Boston officials on March 28 told a packed West Roxbury hearing that the city will expand programming for older adults this year, including adding a third day of activities at an Ethos-run pilot senior site at the Elks Lodge.

The hearing, convened by Councilor Erin Murphy, chair of the Boston City Council Committee on Strong Women, Families and Communities, brought city administrators and dozens of residents to the Parkway to press for more local senior services and to describe how the pilot has operated since it began in 2023.

The City of Boston said the expansion is already under way. "We're on track to increase the availability of older adult programming by 300% this year," Chief of Human Services Jose Maso told the committee, and Age Strong Commissioner Emily Shea said the city is aiming to deliver thousands more hours of regular programming across neighborhoods. "If you build a space for older adults across the country, it will be immediately successful in full," Shea said.

Why it matters: Boston's older population has grown substantially in recent years and will keep rising, officials said. Commissioner Shea told the committee Boston's population of residents 60 and older has increased from about 88,000 in 2010 to roughly 130,000 today, placing new demand on space and services citywide.

What the city will provide
- Third day at West Roxbury pilot: City staff and Ethos have discussed a plan to add a third staffed day of programming at the Elks Lodge. Officials estimated the additional day will cost about $100,000 and said the city can pay for one day of space; to rent additional space they are working through procurement rules. Staff indicated they hope the extra day could begin in May, subject to completing procurement and contracts.
- Citywide targets: Maso and Shea described a multi-pronged approach using senior centers, libraries, BCYF sites and partner organizations to expand regular programming. Age Strong said it expects to provide roughly 3,000 hours of programming in FY25 and has been increasing multi-day sites around the city.
- Grants and funding: Commissioner Shea described grant programs in the Age Strong budget. The city allocates $380,000 in federal Older Americans Act funds for social-engagement and evidence-based healthy-aging programs and had $500,000 available through local expanding-engagement grants; staff reported 92 applications requesting about $1.8 million for those grants. Shea also said the city administers roughly $5 million annually in Older Americans Act funds overall, most of which supports nutrition services.

Community demand and pilot results
Ethos, the aging-services access point serving Southwest Boston neighborhoods, presented usage data that participants said shows strong demand for neighborhood-based programming. Marjorie Gann, chief operating officer and interim CEO of Ethos, said the pilot has at times drawn "as high as a 42 people in this space on a single day." Longtime participant Maureen "Mama Mimi" Lage Lyons told the committee the site now has hundreds of registered members: "As of March of 2025, we have 671 members with a total of 13,048 visits," she said.

Residents pressed for a permanent senior center in West Roxbury and urged the city to use nearby existing spaces while planning a longer-term site. Councilors and administration officials discussed activating city-owned and partner spaces such as community centers, libraries and other buildings for multi-day senior programs, and noted that parking and transit access make some locations more feasible than others.

Transportation and access
Officials said transportation is a significant barrier for many older adults and described existing and pilot programs: the Age Strong shuttle, a taxi-coupon program and a small rideshare pilot. Maso and Shea said the administration plans a broader transportation-access plan to help seniors reach programming sites. The council also raised a separate Lyft-based pilot that had initial startup funding (city staff cited a small initial allocation of roughly $20,000) and said the program’s usage and costs will determine whether it can be expanded.

Accessibility, assistive tech and ADA concerns
At the hearing, advocates raised accessibility issues for older adults and people with disabilities at city facilities, including library branches. Longtime attendee and disability advocate Bill Taub told the council the Boston Public Library had insufficient assistive-technology computers for people who are blind or visually impaired and estimated upgrades would cost roughly $500 per computer. Priscilla Foley, director of neighborhood services at the Boston Public Library, acknowledged the concerns and said the library is working with Age Strong and other city partners to assess building and technology needs.

Federal funding risks and advocacy
Councilors and residents said they are watching potential federal funding changes that could affect Older Americans Act and MassHealth-supported services. Officials encouraged joint advocacy: Chief Maso said city staff will continue policy engagement in Washington, and commissioners urged continued local and federal coordination to protect programs.

What officials directed next
City staff said they are: completing procurement steps for expanded Elks programming, scoring Age Strong grant applications and continuing to identify and activate existing city and partner spaces that can host regular senior programming; they also said they will develop the transportation access plan and pursue additional external funding sources.

Residents’ perspectives
Speakers at the hearing described the pilot’s social and health benefits, cited caregiver needs and urged city action on housing, dog parks, sidewalk safety and veteran health care. Several asked the council to prioritize accessible features — from assistive computers in libraries to ADA-compliant building updates — so older adults with disabilities can fully use programs.

What’s next
Councilors said they will press for budget and procurement follow-up to secure the additional day of programming at the Elks and continue citywide planning to expand senior programming. Age Strong and partner organizations will return to communities as they roll out new days, transit supports and grant awards.