Next month will mark one year since Christine Quinn became the executive director of Norfolk’s Council on Aging. She replaced Norma Shruhan, who served as director for 28 years before retiring. Although new to Norfolk, Quinn came to the position with extensive experience in elder services.
Prior to Norfolk, Quinn was the director of Stoughton’s Council on Aging, and has worked as a medical social worker with expertise in Medicare. She is also a licensed mental health counselor and art therapist. Her background has proved a good fit for Norfolk, since her role involves responsibilities ranging from developing senior center enrichment programs to supporting families concerned about older loved ones.
When Quinn was hired, she was tasked with bringing in more baby boomers, the generation born between 1946 and 1964, along with providing traditional senior center activities and services for people in their late 70s, 80s, and 90s.
The age group known as seniors, Quinn notes, spans a very long period of time.
“There’s a big difference in people who grew up listening to the Beatles, and others who grew up listening to Frank Sinatra,” she said. “Trying to please both groups is a challenge.”
And then there’s homebound elders, another demographic for which Quinn must provide services. She recently hired an outreach worker with a master’s degree in gerontology to do home visits. Quinn said the COA can function as a geriatric care manager for families, especially important when children live far away from their aging parents.
“We can make referrals and offer ideas. If they need a resource or just want to talk to us, call us or email us. We can help.”
To bring in those baby boomers, Quinn has implemented new and diverse programs and activities, like lifelong learning courses. She hopes to introduce dance lessons, and is searching for a belly dancing instructor.
Some of the new programs have been held at night, outside of the usual senior center hours, in order to encourage Norfolk residents who may still be working to come by. The Norfolk senior center is now on Facebook, too.
Eventually, Quinn would also like to partner with the school system for intergenerational programs.
All of the center’s programs focus on healthy aging, which includes both physical health and intellectual stimulation. Quinn believes another important component is socialization, citing studies that show lack of socialization can lead to depression, which is as unhealthy as any disease.
“The best thing a person can do is come in here and make friends,” she says. To that end, she has started a lunch buddies program for the center’s Wednesday lunches. First-timers can call her and she will introduce them to and seat them with a “regular” to make the transition easier.
Quinn knows a warm welcome goes a long way to making a person feel comfortable. She says she herself has been welcomed warmly by town residents and officials, which has made her job easier. Norfolk’s senior center, she says, is very different from Stoughton’s.
“Stoughton was bigger. This is more personal,” remarked Quinn. “It’s easier to get to know people who come here. I’ve met so many nice people. Everyone is so supportive. It’s such a nice town. I love it here.”
Quinn acknowledges she has big shoes to fill, taking over for Shruhan, the former director. Change, she says, can be difficult for seniors.
“I’m a very different person. I’m at a different age,” she observed. “I’ve tried to be very respectful of what existed here for many years. There might be some things I would want to change, but I wouldn’t because it would be disrespectful.”
Janice Axberg, Council on Aging board member, said the board has been pleased with the changes Quinn has implemented at the senior center.
“She has brought variety and choices, which is a good thing,” commented Axberg. “I think it’s exciting that there are choices. Change takes a while to get used to. It’s a transition.”
Quinn says she’s always looking for volunteers to help her implement new programs that appeal to baby boomers, especially. She’d like to add hiking, kayaking, and more active hobbies to her roster of activities for the town’s seniors. More diverse programming, she hopes, will spur interest in the senior center and all it has to offer.
“We want more people to know we’re here,” said Quinn. “It’s a beautiful center and we have a lot of things going on. And everyone is welcome.”
Issue Date:
August, 2017
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