At Oxford’s Senior Center Age is Just a Number and Friendships Abound 

The Senior Center here in Oxford is a true beehive of activity as its visitors are as active as ever and enjoy many dynamic interests. There’s so much action going on that you’ll have to get out of the way for the hustle and motion with their eclectic mix of things to do from entertainment to sing-a-longs to seminars and the many ages and activity types are as varied as the sand pebbles on the beach.  Laura Wilson, Senior Center Director, is at the heart of the action along with Kristen Zamis, Assistant Senior Center Director, and Cindy Nagle, Outreach Coordinator, who will assist with Medicare sign-ups, Social Security questions, SNAP and MassHealth applications. 

Twice weekly there are home-cooked luncheons put together by their most capable chef, Deb Bayer, with assistance from her sous chef and husband, Dave Bayer. Wilson and her staff stand at the ready when extra help is required along with many wonderful volunteers who are greatly appreciated. “Because of our in-house prepared hot lunch meals, we draw in many people from area towns,” said Wilson, “we’ll also add an after-lunch activity that everyone enjoys making it a very enjoyable day for our diners.”

Chef Bayer has worked in the health care and food service area for over 40 years including as Food Service Director at Countryside Health Care in Milford and Holy Trinity & Rehab Center of Worcester. She came out of retirement in September 2020 and now prepares her wonderful lunches for those who visit the Oxford Senior Center. Some of their diners’ favorite meals include baked fish with crumb topping served with mashed potatoes or rice pilaf, vegetable, rolls, and desserts like blonde brownies, parfaits, or ice cream sundaes. Meals are served on Tuesdays and Fridays with a price of $5 for dining in and $6 for take-out. Meal reservations are required no later than 48 hours before the day of serving.

Entertainment includes music duos or trios who invite sing-a-longs or simply music enjoyment, magicians, chair volleyball that uses beach balls (a crowd favorite), and chair yoga as well as a strength and balance class. 

“We really do enjoy so much activity here,” said Director Wilson, “and our visitors can choose whatever they’d like to participate in. They can observe or participate, it’s always fun for everyone and, best of all, it’s companionship and friendship. That’s what we all need, the human touch.”  

Other activities offered include live flower arranging (next class is in August), seminars that include preventing scams and frauds, deeds and probate, housing authority questions and answers, Registry of Motor Vehicle assistance with handicapped placards and photo IDs, judicial outreach (a Worcester Superior Court judge was in attendance who explained his daily responsibilities), police events, Cookies & Conversation with Ken Sellers, interim Fire Chief, who explained the importance of home escape routes, fall risks, home safety assessments, and the fire department’s installation of home fire/smoke detectors. The center also has a men’s group who meet monthly to chat while enjoying light refreshments. A needlework group also gets together to make hats, gloves, blankets, and lap throws to donate to the local neonatal care units for newborns as well as to donate their handiwork to veteran shelters. 

“Enjoying our participants here is very gratifying,” Wilson stated, “being an Oxford resident, many of our visitors knew my parents and I may have attended the local schools with their kids. I can’t believe I’ve been here for six years, it seems like time has really flown. I really enjoy helping our seniors and offering them the best we can.”

For those who enjoy traveling, there are four bus trips lined up beginning in June. The June trip will be to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston with lunch at Margaritaville in Faneuil Hall Marketplace.  July will bring a Maine Bread & Jam Tour with lobster (or chicken) bake in York, Maine along with a visit to When Pigs Fly Bakery and Stonewall Kitchen.

September’s bus trip should be a good one and includes a 2-1/2 hour Mount Washington luncheon cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee and a stop at Moulton Farm for fresh produce.  Their last bus bash is a festive Cookies & Carols cruise on Boston’s Charles River complete with holiday music and cookies with lunch at The Cheesecake Factory along with self-directed shopping at Cambridgeside Place.

“Bus trips are always a big hit,” says Wilson, “there’s no driving required!  We just leave all the driving to New Hampshire’s Royal Tours. We try to space the trips so that people can budget their funds. Trip costs are between $139-$149 and the price includes transportation, lunch, and gratuities. When the number 54 is reached, our trips are sold out.”

The Oxford Senior Center also offers local Oxford rides with their own town van that also accommodates wheel chairs and those with walkers. Suggested donation is $1.75/one-way. Oxford elderly residents can also enjoy out-of-town rides to doctor and hospital appointments with the Worcester Regional Transit Authority vans without charge (currently).

For more information, please visit the town website: www.oxfordma.us and navigate to Departments and then Senior Center where you will find their newsletter. Newsletters can also be mailed to seniors upon request. Oxford Senior Center, 323 Main Street, Oxford MA 01540.  508-987-6000. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.