NORTH SMITHFIELD – The town of North Smithfield will no longer work with Woonsocket-based Aging Well to provide classes and other services for seniors following a recommendation from resident and senior advocate Linda Thibault, who recently resigned from her position with the organization.
Instead, Thibault hopes to form a new entity based in town that serves the older population with the help of funding recommended by both the administrator and the Budget Committee – and a new senior center at the former Halliwell School property, now in planning.
“I was kind of torn in two directions,” Thibault told NRI NOW this week of her work with the agency, which involved splitting her time between her hometown and the neighboring community. “It was very sad that I left. It didn’t work out because of circumstances beyond my control. Now, my time has really been devoted to North Smithfield – trying to develop a robust program.”
A non-profit offering meals, exercise classes, referrals and resources with the goal of enhancing the lives of seniors, Aging Well, previously known as Senior Services, currently serves around 40 to 50 North Smithfield residents, according to Executive Director Ryan MacLeod. Thibault worked as co-director of the organization’s wellness program since 2009, also offering exercise classes in North Smithfield through Aging Well at Scouter’s Hall.
Thibault told town officials that she became dissatisfied with the organization following a change in leadership, and that the town would be better served by a local effort supporting seniors.
MacLeod became executive director in May of 2024 and has implemented some recent changes, such as the launch of “La Placita,” a new area of the building at 84 Social St. catering to Spanish-speaking seniors inside previously underutilized space.
“They’ve funded us through the end of June,” MacLeod told NRI NOW of the town this week. “Our understanding is, after that, the funds will be moved to an account in the town’s Parks & Recreation budget.”
Town budget documents show that funding for senior services in North Smithfield fell under the umbrella of Parks & Recreation in 2022, when the line item was $10,000. It was increased to $20,000 in fiscal year 2023, and held steady for 2024.
Last year, the line item was moved in the budget to be included under “Town Council contributions,” and funded $40,000, according to Budget Committee Chairperson Douglas Osier. The funding, which in previous years was passed on to Aging Well, was boosted through a $20,000 federal grant last year.
For fiscal year 2026, Town Administrator Scott Gibbs has recommended a town contribution of $45,000 to senior programing, while the Budget Committee has recommended $42,500.
“Starting this fiscal year, the town will no longer contract with Aging Well, following leadership changes and the formation of a new service entity,” noted a presentation this month by budgeters. “The preparedness of the new provider is unclear. Interim measures should be considered to ensure uninterrupted delivery service and compliance with procurement requirements.”
Thibault noted that she has long been working toward creating an in-town program for residents age 55 and over, in addition to advocating for a dedicated space for programming.
“It’s been no secret that I’ve been trying to get that going here in town,” she said.
A registered nurse, Thibault notes she developed the wellness program for city-based Aging Well, and now hopes to do the same in North Smithfield, with plans to move operations to the town’s new multi-generational center once the building is complete.
“When the center is ready, we can just move it on over,” she said.
Osier said that Thibault came before his board in April to discuss the recommended change.
“From a budget perspective, it’s $40,000 this year, but what if we build out the program? I think there’s a lot of discussions to be had in that area,” said Osier, pointing to the need in the future to fund salaries, meals and activities for the new center. “We outsource a lot of that to Aging Well now.”
Osier said that budgeters have been left unclear on details or a timeline for the plan.
“For an organization to receive the funds, they would have to have all of their paperwork in place,” he said. “From a budget perspective, why are we funding this entity if we don’t have a plan for services?”
Ultimately, the board decided, “We’ll fund it because we know senior services are critical for the town.”
“The key for us was to just make sure there were funds available and there wasn’t a disruption,” said Osier. “If the town’s going to switch it would be helpful to plan – not just this year’s funding. Hopefully there’s more clarity going into next year’s budget.”
Thibault said that many details of a new organization to serve town seniors are indeed still in the planning phase. She has worked to continue programing at Scouter’s for the time being – including exercise classes, a quilting group, meditation courses, seminars, special events and more – while hashing out details of a future plan with the town administrator.
