Latin Community Center reports 30,000 annual visits, readies Medicare enrollment help

The director of the Latin Community Center updated the Parks and Recreation Commission on Sept. 10, saying the center logged roughly 30,000 visits last year and serves more than 1,500 unduplicated members.

The center’s work has expanded year-round programming, the director said: “we are just at 30,000 visits, per year with over 1,500 unduplicated members using the building.” She listed 32 special fall events, six recurring monthly community clinics and more than 60 weekly classes covering art, exercise, languages and health services.

Why it matters: the center is a community hub for older residents and multilingual programs, and it coordinates Medicare enrollment help that can produce substantial cost savings for attendees. The director said the center’s Medicare assistance program, running Oct. 15–Dec. 7, drew more than 400 residents last year and “we saved over $384,000 to the resident.”

Program details and capacity: the director said the facility has 10 rooms that are booked multiple times daily; the main meeting room is in use hourly Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. She told commissioners staffing is limited to about “2 and a half” full-time equivalents and that while many classes are at capacity, the center can expand evening hours to add programs.

Commissioners asked about accessibility and capacity. A commissioner asked whether parking and wheelchair access would be a problem for large events; the director said the center is not at capacity now and that most programs could be accommodated with current staffing and space. She also thanked town staff—John Howe, Anna, Bill Oseman and Tiger Mann—for recent facility upgrades including new carpeting, sidewalks, lighting and HVAC work.

Next steps: the director said fall programs and special events will proceed as planned; no formal action or funding request was taken at the meeting.

Ending: Commission members thanked the director for the report and for the center’s role in saving residents money on Medicare-related expenses and other services.