Council on Aging

The Fall River Council on Aging (COA), established by city ordinance as a Fall River City Department in 1959, has, as its main purpose, the goal of meeting the needs and interests of Fall River’s aging population through the provision of services, programs, and activities. Fall River has the seventh largest concentration of elders in the state of Massachusetts.  The COA operations are funded through three sources: City Budget; State Formula Grant money; and CDA funds.

The COA operates four senior centers, staffed by Senior Center Coordinators and Senior Aides, which provide a variety of programs & activities to meet the needs and wants of area seniors.

Flint Senior Center
69 Alden Street
Fall River, MA 02723
(508) 324-2712
Coordinator: Almerinda Medeiros

Niagara/Maplewood Senior Center
550 Tucker Street
Fall River, MA 02721
(508) 324-2717
Coordinator: Charlene Miville

North End Senior Center
101 President Avenue
Fall River, MA 02720
(508) 324-2711
Coordinator: Joann Mello

South Main Senior Center
114 South Main Street
Fall River, MA 02721
(508) 324-2715
Coordinator: Nancy Suspiro

Hours of Operation of the Senior Centers:
Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

The COA publishes a bimonthly newsletter 'Footprints' which reaches well over 4,000 elders on a regular basis.  Footprints contains vital information relevantFootprints-Jul-Aug-2021 to seniors, as well as information regarding events and programs furnished by the COA.  Also included in Footprints is a schedule of upcoming senior center events as well as information about regular activities such as the Older Adult Fitness Program, Arts and Crafts, Bingo, card groups, monthly Blood Pressure screenings, bimonthly Blood sugar screenings, informational speakers, a knitting/crocheting group, Senior band the Jambalaya Jammers and dancing, movie viewing, and fall Flu Clinics.  Footprints informs the elders about the days and times lunches are served for a modest price at the centers as well.

The COA provides transportation for Fall River seniors:

  1. Medical and dental appointments within city limits as well as reservations on the SRTA medical shuttle to Boston area hospitals.  It also books transportation for Fall River veterans to the Providence and Brockton VA medical centers.  You may obtain more information about all COA transportation services and register for these services by calling (508)324-2401.
  2. Grocery Shopping. Transportation is provided on Mondays to those living in the South End of the City and on Fridays to those residents of the North End.    The dividing line between the North End and South End of the city is Bedford Street.  The shopping trips rotate through a group of four markets – Shaw’s, Stop and Shop, Market Basket and Walmart.  Arrangements for transportation can be made by calling the Council on Aging office at least one week in advance.  Cancellation notification is required if you are unable to go on the day for which you have been scheduled. The Council on Aging is also providing out of city trips to various locations (Newport, Foxwoods, Block Island, etc.) once per month during the temperate weather.  Please check the Footprints newsletter or come into a senior center to discover the scheduled excursions and cost involved.
Senior Photo ID’s are available to Fall River residents over the age of 60 at the COA’s main office located in Room #423 at Fall River Government Center, One Government Center, Fall River, MA  02722.  *There is a modest fee for this service.

Contact Info:

Jennifer Millerick
Associate Director, Council on Aging
jmillerick@fallriverma.gov
Phone: 508-324-2400
Fax: 508-324-2403
One Government Center, 4th Floor
Fall River, MA 02722

 Additional COA Resources

Bristol Elder Services click here

Current Boards and Commission  click here

Get Your Medicare Questions Answered click here

MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs click here

Reporting Elder Abuse click here

Reporting Elder Financial Abuse & Fraud click here

Assisted Living in Massachusetts click here