The City Council boosted senior services at its Monday meeting, welcoming a grant for more than $300,000 and approving a look at adding a senior services navigation job.
Funding from the state’s Executive Office of Aging and Independence brings to the city’s senior centers $181,607 for salaries and wages, $106,033 for maintenance and $15,000 for travel and training – a line item that city departments have used to pay for an array of needs not captured by the name.
Some of the funds will be used to offset potential federal cuts affecting congregate meals provided through Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services. The grant includes money to cover a portion of staff and food costs typically offered by the program, helping prevent a drop in meal service, said Ellen Semonoff, assistant city manager for human services.
“We very much don’t want to reduce meals at the senior center, because they serve incredibly important … social- and health-related needs,” Semonoff said, ensuring older adults regularly receive nutritious foods and stay connected to others.
The funding also supports medical rides, the hiring of instructors and programming at the Russell Community and Youth Center on Thursdays and Fridays. An activities assistant from the senior center has been assigned to oversee the programming during a test approved Nov. 3 to ensure the new activities run smoothly.
A separate approved policy considers creating a position within city government to “triage and direct senior residents to appropriate services and supports.”
Demand for services among older residents continues to grow as more seniors live independently but rely on city programs, councillors said. The role’s primary goal would be to help seniors figure out which services they qualify for and connect them to the right agencies.
“We have a wonderful array of services … but some of our seniors don’t know how to get to those services,” said mayor E. Denise Simmons, who filed the motion. “If you don’t know how to access those services, it’s almost as though they don’t exist.”
Councillor Cathie Zusy, who co-sponsored the policy order, said the need for such a role has become more urgent because of an increase in scams targeting seniors and the complexity of navigating multiple service providers. Providers have identified repeatedly a need for “someone that guides [and] connects,” she said.
Some concerns were raised about the budget impact of creating the role at a time the city is forced to cut spending to counter a worsening economy and punishing federal policies. Councillor Patty Nolan asked whether the responsibilities could be folded into existing positions or improved through better coordination, instead of adding a job.
The order is intended to be budget neutral, Simmons said, and the position could be created through reallocation or restructuring rather than new spending.
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