Two Join Council on Aging with Strong Healthcare Backgrounds

SCITUATE - Scituate’s Council on Aging is gaining valuable expertise with the appointment of two new members who bring a combined background in hospital administration, patient advocacy, and eldercare programming.

Anna Morse and Bethany O’Connor were unanimously appointed to the Council by the Scituate Select Board at the June 10 meeting. Both women expressed a strong commitment to enhancing services and resources for the town’s older adults.

Morse, who has worked at Mass General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess, spent much of her career helping seniors navigate complex healthcare systems. She currently works at South Shore Hospital’s BRIDGE program, which supports individuals facing addiction. In her remarks, she emphasized a preference for the term “seasoned population” over “aging,” underscoring the vitality and experience many seniors bring to the community.

“They’re not aging — they’re seasoned. And they need support just like anyone else when systems get complicated,” Morse said.

O’Connor, a trained gerontologist and admissions director at a local nursing facility, has long provided informal guidance to families managing eldercare decisions. She told the Board that she now has the time and drive to give back in a more formal civic role.

“I didn’t realize how much I had to offer until people kept turning to me for help,” O’Connor noted.

Select Board Vice Chair Susan Harrison praised their qualifications:

“Understanding how to navigate these systems is key — and it’s clear both Anna and Bethany have that knowledge and empathy.”

The pair will begin three-year terms and are expected to play an active role in shaping programs at the Scituate Senior Center, which has seen growing engagement and demand.

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