By Nicole Long, MSW, LICSW
CEO of Old Colony Elder Services
June is Pride Month, a time to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, an event that sparked a global movement for the rights and recognition of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community. Join OCES in remembering this important time in history and in celebrating Pride Month.
As the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in Plymouth County and surrounding areas, OCES aspires to be a culturally diverse and inclusive organization that removes barriers, creates equity for all, and empowers individuals and communities to thrive, age in place, and reach their highest potential.
OCES supports everyone without exception and is proud to support several regional Pride events this month:
OCES offers a monthly LGBTQIA+ Senior Lunch held the first Thursday of each month at 12 p.m. at the Bridgewater Council on Aging community dining meal site. In addition to a delicious, nutritious meal, people can socialize and enjoy SINGO, a fun Bingo-like game with a musical spin. All LGBTQIA+ older adults are welcome.
Lunch and entertainment are complimentary, but reservations are required and can be made by calling the Bridgewater Senior Center at 508-697-0929. The LGBTQIA+ Senior Lunch is part of OCES’ comprehensive nutrition program, which includes community dining and home-delivered (Meals on Wheels) meals. For more information about OCES’s nutrition services, visit https://ocesma.org/programs-services/nutrition
The Center in Duxbury (formerly known as Duxbury Senior Center) and OCES invite the community to a Pride Disco Celebration on June 18 at 3 p.m. at The Center, 10 Mayflower Street, Duxbury. The Pride Disco Celebration will include music, dancing, and light refreshments. For more information, visit www.town.duxbury.ma.us/center-fka-senior-center.
OCES is proud to participate in the Plymouth Pride Festival, which will be held Sunday, June 28, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Nelson Memorial Park in Plymouth. This wonderful event will feature music, performers, food trucks, a pet contest, craft and retail vendors, and community resources. Be sure to stop by the OCES resource table during the event. To learn more about the Plymouth Pride Festival, visit www.plymouthprideinc.com/pride2026
OCES is dedicated to creating better futures for everyone we serve and for the communities around us. If you are looking for LGBTQIA+ resources, here are a few helpful links:
The Massachusetts Mental Health Resource page for LGBTQ+: www.mass.gov/lgbtq-mental-health-resources
NAMI Massachusetts: https://namimass.org/resources-for-the-lgbtq-community/
Greater Boston PFLAG: www.gbpflag.org
SAGE, a national advocacy and services organization for LGBTQ+ Seniors: www.sageusa.org
For additional resources and to learn more about OCES’ comprehensive programs, services, and events, visit ocesma.org.About the Author:Nicole Long is the Chief Executive Officer of Old Colony Elder Services (OCES). Founded in 1974, OCES is a private, non-profit organization proudly serving greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency offers a number of programs to serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.
