The Somerville home is a licensed, affordable housing option for seniors, as well as for other adults. By Cathleen Twardzik The Somerville Home is currently preparing for its new needs. "The Board of Directors started a Strategic Planning Committee for 2010 and will be focusing on the long range plans and goals of the home," said Kelley Leuchter, Acting Administrator of the Somerville Home for the past 20 months. On a general level, the home is a licensed, affordable housing option for seniors, as well as for other adults — all of whom are in need of a supportive home environment, according to her. Further, the private, not-for-profit organization is "committed to offering a reasonably-priced option for quality, non-skilled residential services." "Since 1898, the Somerville Home has provided long-term residential care to seniors from Somerville and surrounding communities," said Leuchter. Interestingly, "There are even a few residents who came to the Somerville Home from out-of-state."

At the home, residents benefit from "a safe and secure home-like environment. We encourage the residents to be independent and offer services to assist them with day-to-day activities," she said.

Available services include: three home-cooked meals — all of which are served daily in the dinning room, medication administration and monitoring, personal assistance with bathing, personalized housekeeping, linen, laundry and maintenance service, money management, Unisex Hair Salon and podiatry services. Additionally, there is a licensed Social Worker on staff, and year-round field trips in the home's van occur regularly.

In October 2009, the Somerville Home enjoyed its Second Annual Dinner Dance. That event raised over $16,000.00, and the winner of the 50/50 cash raffle received over $3,000. Currently, the Third Annual Dinner Dance is in the works, and the home hopes for even larger attendance at this year's event.

Moreover, the home's Adopt-A-Project campaign raised $4,350. Those funds will be used to replace the building's steam traps — the renovation of which will start this spring.

In particular, "We are blessed with a dedicated staff [who] all make an effort to get to know each one of our residents. Everyone is on a first name basis, here. We are truly an extended family — and this is their "home." Anyone who lives here knows that they're not forgotten, and people do care," said Leuchter.

Interested individuals may contact the Somerville Home at (617) 776-0260 or log on to www.somervillehome.org. Tours of the home are available.

What is going on at the Somerville Home in the near future? "There is never a dull moment here at the home. [Residents] love the visits from the Caring Canines and local college volunteers," she said. In fact, "We are keeping up with the Red Sox spring training and counting down the days till opening day."