“It would be a new entity,” she said. “We’re still working on all of that. There are so many unknowns right now.”
Of the town-based programming, she added, “I decided to just keep all of that going, and we’re going to add things.” The intent, she said, is to offer a full schedule of different programs Monday through Friday each week.
“By not being at the Woonsocket site anymore, my whole attention is here now,” she said. “I’ve been doing this already – the only difference is it has my undivided attention now.”
Thibault noted that by 2030, 1 out of every 6 people will over the age of 65 – and 90 percent of them want to age in place.
“It’s important we provide services for people age 55 and older,” she said. “It’s my mission It’s my life It’s my passion.”
She noted that decision on how to move forward in North Smithfield will ultimately fall to the Town Council.
“All I know is, the classes and programs will continue at Scouter’s Hall. The North Smithfield Town Council is in charge,” she added. “I’m just here to help.”
Meanwhile, the Woonsocket-based organization is on track to lose $40,000, and will no longer be involved in programming at Scouter’s. MacLeod said Aging Well is now looking at the potential of creating a congregate meal site in North Smithfield.
The funding from North Smithfield, he said, was previously used to help with his organization’s meals program, through which seniors are charged just $3 for daily meals that cost $6.
“We appreciate the support, but it won’t make a real difference at the end of the day,” he said, adding that North Smithfield residents are still welcome to use their services. “Everybody is absolutely still welcome here.”
Aging well, NEVER did a thing to help my late 93 yr old parent. No food, no social worker, nothing. Abandoned literally by all agencies supposed to help and referred to assist. So hopefully the town rethinks this through. Monitor just how well seniors are really referred and treated as a whole. I still cannot believe how a human was treated worse in all my 40 yrs of nursing career from personal experience. Meals on Wheels, etc, unimaginable. Very iffy in NS to get any senior help or transportation assistance, etc. From 2021 plus. Luckily places like Stop and Shop Peapod service and Walmart home delivery service was utilized and parent enjoyed straight to the kitchen delivery. Cannot say enough for those local businesses and delivery ppl! Amazing service. I could order from 800 miles away, and delivered within a short time! Grateful.
I would require a proper accounting of all spending to make sure the funds are used for seniors and not for administrative stipends.
It’ll be important for those of us who want this to truly be a multigenerational center to keep reminding our fellow residents that it is not a senior center. I hope a large portion of the programming is geared toward young folks. They need it most. It’s past time we start thinking more about the upcoming generation and less about the Boomers.
Really? Wow. So when a person ages, casting them aside is the route to take is it? After yrs of paying taxes, donating to their local fire and rescue, helping their friends, they are thought of to be of less value? Everyone, of all ages, is worthy of assistance and guidance, IMHO. We need each other.
Suzy, who said anything about casting the elderly aside? My point is simply that the center is meant to be multigenerational. Yet I’ve heard a lot of talk about a “senior center.” Some folks seem to think seniors are more deserving of a dedicated space/programming than other residents of our community. I disagree with that line of thinking.
Your line, think less about the BOOMERS kinda put the thought out there…..it never is just about seniors as to this center. That was clarified long ago.The programs and space will accommodate each generation hopefully. So IMHO, they all should be treated EQUALLY. Not anyone less than the other……so I have no idea why all this harping as to it being mostly senior by so many still.
I concur wholeheartedly and I am a senior. I certainly would like more than a room, walking trail, or garden. The most forward thinking members of the original Halliwell committee has, within its design parameters a pool, gym, etc. wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the ability to teach every child in North Smithfield to swim, to have a swim team, water aerobics classes for adults? Drowning is the number one cause of death in children 1-4, and the second leading cause of death between 4+ and 18. Also, please see the article in The Valley Breeze regarding Frances Tiners Senior Project. Linda has made this her life’s mission, but she forgets that there are many more that had hoped for more and will continue to push for something that benefits all generations.
