Maureen Spillane (Left)
April 23, 2026 Submitted By Maureen Spillane
I have watched as many people have spoken for the seniors and what they want and need, in the same sentence where they say they don’t use the Center for Active Living. How then do they know what those who do utilize it or want to utilize it want and more need?
I volunteer at the Center, I am an Ambassador for the Center and I am a participant. I spend a lot of time with those who attend the Center and who are not able to for many reasons which have been overly discussed but not heard. Many talk about affordability and aging in place but how do you expect people to do that without the services or a place to go. Without the building and community there is isolation and heartache. Unless you live in it you cannot truly understand. Hopefully you will accept my word for it. The Center provides services (and will provide many more) is a place to be, belong, engage, learn and continue to grow without cost. That is affordability. If people are really concerned with the seniors and ensuring their health, longevity and ability to age in place they would also appreciate that the cost will pay dividends many times over for our senior community that need it.
I have been supporting and advocating for a new Center for Active Living for years as all the other buildings went up and we were asked to wait a little while longer while the current crisis or need was addressed. While schools, the overrides, water company purchase, the safety building, a pool and pickle ball courts (both of these which will have limited access and usage) got approved. Our Net Zero initiatives have had more support than the seniors. The discussion over a new Center for Active Living has been going on for over a decade and we are now again being pushed to the side and deemed non-essential spending. I am not non-essential. The thousands of seniors that do need this are not non-essential. We matter and we have been very clear for years. Yes we want affordability and to age in place and we know to do that the services and space to do that is ESSENTIAL.
Maureen is correct. The 2025 Massachusetts Healthy Aging Data Report supports her statement.
https://mahealthyagingcollaborative.org/data-report/explore-the-profiles/highlight-report/
Page 8: “Another approach to describe the health of Massachusetts residents is to count how many indicators are “better” compared to the state average. Communities that are healthier than state average may have some resources (e.g., parks, walking paths, engaged senior center, or public library) in place that may be replicable in communities that are less healthy than average. Towns with 14+ better rates (blue in the map) Cohasset, Duxbury, Hull, Marshfield, Scituate”
“Similarly, to highlight communities with many rates “worse” than the state average may speed resources and programs to help. Investments in preventive interventions in these communities could improve healthy aging for future generations. Towns with 14+ worse rates (navy in the map) HINGHAM”
Full list of towns in the report.
Wow this is well thought out. Thank you
Thank you for your thoughtful, well said opinion. It is a CAL that includes many ages. It is NEEDED. As residents and homeowners we have all supported the schools, athletic fields year after year. Time for the Town of Hingham to step up and make the CAL a reality.
Thank you Maureen for outlining the needs of Hingham’s seniors and how much the new right-sized Center will mean to them (me included). As an over 14-year volunteer at CAL, I have watched the dedicated staff move mountains & furniture to provide as many programs that our tiny 5000 sq’ space allows. With the new CAL, many more seniors will be able to attend & park for very expanded programs they want & need. They will not need to travel to surrounding towns but will find what is needed in their own town.Please vote YES tonight at Town Meeting to show you value Hingham seniors.
Thank you Maureen for outlining the needs of Hingham’s seniors and how much the new right-sized Center will mean to them (me included). As an over 14-year volunteer at CAL, I have watched the dedicated staff move mountains & furniture to provide as many programs that our tiny 5000 sq’ space allows. With the new CAL, many more seniors will be able to attend & park for very expanded programs they want & need. They will not need to travel to surrounding towns but will find what is needed in their own town.Please vote YES tonight at Town Meeting to show you value Hingham seniors.