New Bedford’s Buttonwood Senior Center returning to status quo

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — Officials announced Monday that the Buttonwood Center in New Bedford will revert to a traditional senior center.

The Mayor’s Office said the New Bedford Council on Aging (COA) will shift Adult Social Day Care services to the Brooklawn Community Center and the Rosemary Tierney Community Center in a corresponding move.

Buttonwood will return to featuring activities like bingo, wellness instruction, social gatherings, and educational offerings.

The move comes a year after the COA consolidated the Adult Social Day Care services to Buttonwood and shifted traditional senior center programming to Hazelwood and Brooklawn.

Officials said they reversed the decision based on higher staffing levels, service demands, and the ability to use multiple locations to cater Social Day Care programs to seniors’ wellness levels.

The changes take effect May 13, with the last day for services at the current locations being May 10.

Special events will be held the week of May 13 to celebrate the new locations, including a luncheon on May 13 at the Fort Taber Community Center and a catered lunch and entertainment on May 17 at the Buttonwood Senior Center.

Reservations are required for both events and can be made by calling the COA at 508-961-6250 by May 8.