Needham senior center reports tablet grant success, expanding volunteer services and corrects Zoom-payment rollout

Needham — Staff at the Needham Senior Center told the Council on Aging board they have largely completed distribution of tablets provided under a recent grant, are expanding volunteer-driven services and field trips, and are addressing problems created when the center began charging for virtual classes in May.

The changes matter because the center serves older residents who rely on its programs and technology for social connection, meals and health referrals. Center staff said the tablet pilot produced measurable increases in participants’ sense of connection, while the new payment process for virtual classes generated complaints and an unexpected backlog of unpaid accounts.

Jess, volunteer services and social work staff, said the community connections program is “doing great” and that volunteers are now helping with errands, light handiwork and weekly walks. She reported that the tablet grant is finished “officially,” with “maybe 10 or 15 more” devices being distributed under the…