There’s a new team at the Sharon Council on Aging

Over the last the last six months, the Council on Aging has added a new executive director, an office manager/transportation coordinator and most recently a new outreach coordinator.

Outreach Coordinator Cristobal Sanchez started work Oct. 23. He joins Executive Director Beth Caruso and Office Manager/Transportation Coordinator Tiziana Milano as the newest additions to the staff at the Sharon Adult Center at 219 Massapoag Ave.

The center serves the more than 4,564 Sharon residents over the age of 60.

“It’s approximately a quarter of the population,” Caruso said.

Caruso praised the entire COA team for the work they do providing programs and services for Sharon seniors. In addition to the new staffers, the COA Department includes Program Coordinator Missy Lothrup, Receptionist Eileen Wright and drivers Kevin McCarville and Michael Pierce.

Caruso said the COA has been seeking input from seniors on what programs and services they would like to see. In recent weeks they have expanded group activities like card games, brought back the Memory Cafe and reimagined the center’s library.

Caruso said the center has been seeing more and more residents come to the center.

“It’s really exciting,” she said. “Often what they say is it’s so welcoming. I feel as if I’ve been invited in.”

Before coming to Sharon in late June, Caruso was director of PurposeFULL Living for North Hill, a continuing care retirement community in Needham. Prior to that she had a long career at the Perkins School for the Blind as assistant director of community programs/director of outreach services.

Her favorite part of the job so far has been interacting one-on-one with seniors at the center.

“I just love getting to meet them,” she said.

Milano came to the COA in July after working for the Sharon Department of Public Works as an administrative assistant for the Forestry, Grounds and Highway departments. Prior to that she managed the copy center at Brown University for 21 years.

Though Milano enjoyed working in public works, she came to the COA for the opportunity to work with seniors.

The new job also lets Milano use her creative side publishing the COA newsletter, the View, each month.

“She’s very creative and artistic,” Caruso said.

Sanchez comes to Sharon from Lifespan in Rhode Island where he was a case worker managing mental health, behavorial health and substance abuse cases for 15 years.

As Sharon’s outreach coordinator, he connects seniors to services such as heating assistance, Adult Center programs, the local food pantry, Meals on Wheels and more.

“I love helping people,” Sanchez said. “That’s the number one passion I have. I originally wanted to be a police officer, but life took me to a different direction.”

He first worked with seniors as an intern at Lifespan.

“My first interaction was with a senior and that five minutes changed my entire life,” he said.

Sanchez recently helped one senior improve computer skills, another with the citizenship process and a third who is raising a grandchild.

“We are here to make sure seniors have the support they need to live independently and to remain here in Sharon,” Caruso said.

To learn more about the Council on Aging and the Adult Center go to www.townofsharon.net/council-on-aging,