BRUNSWICK
Spectrum Generations is marking the first year in its Brunswick home.
Spectrum closed its Southern Midcoast Community Center in Topsham in July 2013 to relocate its services to the People Plus Center on Union Street in what had been billed by Spectrum as a collaboration, as opposed to a merger.
The two organizations had shared the same address up until five years ago, when Spectrum moved to its Topsham location.
Spectrum President and CEO Gerard Queally said it made sense to partner, rather than compete for the same constituency and perform duplicate work.
Spectrum Generations’ Topsham center was part of the Central Maine Agency on Aging, a network of resource centers that receives federal funding to provide mandated services to seniors across Maine.
Initially, there were concerns, especially by Topsham residents who would have to travel to Brunswick for services, said Queally, but added that the move was the right choice.
“We had federal designations, we had the technical expertise with helping aging issues. People Plus had the community engagement piece down very strong,” said Queally. “It made sense that we combined forces.”
The move generated between $50,000 and $70,000 in cost savings, Queally said.
Spectrum pays People Plus about $25,000 a year in rent and services.
Queally also noted that one doesn’t need to be a People Plus member to use Spectrum services.
“A lot of people think we went away when we closed the Topsham center,” Queally said. However, Spectrum still maintains its own staff and programs, including Meals on Wheels, and is able to subsidize the dining program at People Plus, an important social aspect for seniors, as well as educational programs.
For about the past 10 years, Su Olds of Topsham delivered Meals on Wheels for Spectrum. She stayed with the agency during the transition to Brunswick.
“I don’t think there’s been any bumps in the road,” Olds said, but noted that space was a bit cramped.
“We don’t have a lot of room, but we don’t need a lot. … We operate pretty smoothly out there.”
Olds said she also became a People Plus member, after People Plus gave first year memberships to Spectrum’s members.
“I’m delighted to see, at People Plus, that the friends I made in Topsham are there,” Olds said.
Spectrum Generations also operates in locations in Harpswell and Bath.
SPECTRUM GENERATIONS, BY THE NUMBERS:
In 2013, Spectrum Generations provided services to 441 individual Brunswick residents, delivered more than 7,000 Meals On Wheels to seniors, and provided 721 hours of outreach counseling to Brunswick seniors.
Additionally, more than 8,000 meals were served to Brunswick residents through the community dining program, and 31 Brunswick residents volunteered 533 hours of their time with Spectrum Generations.
In Bath, Spectrum provided services to 173 individual Bath residents, a 5 percent increase over past years, delivered more than 5,000 Meals on Wheels, and provided 269 hours of outreach counseling to seniors and their families.
More than 1,700 meals were served to Bath residents through the community dining program,
In Topsham, Spectrum provided services to 268 individual Topsham residents, 980 Meals on Wheels, and provided 619 hours of outreach counseling.
More than 231 meals were served to Topsham residents through the community dining program, and 26 Topsham residents volunteered 1,043 hours of their time with Spectrum Generations.