch moved through the different stages of live, society needed to adapt to accommodate the vast number. Schools were built. TV programming was geared towards them. Advertising was directed towards them. They protested the Vietnam war. Held sit-ins. Woodstock, The Beatles and TVs in every home happened because of the Boomers. And now society needs to continue to adapt as this massive group moves through the third stage of life.
This group is competitive, self-assured, goal oriented and has a strong sense of community. They are independent and make up their own mind. They are smart, confident and do their own research. Plus, they don’t part with their money easily.
As they become retirees’ changes will continue to develop and evolve. Boomers will need everything retirees have always consumed but in a much greater number and in a much different way. One example is the Boomers are generally staying in their homes. Not going to Florida. Not relocating. But “Aging in Place”.
Baby Boomers will live better than the generations before them as they live and work longer. Baby Boomers, also, had smaller families and are apt to be alone when their care needs change.
Society will need to again adapt and change to fill the void all of this will create. They will have more needs than the present aging system can supply. The current workforce will not be able to support this group’s future needs.
We already see some of these changes starting with the resourceful development of new ways to do things.
Uber and Lyft offer the beginnings of affordable on demand transportation.
Technology offers assistance to varying degrees. Alexa, Fitbit, telemedicine and fall monitors all offer various levels of help. We even have a TV we can talk to. And new devises are being developed and promoted as we speak. Updates continue to be made on existing devices and apps weekly.
The more we are able to talk with devices the more support we can get at a very low cost. They are not the robots we pictured as we watched “The Jetson’s”. But we can vacuum with iRobot. See who is at the front door with Ring. Call for help with our Medical Alert. Change the channel of the TV. Play music, make phone calls, monitor the thermostat and more with Alexa. Even start our car with our Smartphone.
What will we be doing with devises in say 5 years?
As Baby Boomers strive to live the lives they imagined and maintain their independence, they will be looking for those companies and products that market to them. They want companies that provide useful information. Have clickable ads. Give better than average customer service. Companies that understand $3+ trillion of the disposable income is in the hands of Baby Boomers will win those Boomers over with targeted marketing campaigns. One excellent example is SeniorCenterCt.org. A Collective website that’s easy to navigate and filled with useful information designed for the Baby Boomer.
There is much more on the horizon so as we look at change but sure to welcome it!