The idea sparked several months ago during a Philomath Inclusivity Committee meeting when the group took on a discussion about marginalized groups in the community. Diane Crocker, who will turn 66 next week, and Jane Sherwood, 72, both sit on the city-sponsored committee.
“We looked at each other and we said, ‘you know, there’s almost nothing designed for seniors in Philomath,’” Crocker said. “We don’t have a senior center and there’s no ongoing program that we’re aware of.”
A few churches in town have occasional senior-related events but Crocker said she hadn’t seen any consistent, established programs for the general public.
That realization led to the creation of the Philomath Senior Gathering, a monthly meetup designed to connect older residents with resources and each other. The next gathering takes place at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12, at Philomath Community Library.
Both Crocker and Sherwood are retired teachers who spent several months researching and brainstorming what they wanted the group to become. After extensive planning, they decided to take the plunge.
“We said, ‘Let’s just do it and see if there’s a need and if there’s people (who are interested),'” Crocker said. “And so we did our first one.”
While Philomath boasts many active community groups and organizations, Sherwood recognized that some residents remain isolated — either because they’re unaware of connection opportunities, don’t know how to access them, or lack the means to participate.
“For me, this was a way to see if we can make some more connections,” Sherwood said. “Let’s see if we can get some of the neighbors out and about — not everybody goes to church, not everybody is in a specific group but let’s see if we can pull other people in and maybe start something new or different to add to what we already have.”
The gathering is primarily tailored for residents ages 55 and older, but the organizers emphasize that all are welcome, including relatives, friends, caregivers. Actually, anyone of any age who is interested in the topics being discussed are invited.
“We’re not exclusive in any way but we are tailored towards the older citizens,” Crocker said.
The inaugural gathering in June drew about a dozen participants, as did the July meeting. The most recent session focused on fraud protection, featuring an AARP webinar and a presentation by Philomath Police Chief Dave Gurski.
“The seniors had a lot of questions on how do we do this and what do we do if it seems like fraud,” Crocker said about the group’s interaction with Gurski.
The police chief provided practical advice and contact information, telling participants they could walk into the police department anytime for guidance on potential scams.
The upcoming Aug. 12 meeting will recap the fraud prevention discussion and introduce a comprehensive list of area resources for seniors — a project Crocker and Sherwood have been developing with some help from groups like Dementia Warriors. They plan to update the resource list occasionally, perhaps every six months or so.
Crocker and Sherwood meet regularly to brainstorm for ideas on possible topics and who might be effective sources of information. For example, a topic at a future meeting could be about using smartphones and getting those types of questions answered.
“We could maybe talk to the Honor Society and have some of the high school kids come over and work one-on-one with each person to find out what problems they’re having or what questions they have,” Crocker said.
Another likely topic in the future will cover the complexities that seniors face when navigating the Medicare system. Crocker and Sherwood have possible sources in mind who may be willing to share their expertise. Along those same lines, understanding the overall healthcare system in general can also be difficult.
The co-coordinators recognize that seniors face multifaceted challenges from loneliness and mobility issues to adapting to an increasingly technology-dominated world. While they initially explored partnering with AARP, they ultimately decided to develop their own program after determining that the organization’s requirements, including a five-year plan, didn’t quite fit their vision.
Their educational backgrounds have proven invaluable in organizing and presenting information effectively.
“The fact that we are used to putting things together and presenting makes it much more comfortable for us than some people,” Crocker noted.
Despite the encouraging early turnout, both organizers acknowledge that monthly meetings could just be a starting point.
“I’m hoping it will build and become a vibrant group,” Crocker said. “I don’t think in any way that once a month is enough for people that really need that socialization but it’s a start.”
For those with questions, call Crocker at 541-609-0018 or Sherwood at 570-423-9231.
