Resources

Commission on Aging

On May 15, 1985, the Town of East Lyme passed an ordinance that created the Commission on Aging.  The Commission is a 7 member Board consisting of interested residents of the Town which must have minority representation.

The purpose of the Commission is to:

  1. Review and analyze the needs and conditions of the elderly persons of the Town in relation to housing, nutrition, employment, health, recreation, social services, transportation, and other matters and problems within the jurisdiction of the Commission.
  2. Plan, coordinate, develop and implement programs to meet the needs and to improve the conditions of the elderly persons of the Town, upon the Board’s own initiative or on the recommendations of the Senior Citizen Administrator.
  3. Through the Senior Center Director and others, as necessary, provide coordination of such plans and programs among all related services.

The monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of every month starting at 5pm. The meetings are held at the Senior Center and the public is welcome to attend. If a member of the public has a concern and wants to address the Board, there are two ways in which this can be handled. At the Board meeting, a person can address the Board during the Delegations section of the meeting. Or, a person can ask the Senior Center Director to add an item to the monthly meeting Agenda.

The current makeup of the Board is:

John Whritner            Chairperson

Michael Bekech          Vice-Chairperson

Ilene Harris                 Secretary/Treasurer

Marge Caste                Board Member

Margret Hughes         Board Member

Joan Bengston            Board Member

Joe Palazzo                 Board Member

Roseanne Hardy        Selectman and Ex-Officio

 

The East Lyme Senior Center can assist you or someone you know with regards to services available within our community. If you have questions, please call at 860-739-5859 for an appointment.

 

    Neighbors helping Neighbors

    Do you have a skill or a service that would benefit a senior in need? We are looking to compile a listing of Niantic & East Lyme residents ready and available to assist seniors with odd jobs, grass mowing, raking, dump runs, shoveling / plowing, etc… If you would like to add your name to our listing please contact us. Please note we are not looking for contractors. We are looking to put together a “neighbors helping neighbors” listing with reduced pricing or free of charge services for seniors in our community. Reliable teens or retirees welcome!

     

    MUNICIPAL MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION 2021-2022

    The Dial-a-Ride Medical Transportation and Caregiver Mileage reimbursement program started their new fiscal year on July 1, 2021 and runs until June 30, 2022. Residents who are 60+ or persons with disabilities are eligible  for the service.  A one-page application is required in order to register. If you have already registered for the program, you do not need to complete a new registration form.

    Registered participants who cannot have their needs met by existing services will be provided a limited number of one-way trips per grant year (36) or as the grant dollars allow.

    For further information or for an application, please contact the Senior Center office.

     

    We believe in what we do – Content by Judy

    We believe in what we do. We all have thought something like this in the past. We have all been very convinced on one issue or another. We then surround ourselves with likeminded people.

    Together our voice grows stronger. Ideas flourish. Paths and networks expand. We can do all of this in a very serious way, over very serious issues but we can also do this with laughter and create a better world in a good way.

    Laughing is a very healthy thing to do. Laughter is actually a physical reaction consisting usually of rhythmical, often contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of the respiratory system. It is a response to certain external or internal stimuli according to Wikipedia.

    Did you know there is even a National Let’s Laugh Day? It’s March 19th and we can laugh about the fact that I missed it by a few months!

    Life can be hard. Things happen to us and around us that we don’t understand. We can hit low spots. But we need to move forward. We need to look for what makes us smile. It could be a puppy, a baby, a joke, or a movie. But once we can smile it’s easier to laugh. So go watch a funny movie!

    When you laugh it lowers your stress hormone. You can burn up to 40 calories with a good 15-minute belly laugh. Your abs get a workout.  Laughing can be better for you than a cup of coffee. One minute of laughter boosts your immune system for 24 hours. 15 minutes of laughing equals the benefits of 2 hours of sleep. So, here’s a question – if I’m awake during the night for a few hours I only need to laugh about it and I’m good???

    The average man smiles an average of 8 times a day. The average woman smiles 62 times a day. Babies smile an average of 200 times a day. So, now lets all be babies!!! At least for part of the day.

    I once attend a laughter yoga class and they tell you “Fake it till you make it!” If you force yourself to laugh and to keep laughing before you know it the laugh becomes real, and it feels good. Try it and you’ll have a better day!!

    Why do giraffes have long necks?

    Because they have smelly feet.

    What goes tick-tock and woof-woof?

    A watchdog

    What are the two things you can’t have for breakfast?

    Lunch and dinner

    Why is a bad joke like a pencil?

    Because it has no point

    Why isn’t there a clock in the library?

    Because it tocks too much

    Did I make you giggle, chuckle, belly laugh????

    I hope so. Have a better day!