The Harwich Council on Aging is confronting a significant communication breakdown following a UMass Needs Assessment revealing that nearly 40 percent of local seniors do not know where to turn for help. During the board’s June 18 meeting, members grappled with the report’s findings, which highlighted a widening divide between available town services and the residents who need them most.

Sheila House noted that 38 percent of survey respondents were unaware of community resources, suggesting the creation of a credit card-sized resource card to distribute throughout town. I created a card the size of a credit card... it might be a great thing for them to have so that it has phone numbers, House said. The board also discussed using refrigerator magnets and reaching out to realtors to ensure new residents are connected to the Senior Center immediately upon arrival.

The board's focus on outreach comes as Chair Richard Howell provided a grim update on the regional housing crisis, noting that the financial barrier to entry in Harwich has reached record heights. Howell, who also serves on the Town Charter Commission, reported that a minimum income of $225,000 is now required to qualify for a mortgage on a home priced under $600,000. If we go back to the 1980s, the ratio of income to house purchase price was about three. Now we are between six and seven, Howell said, highlighting the difficulty for seniors looking to age in place or for younger families to move into town.

While the board acknowledged the severity of the housing shortage—referencing the seven-year timeline for the Penrose project at 456 Queen Anne Road—member John Bethl cautioned against scope creep for the department. Bethl warned that the board must prioritize actionable items, especially as municipal departments may face 0 percent growth budgets in the coming fiscal year. Housing is a problem for not only aging in place but just for plain living, Bethl said. I only worry about one thing: is it outside the scope of the COA? We can certainly advocate, but is it really outside the scope?

Director Julie Wescott reported that while two new volunteers have joined the driver program, medical ride requests remain high. She also announced that Rosa Wright, formerly of Midcape Homes, will join the staff as Program Specialist III on June 23. Wescott highlighted the challenge of reaching the estimated 4,000 seniors who do not currently receive the department newsletter, noting that a town-wide mailing is not supported by the current budget. It's really hard for people to take that first step and come to something where they know they're not going to know somebody, Wescott added, discussing the success of recent outreach lunches held directly at residential sites like Pine Oaks.

The board addressed physical constraints at the Community Center, which the report suggested could be mitigated by outdoor tents. Bob MacCready expressed skepticism regarding seasonal solutions for space needs. The one thing they said that would be a big lift, but I think a big return, would be more space, MacCready said. Thinking when you need space is during inclement weather.

To address the assessment's findings, the board established a working group consisting of Wescott, Howell, House, and MacCready. This group is tasked with narrowing the UMass report's recommendations down to three to five high-priority, low-cost actions to present to the Select Board. Early in the meeting, the board conducted routine business, including the approval of previous records. Motion Made by [Board Member] to approve the minutes of the last meeting. Motion Passed 7-0-0.

Looking toward future community partnerships, Angie Chilaka proposed hosting a luncheon for local clergy to better integrate religious organizations into the senior safety net. Wouldn't it be nice if we invited all these religious priests, rabbis... and actually get them more involved? Chilaka asked. Howell encouraged the initiative, noting that the center’s chef and facilities are well-suited for such outreach. Other members, including Linda and Carol, participated in the consensus to form the working group and move forward with the clergy outreach plan.