ROCHESTER — The Senior Center plans to offer appointments with the Public Health Nurse beginning Wednesday, Aug. 19.

Appointments will be held outdoors, weather permitting, and can be made by calling the Rochester Senior Center. Public Health Nurse Connie Dolan will use residents’ personal blood pressure cuffs if they bring them with them. The Rochester Board of Health provides this service to residents of the Tri-Town.

Flu vaccinations for Rochester seniors are scheduled for September, for as long as the vaccine supply is available. Vaccinations will be by appointment only. Flu vaccine appointments for non-seniors will be scheduled at a later date. Children’s flu vaccinations will also be by appointment, and will be administered by the Rochester Memorial School Nurse.

People being vaccinated will be COVID screened by telephone prior to their appointments. Vaccinations will take place outdoors when possible. Vaccinations will be preceded by additional screening at the time of appointments.

The Rochester Senior Center is making and taking friendly phone calls to (and from) residents who would like to connect via telephone for some friendly conversation. Contact the Senior Center to be added to the list for this service.

The Rochester Senior Center would like to remind residents that Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has been identified in the area by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to this mosquito-borne virus, which causes serious and often fatal swelling of the brain. 

Rochester residents should take measures to protect themselves until the first killing frost. They should apply insect repellent when going outdoors, be aware of peak mosquito hours (dusk until dawn), wear protective clothing, remove standing water from their yard, repair screens, and flush water troughs.

Events held at the Rochester Senior Center will be held outdoors whenever possible. If events are moved indoors, there will be a limited number of people permitted based on the current Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidance for gatherings. All COVID precautions will be in place: face coverings, social distancing, and hand washing. Participants will be asked to sign a Council on Aging Waiver of Liability Agreement prior to participating in events.

The Rochester Senior Center continues to offer food delivery to families. There are various programs available, all with different criteria. Call the senior center at 508-763-8723 to find out more about the programs.