Since 2011, local nonprofit Newton at Home has been on a mission to help older Newton residents age in place with dignity and independence. The organization, which is built on a membership system and a neighbors-helping-neighbors style of community, connects “members” — older adults looking for support — with a network of volunteers who assist them with everything from transportation to in-home services. Additionally, Newton at Home organizes a wide variety of programming for its members to combat social isolation and stimulate connection through offerings such as outings, clubs, and member-led affinity groups.
New Executive Director, Alexandra Johnson
Executive Director Alexandra Johnson, who was appointed to the role in July, has a personal connection to the organization’s work. Having cared for older people in her own life, she has come to realize that giving others the opportunity to lead independent lives is important to her.
“My grandma grew up right down the street and lived in the area for all of her life. Had my family known that Newton at Home was here, that would have been an amazing thing for her, because she didn’t need to go into assisted living, but she did,” she said. “When I heard about it, I thought, ‘there’s so many people in the city who could use this, who don’t know it exists.’”
Johnson said that she first came across Newton at Home after coming out of a period of caretaking for her mother. As a result, she immediately appreciated how greatly the organization supports caregivers.
“That experience taught me just how difficult it is to navigate the patchwork of resources that there are for older adults. There are supports out there, but a lot of them are difficult to find or difficult to access,” she said. “Being a caretaker for a family member is exhausting, and it’s grueling, and it really deeply affects the relationship that you have with that family member too. …It means a lot to be able to help take some of that load off the shoulders of adult children of our members who are having their relationship with their parent really strained as a result of having to do so much.”
Those two experiences, Johnson said, pushed her to get involved. Board President Jennifer Sax said that Johnson has done incredible work in her short tenure as Executive Director.
“From the get-go, you could tell that she truly understood the mission of the organization, down to its core,” she said. “She brings so much wisdom and compassion to everything that she does.”
Since her appointment, Johnson has worked to build partnerships with local organizations and to secure funding, including a 3-year, $75,000 grant from the Cummings Foundation.
“[Johnson] has exceeded all of my and the board’s expectations,” Sax said. “Even in just the short time that she has been doing things, she has secured funding for us that is invaluable; she’s started to develop relationships in the community in a different way and really bring the organization back to the roots of what it had been created for.”
Helping locals age in place
Since its inception, Newton at Home has fulfilled over 35,000 service requests for its 160 members, with approximately 100 part-time volunteers assisting with everyday tasks. Some give members rides to appointments, the grocery store, and loved ones’ homes; others help with handiwork; others assist with light gardening. Others simply provide friendly visits.
Johnson said that these interactions form important connections.
“What’s really cool and unique about our organization is that it’s super personalized, and the relationships that get built are really meaningful,” she said. “Our members become friends with the volunteers, and these long-term relationships get built, where members will want to keep doing things for the same member over and over. They really become a strong support system for that individual.”
Longtime board member and volunteer Arthur Glasgow said that he has built many of these relationships and learned important lessons through his work with the organization.
“[The members] taught me how to grow old successfully. They had wonderful stories to tell about their lives and what they had done,” he said. “It’s the satisfaction that I get from, first of all, helping these people do things that they would not be able to do on their own, and the experience of talking to people who have managed to grow old well. Some of the people I work with are over 100 years old and still living independently.”
Newton at Home member Ann Saxbe said that the support that she receives from volunteers and the connections that she makes with them are meaningful to her.
“Other than meeting my needs, some of them will just go out of their way and ask if I need anything else, if there’s anything else they can do for me,” she said. “They’re very kind, and I have formed a relationship with some of them, some really nice friendships.”
Social programs are also integral to the organization’s mission. Newton at Home membership gives older adults access to a full calendar of different events. A Spanish conversation group, knitting club, lectures, and outings to museums and theaters are among the many offerings.
Johnson said that the organization’s focus on social connection has a variety of benefits for members.
“[It’s] just to bring people together and have an opportunity for people to get out of their homes and do something fun,” she said. “[They] stay engaged, challenge their minds, and just enjoy themselves so they’re not cooped up at home.”
Newton at Home member Dorie Fried can attest to the benefits of these opportunities.
“Newton at Home has been more than helpful; it’s like a lifeline for me,” she said. “The activities are interesting and helpful. I belong to a book club — I love to read — so that’s something I really look forward to and enjoy. They have restaurant outings, which is great for social gatherings, and I’ve met people that I’ve been friendly with outside of the actual activity itself …it’s just amazing.”
Newton at Home offers a wide range of ways to get involved and is always looking for more volunteers. Those interested can find more information on the organization’s website.
Theo Younkin is this summer’s Fig City News managing student intern, a rising senior at Newton South High School, and Co-Editor-in-Chief of the NSHS Lion’s Roar.