Do you have a plan to fund this dream. A pool is a very expensive item to maintain and heat. Most Y’s in RI are losing money and you expect taxpayers to fund a nice to have. NS does not have a large enough population to fund these types of luxuries when the town cannot even pave the roads or maintain the current facilities and infrastructure and you wish to add more infrastructure. The current budget is projected to increase an excessive 5% and if you add a pool and other programs will add an additional 3%. So explain to me how seniors and other NS residents will be able to afford the excessive tax increases. This does not even include the highly expensive water and sewer project being investigated by Gibbs and Ezovski and other items on the table. The town needs to get control of the out of control spending. I think the users of the facility need to fund the operational and annual maintenance costs just as any other recreational activities are funded. The logic that it would be nice for every young person a place to swim leads to wouldn’t it be nice if every young person could learn to play and instrument, play tennis, play hockey, have a golf simulator, a shorting range, etc. Youth pay to play sports and other activities so paying for programs is the only option to fund the dream. Taxpayers cannot take on fiscally irresponsible run public programs. The soccer indoor facility operates privately and survives so when can’t other activities.
Yes, people could purchase memberships and other high school teams could pay to swim at the pool. Parents could also rent the pool out for birthday parties, etc. Children learn to play instruments in high school and have access to many sports. Some people in town share your same view, fixing the roads is the only thing they care about…building community and sharing opportunities to develop outstanding citizens does not matter. By the way, the school could be a very important element in this endeavor, providing some level of funding. I served on the BOD of the Woonsocket Y. Do you know why it closed? It was a money pit, very badly designed with an exercise room on the third floor with little accessibility. The only thing that kept that facility afloat was the pool. While it was advantageous to merge with Lincoln and Pawtucket, their reciprocal membership with Woonsocket was limited. Essentially, they screwed Woonsocket and then abandoned it, because the facilities at MaColl were far superior, including indoor and outdoor pools. Most Y’s are very successful and there are many other organizations that could assist. By the way, I resigned from that BOD long before Woonsocket closed and had been a paying member from the time I was a child. Yes, every child should learn to swim as it is an activity that is lifelong and is very beneficial to adults and seniors as well.
The flaw in your logic is we need roads everyday to conduct business and move about and the roads are in horrible condition due to past administrations and councils. A pool and senior center is a luxury the town cannot afford until the town gets current infrastructure in order before the town adds additional annual expenditures. And if memberships and fees cannot 100% support the facility then it proves that most residents do not need an additional facility. This is just economics, if there is demand then you can run a successful operation but without demand all you have is excess supply that causes bankruptcy.
I really hope this town family center gets passed and has a pool and all the other Bells and whistles that residents in this town so NEED!!! It more than just smooth road Dave G. Mary C is 100% right!!
Typical American up to there eyeballs in debt. Just keep spending with zero fiscal responsibility. Must like Trump just put the country in more debt.
Has anyone figured out how the $1M in annual operating costs for the multigenerational center is going to be funded. Sounds like another large property tax increase the usual goto same well playbook. Just to let the politicians know the well has gone dry.
Absolutely your taxes will go up, and the services will not necessarily. And as soon as the new tax yr starts shortly, everyone will have a rise in taxes again, even though the rate will reduce to $11.60 after a reval of huge increase…..
When it is that my child can pay LESS taxes on a $700,000 custom house in our state, with tons of available services, and my late NS parent for whom I paid the taxes, the house not even reaching HALF the NC value, little NS services, you know it’s time to evaluate strongly where the heck the money is being applied there in NS and how so. That is a huge variance in taxes even with the veteran and senior exemptions applied! Elderly, disabled, cannot keep this up. Their benefits do not coincide with all the increases of late. Social Security (taxable in RI), gives with one hand and takes away with the other already. And they need to hire others to handle their property, costs more. No taxis. In NS you have to have lawn contracts or you get nothing done reasonably for example. The challenges are real for the elderly and disabled. Beautiful town, but expensive, all things considered.