Council On Aging 144 Center Street, Pembroke, MA 02359

"Tried to participate in the grief group only to deal with agism and the lead calling reactive abuse an emotional break through. After I said no to seeking help elsewhere, she spent the whole group insisting I take her advice and steering the conversation with others towards why I needed to seek help elsewhere. All along I said I agreed but right now this was all I could do. She continued ignoring my boundary and pushed until I decided not to return. Of course, that was after I had emotionally exploded from being pushed and ignored which lead to the lead called it an emotional breakthrough. Not to mention, her helper proclaimed depression was a demon that won when suicide occurred. The kind of religious abuse that is in fact ableism that has no place in a non-religious grief support group. (Ps if you’re reading this helper: please understand when you make a natural human response into something super human you are telling the person suffering there is no hope of their humanity overcoming it. Please stop continuing this type of emotional shame. Also, defending your ageism when calmly confronted with ‘I have kids your age so I can say it’ does not fly at all. Every person is an individual and your assumptive attitude might be costing you opportunities for connection, sure did with me.) I attempted to volunteer only to get too sick during and after thanks to my chronic illness. I was very clear in writing in saying I would still drive the two I had agreed. After the first a week before the second ride, I emailed to let them I didn’t need gas reimbursement for either trip where she thanked me. They found someone else for the second without telling me. When I called to find out why no one was there to pick up, instead of an apology, she proclaimed everyone makes mistakes and hung up on me. I am disabled and poor. I needed a place to go and get assistance or be able to socialize and I no longer feel safe seeking that here. And I can’t move or drive to another town to receive it nor does the other group they were sending me to fit my needs. Nor were the compliments I received while helping tailored to me, they were straight off a website about autistic working. I hadn’t even done what they were praising me for… very disappointed. I moved so far and it’s so hard to try and create community. I guess my chronic illness gives people permission to not value my time because I have so little to give back."

"Wonderful, helpful staff. The best."

"Very friendly place with many opportunities to connect socially and learn!"

"Very helpful"