By Pat Romney

Like the rest of the country, Amherst is aging fast. As of the 2022 Amherst census there are approximately 3,573 Amherst residents aged 65 and older. This sizable number of older adults may bring to mind challenges to health and healthcare. You may think about dementia and increased dependency, and to be sure aging (like every other life stage) has its challenges. 

But aging also has its benefits. Research reveals, for example, that older people are happier than middle-aged and younger people and are also fonts of wisdom and experience who make a valuable contribution to their families and communities. 

What We Believe 

We at Amherst Neighbors believe that human connection is a key factor in aging well. This too is supported by research. Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General tells us that people “with strong social relationships are 50% less likely to die prematurely than people with weak social relationships.” Being connected can help us live longer and this has everything to do with living well. 

Who We Are & What We Do 

The nonprofit organization, with free membership to all residents of Amherst and Pelham, is dedicated to helping older adults in Amherst age well in community.

For older adults who are no longer driving, or who cannot drive for a period following surgery or illness, getting transportation in Amherst can be a headache. Amherst Neighbors volunteers provide rides to doctors, supermarkets, and even the beauty parlor for our residents. 

Between January and June 2024, we provided 356 supportive services to our older adult members. Aside from rides, these also included neighborly visits, the completion of outdoor chores, and changing batteries in smoke detectors (one of our special projects conducted yearly for our members). 

In collaboration with UMass, we provide in-person tech help. Meeting at the survival center our members get one-to-one help from UMass technology students. Both Mac and Android support are provided. 

Founded by nine Amherst residents sitting around Liz Welsh’s kitchen table in 2018, Amherst Neighbors became a 501(c)(3) in 2019 and is part of the national Village to Village Network. Any resident may be a member, and member-volunteers of all ages are welcome and appreciated. Residents aged 55 and over are eligible to receive services. Today we count over 500 Amherst residents among our members. 

To create an inclusive community where elders live engaged and meaningful lives, Amherst Neighbors builds neighbor-to-neighbor connections, providing access to services and information, and empowering elders to maintain socially-engaged lives while aging at home. 

Our Programs 

We offer two programs a month, mostly online but also some in-person. Over the past year, we have had programs on reparations, aging, green burials, and “The First American Debate Between Zionists and Arab Nationalists:1929.”

We gathered together at the Jewish Community of Amherst for a workshop on increasing joy in the senior years. We visited the Ancestral Bridges exhibit in the Amherst College library and heard a presentation by Anika Lopes, the curator of the exhibit. 

Connections 

Our newsletter, Connections, is distributed by mail or email, free to all members, and keeps us updated on Amherst Neighbors activity. The newsletter also provides feature articles on topics of interest, as well as introductions to our neighbors in the form of in-depth portraits of members who are engaged in interesting pursuits or have made amazing contributions. One example is Luke Berman’s article on Jean Denton-Thompson “making good trouble” as a Freedom Rider for voting rights in the South in the 1960s. 

More Ways to Connect 

The support, connection, and joy that is created through the work of Amherst Neighbors is incalculable. Our annual picnic at Mill River brings us together in person. Our annual fundraiser gets us dancing and eating and schmoozing. Our Solo Agers interest group brings together folks who are aging without partners. Our African Heritage interest group is blossoming and our Bienvenidos event brought new Latine members into our membership. 

The need in Amherst for who we are and what we do is strong. The results of the “Age and Dementia Friendly Amherst Community Survey” indicate that housing, health and caregiver services, and transportation are the highest priorities for the Town to focus on in the next five years. Communication and social engagement were also identified as important areas of need 

Imagine all Amherst residents joining Amherst Neighbors. Think of what we could accomplish together. A new senior center? Compassion and choice? A fight against ageism? You name it. An old African proverb illuminates our course. “If you want to go fast, walk alone; if you want to go far, walk together.” 

To join Amherst Neighbors, sign up at www.amherstneighbors.org or call 413-345-2555 and we will help you register.

Pat Romney is Co-Chair Communications and Outreach Committee, Amherst Neighbors