Senior Life

Leading up to the November 4 local election, the Newton Beacon asked candidates in competitive elections for mayor and city council how they would improve senior life in Newton.

John Chaimanis, City Council Candidate, Ward 4 At-Large: Newton has an increasing percentage of 55+ residents and we are making strides to address the needs of this population, including the Cooper center in Newtonville, a commitment to the (relatively) new GoGo transportation program (including subsidized trips) and several other programs. I would like to see collaborative efforts across Newton-based programs (OAS or Older Adult Services, NCE, Park & Recreation and others) to further expand access to arts and adult educational opportunities. Additionally, the recent report from UMass Boston that was commissioned by the city has a broad scope with implications for housing, food security and other topics that OAS and the council should focus on enacting.

Cyrus Dahmubed, City Council Candidate, Ward 4 At-Large: I’d seek to provide more accessible options for our seniors to be able to age in community. Newton currently has very few options for seniors looking to downsize while remaining in their communities, and even reasonably cost-effective fewer options. Many seniors face the difficult decision of having to leave the community they’ve built their life or continuing to remain in homes that are too difficult and expensive to maintain, especially on a limited income. In addition to creating new housing options to downsize into, I’d support an exemption to our Prop 2 ½ override specifically for seniors who live on a limited income and are still paying mortgages on homes below the city’s median single-family home value of $1.7 million. No one should feel priced out of their own home, just as they shouldn’t feel pushed out of their community. Finally, I’d seek to better utilize our transportation resources to create better options for seniors to safely get around the city.

Lisa Gordon, City Council Candidate, Ward 6 At-Large: I am very familiar with the challenges Newton’s older adults face as someone whose mother lives in the same house I grew up in. I will draw on my experience to support efforts on housing, transportation, and rising costs across the board. We also must be proactive in taking care of our most vulnerable seniors, including those facing mobility challenges, financial difficulties, or limited family support, ensuring they can live safely and with dignity in our community.

Julie Irish, City Council Candidate, Ward 5: Newton’s older adults are a large and vital part of our community, and we must ensure they remain connected, supported, and engaged. As a former member of Newton’s Council on Aging, I learned that many older adults want to age in place, which means providing resources to make homes safer, reducing isolation, and ensuring access to services. I would advocate for stronger outreach so that our older adults know how to connect with existing programs and to expand partnerships that help them remain independent. Newton should explore a senior shuttle for easier access to appointments, shopping, and events. The new Cooper Center for Active Living will provide a hub for social, educational, and wellness opportunities. The City must ensure that older adults from all across Newton know about its offerings and can access them. I would also like to see the expansion of intergenerational programs linking older adults with students and families, strengthening community ties while reducing isolation.

Josh Krintzman, City Council Candidate, Ward 4 At-Large:

As we near completion of The Cooper Center for Active Living, I am thrilled that our seniors (and others in the community) will have a brand new facility designed specifically for the needs of our seniors, increasing the available space for seniors to 33,000 square feet! Also in anticipation of this terrific municipal achievement – my Committee, supported and approved a Needs Assessment Report. Among the recommendations of that report, with which I wholeheartedly agree are:

• Operating hours that include nights and weekends;
• Increasing awareness of the Cooper Center and it’s programming;
• Developing programming for single, older adults, while also expanding online and remote learning opportunities;
• Creating an “aging in place” workshop to help educate residents about ways to leverage accrued equity in their home;
• Encouraging local businesses to offer a senior discount; and 
• Expanding the GoGo Newton program to help seniors navigate the city

Marc Laredo, Mayoral Candidate: Newton has been a leader in addressing climate change and I look forward to continuing and enhancing those efforts in ways that meet our environmental goals while also ensuring that any requirements we establish are fair and reasonable. This will include addressing stormwater issues, preserving our open spaces and tree canopy, and reducing our carbon footprint in the Garden City.

Garry Miller, City Council Candidate, Ward 5: The new Cooper Center will provide a wealth of new services for seniors. The experience of other communities who have built new senior centers is that they can be a real catalyst for new programming and participation. However, Newton is a large city by area and having just a single center for programming can be a hardship for seniors with mobility issues. I’d like to ensure that in addition to programming at the Cooper Center, we also maintain additional events and programs at other locations across the city.

Sean Roche, City Council Candidate, Ward 6 At-Large: The number one challenge facing seniors in Newton is the lack of affordable housing options for those who want to downsize from their single-family homes into smaller homes that require less maintenance (by the seniors themselves). Most seniors I speak to want to stay in the community where they have friends, activities, their chosen houses of worship, and the other aspects of living in Newton they’ve grown to love. We need more homes like the ones Opus will provide: apartments for lower- and middle-income seniors with a deep emphasis on community. We also need to recognize that, without additional housing options for young people, Newton is going to continue to skew older and older, which creates economic strain if we want to deliver the services our seniors should expect. I look forward to the opening of the Cooper Center.