How Does Neighborhood Falmouth Differ
from the Falmouth Senior Center?
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Although there is some overlap, the organizations have different missions and functions:
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Neighborhood Falmouth: Neighborhood Falmouth Inc. is a community-based membership organization whose mission is to provide information and services that will help members live independently, safely, and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible.
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Falmouth Senior Center: The Falmouth Senior Services Department functions as a human services organization for all residents of Falmouth who are at least 60 years old. The Senior Services Department manages the Senior Center, provides assistance, information on available resources, health services, referrals to other community agencies, education and recreation programs and activities.
The Senior Center is a Town of Falmouth agency and as such has a mandate to provide a wide-range of services for all Falmouth seniors age 60 and above. A major focus is to promote healthy aging and enhance the quality of life for seniors. This is accomplished with in-depth programs and activities at the Senior Center on Main Street, referrals to other relevant organizations, virtual programming, and some transportation services.
Neighborhood Falmouth provides services to help seniors stay comfortably and safely in their homes. With a phone call or email to the Neighborhood Falmouth office a member can initiate one or more of the following services and answer questions:
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Connections: Connections to other members who share interests and hobbies, such as crafts, books, sports, painting, card games, movies, and others.
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Technology Assistance: Help with electronic items including computers, cell phones, tablets, and devices such as thermostats, DVDs, clocks, and watches.
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Home Monitoring & Emergency Pet Care: Home monitoring when member in hospital or on vacation. Emergency pet care should a member be temporarily unable to care for a pet.
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Household Accounting Assistance: Help with basic household finances such as paying bills and balancing a checkbook.
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Light Home and Yard Maintenance: Weekly trash and recycling help, replacing smoke detector batteries, filling bird feeders, help with screens and AC units, closet or refrigerator cleanup, putting out or away patio furniture.
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Transportation: Rides to medical and other appointments, the grocery store, community events, and social activities, including classes and activities at the Senior Center
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Telephone Check-ins: Regular telephone check-ins and/or friendly visits in a member’s home among other members or with volunteers.
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Activities: Social and cultural activities hosted by Neighborhood Falmouth at locations around town, or other activities determined by member interests and tapping into the rich heritage of Falmouth and the Cape. May include lunches out, group discussions, programs of interest, and other activities.
In 2020, Neighborhood Falmouth provided more than 3300 services to our 125 members, including making friendly visits (231), shopping for and delivering groceries (359), transportation to appointments (1,664), well being visits (370), getting trash to the curb (201), along with tech help, writing checks, handy person help, light home maintenance and more. With the exception of some limited transportation via vans for multiple client trips and by volunteers only for medical visits, the remainder of the services provided by Neighborhood Falmouth are not provided by the Senior Center.
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The roles of the two organizations are very different; one is to improve the well being and quality of life for Falmouth seniors, the other is to provide services seniors need to remain in their own homes.
One of the important “side-effects” of the Neighborhood Falmouth transportation program is the development of friendships between our volunteers and members. This enhances the experience for both and, for many members, it improves their sense of safety.
According to a member: The most valuable gift I have ever given my Mom is a membership to Neighborhood Falmouth. What a godsend it has been for both of us to know that, though I live far away, there are caring and concerned friends, at Neighborhood Falmouth, to help Mom out with anything from taking care of a small home repair or maintenance issue to driving her to the doctor.
According to a volunteer: I like the personal connection...I’ve done Meals on Wheels and Around the Table for years but never really got to know the people. Now I pick someone up share our thoughts and stories and then wait for their name to appear again so I can volunteer and get to know them even better.
Neighborhood Falmouth collaborates with the Senior Center. Many Neighborhood Falmouth members, volunteers and board are also members of the Senior Center. In 2019, the two organizations worked together to present a 6-part series on end of life issues that was attended by more the 100 people.
Two great organizations, providing two different
types of service for seniors in Falmouth!
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