Canton COA offers lifeline for residents of all ages

Senior citizens aged 60 and over who visit the Canton Senior Center on Pleasant Street enjoy the availability of the recreational activities, movies, and dance and movement classes that the center offers. They can speak with Diane Tynan, director of the Council on Aging (COA), and outreach worker Robin Tobin about challenges they are facing. What seniors and all Canton residents may not realize is that Tynan and Tobin are also helping younger people every day who are struggling with issues that range from homelessness, unemployment, and mental health needs to caring for elderly parents.

COA Director Diane Tynan and outreach worker Robin Tobin (center) are a valuable resource for Canton residents of all ages.

Tynan explained that there is no official public social service agency in Canton. Residents in need may call Town Hall, the Police Department, Fire Department, or another town office for help. Many of those callers are directed to call the Senior Center, where Tynan and Tobin are familiar with a number of local resources.

Tynan, who has been with the COA for 26 years, said that they assist both disabled and abled younger citizens. They receive a number of calls from caregivers of senior citizens and children of elders. “They’re looking for resources to help mom and dad stay in their home,” Tynan said. “They want information on assisted living and nursing homes.”

Tobin, who has been with the COA for the past six and a half years, recently took a call from a woman who needed medical equipment for her mother, and she was able to pass along useful information to her.

“People come to us for emotional support,” Tynan said. “We’re able to listen first of all, which means a lot. We’re able to refer them.”

Tynan and Tobin work with a number of state agencies and local resources, including but not limited to, the Department of Transportation Assistance, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, the Canton Area Helpline/Food Pantry, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the Salvation Army. “People don’t know where to turn,” Tynan added. “We put them in the right direction.”

According to Tynan, the Canton Council on Aging/Senior Center is the official intake site for Canton residents for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Tobin said that documentation is necessary for approval, which can take up to two months. Once they are aware of a need, the two women go through their list of resources to find funding to provide heat in the meantime. If someone contacts them early in the day, heating can usually be provided to the home by 5 p.m. If the call comes in later, the person will likely have to wait until the following day.

“Thank God we have the local resources to help in those situations,” Tynan said.

They used the Salvation Army as an example of a local resource provider that has helped Canton residents. The Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund, which is run through the Salvation Army, provides fuel assistance to residents whose income levels are slightly higher than the income guidelines of LIHEAP. The Salvation Army has given Canton residents certificates to their family store so that people may purchase clothing and other items; gift certificates to Market Basket and Stop & Shop; and emergency housing assistance in the form of one-night motel vouchers.

Tobin said that many people contact them about housing issues, including eviction and foreclosure. These same people may be experiencing difficulty buying food or paying for utilities. “Even paying the water bill is a hardship,” she said.

They encourage people who are unemployed to contact the Norwood American Job Center on Day Street in Norwood. “We’re really able to help so many people through the local network,” Tynan said.

Tynan and Tobin also field calls from people looking for assistance for themselves or others who are struggling with mental health issues. Tynan noted that the town of Canton now offers a free telephone referral service — the Interface program of William James College — for any resident in need of mental health services. The program, which is funded through the Canton Alliance Against Substance Abuse, can be accessed by calling 1-888-244-6843.

Tynan and Tobin do not know the exact number of residents under 60 that they assist, but estimate that a few hundred people contact them each year.

“We may be the Council on Aging, but we are here for anyone who needs help, regardless of age,” Tynan said. “We have never turned anyone away. We listen, we care, and we point them in the right direction so they can receive the help that they need.”

“It’s awesome knowing that you helped someone,” Tobin said. “It is so rewarding getting that follow-up call and hearing them say, ‘We are doing okay.’”

For information and help with social service needs, please call the Senior Center at 781-828-1323 or email Tynan at dtynan@town.canton.ma.us or Tobin at rtobin@town.canton.ma.us.

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Posted by Mary Ann Price on Jun 16 2018. Filed under Features. Both comments and pings are currently closed.