Brewster COA’s AARP Certification Will Benefit Entire Town

BREWSTER – Brewster’s Council on Aging recently earned an AARP certification that, according to council Executive Director Elton Cutler, should benefit not only the council’s core constituency but the entire Brewster community as well. 

In late March, Brewster was certified as an AARP Age-Friendly Community through the efforts of the COA. Culter described that certification as the culmination of a comprehensive application process.

The Brewster COA, with help from the town select board and other agencies, went through that process because it moves Brewster into what Cutler, in an email, called “the start of a five-year cycle of continuous improvement.”

How will those improvements be accomplished? 

For one, the designation comes with financial advantages. It gives Brewster “priority access to specialized funding,” Cutler said. For example, he noted that Age-Friendly certified agencies are eligible to apply for annual “quick-action” grants that fund tangible improvements such as new crosswalks, park benches and technology upgrades for seniors.

Cutler added that the designation, which he said Brewster shares with about 60 percent of Massachusetts communities, gives Brewster an edge when applying for certain state funding, including Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds.

New funding can supplement what is in the COA’s current fiscal year municipal appropriation of about $321,000, funding that Cutler said provides the majority of the agency’s operating budget, covering staff salaries and basic facility operations at the senior center. 

The COA also receives annual grants from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging and Independence of about $16 per senior resident. And the COA welcomes donations that can be made at its website (www.brewstercoa.com) or through The Friends of Brewster Seniors, an organization that Cutler called “a critical nonprofit partner.” Thus, Cutler said, the certification is far more than a plaque to hang on a wall.

 “For the individuals the COA serves, this certification translates into meaningful community changes,” he said. Cutler listed several of these in an email.

Enhanced safety and mobility: The framework prioritizes safer, more walkable streets and improved transportation options, directly benefiting seniors who may no longer drive or have mobility challenges.

Aging in place: By promoting "universal design" and home modification assistance, the initiative helps clients stay in their own homes safely for longer.

Reduced social isolation: The certification process encourages the creation of intergenerational activities and accessible social spaces, which are proven to combat loneliness and improve mental health.

Digital equity: Residents benefit from programs focused on high-speed internet access and digital skills training, ensuring they stay connected in an increasingly digital world.

The Age-Friendly certification commits Brewster to launching a planning effort to be guided by AARP’s eight vital “Domains” of focus to improve seniors’ lives, which notably include housing, transportation, and social inclusion, Cutler said. He wrote:

 “Becoming ‘Age-Friendly’ is not a one-time trophy...Once the application is accepted and the certificate is issued, the COA and the community commit to:

 • Conducting a baseline community needs assessment within the first two years.

 • Developing a multi-year action plan based on the assessment’s findings.

 • Executing the plan to address AARP’s “8 Domains of Livability.”

The town will also be required to submit progress reports on its improvement efforts, Cutler added. 

While performing this work, Cutler said, the COA and its partners will receive other benefits besides funding — the AARP has information that can be useful for its certified members.

 “Joining this network allows the COA and its six full-time and three part-time employees to build on existing achievements, such as its Dementia Friendly Community certificate (which the COA earned in the spring of 2025), by tapping into national research and best practices,” he wrote.

According to the COA’s most recent newsletter, the agency will “continue to work with residents, families, and local partners to assess needs, develop an action plan, and launch programs and improvements aligned with AARP’s age-friendly framework. Stay tuned for opportunities to get involved and help make Brewster a better place to live for everyone.”

Local partners helped the COA obtain the AARP certification, including formal backing from the select board and an application signature from its chair. 

Cutler also pointed to community involvement. “The town conducted two massive community needs assessments in partnership with UMass Boston, gathering nearly 1,700 responses from residents to pinpoint exact local needs,” he said.

The Brewster COA had more town and regional support, Cutler wrote, including the board of health, recreation commission, housing partnership and fire and police departments. Beyond town borders, he added, Healthy Aging Cape Cod and Barnstable County Human Services “provided…technical assistance needed to meet AARP's standards.” 

The council offers its clients an array of activities and services. Many are provided with the help of more than 70 volunteers who contribute more than 2,600 hours of service a year, Cutler said.

Regularly scheduled activities include Tai Chi and other exercise classes; chair and standard yoga; quilting, knitting, crocheting; language and art sessions; games; guided meditation; and meetings tailored for women and men.

Services include computer help, hearing screenings, foot care, pet nail trimming, a grocery pickup service and a senior shellfish program. 

The agency also has two outreach coordinators who, according to the COA website, “are available to provide information, referrals and support to Brewster seniors and their families” and can offer help in-home, at the center or by phone at 508-896-2737.

Those coordinators can help with referrals to appropriate agencies, home wellness checks, providing information on the federal food stamp program, housing assistance, and emergency transportation, which can in some cases include food shopping and prescription pickup.