Leadership Transition at Services for the Elderly of Farmington

The Board of Directors of Services for the Elderly of Farmington has appointed Nicole Bardeck as the new Executive Director. Bardeck has been affiliated for over 26 years with the American Red Cross in Farmington and has been a Charge Nurse in the Apheresis department for more than 17 years. Bardeck has been training alongside retiring Executive Director, Nancy Walker, who has been in the role for 28 years.

“Nancy is known and loved for her energy, caring, compassion and determination, so it was important to her and my fellow board members that we continue to assure excellent leadership,” said Board Chair George Reider. “We are thrilled that Nicole has accepted the role. In addition to her commitment of service to the American Red Cross, one of the country’s most well respected national nonprofits, Nicole has had the benefit of working side by side with Nancy over the past year.”

Services for the Elderly’s mission is to help Farmington seniors stay independent in their homes and to provide social and other well-being programs. In practice, Services for the Elderly supports the entire community through its programs, run by the full time Executive Director, one part time staff, and over 200 dedicated volunteers.

The organizations’s core programs are Meals on Wheels, a Congregate Meal program, friendly visiting and friendly shopping, rides to medical appointments, “It’s Good To Get Out” program and an extensive medical loan closet. The medical loan closet is open to all. Meals on Wheels volunteers bring hot, nutritious meals to seniors or anyone in Farmington needing meal delivery - often to adults recovering from a medical procedure or an accident. These deliveries also ensure a vital safety check to vulnerable seniors. The Medical Loan Closet, which has an inventory of more than 4,000 pieces of equipment, makes loans to any person, in any town in Connecticut for a very modest maintenance fee.

Walker is retiring after 28 years of service. Since Nancy started as Executive Director in 1991, the role has expanded significantly in providing a wider range of services. Today, she oversees over two hundred volunteers, runs over seven programs and works with countless seniors and their families negotiating the hurdles of maintaining independence as an aging adult. Walker has interacted with the clients and volunteers with a positive personal energy that was appreciated by all.

"Nancy has been a tremendous resource in the community, providing leadership, vision, and caring to so many," said Farmington’s Town Council Chair and former Services for the Elderly Board President, Nancy Nickerson. “It’s just like Nancy to have transitioned her role so smoothly and thoughtfully to Nicole ensuring our seniors will receive no interruption of service.”

Walker also has the important job of writing grants to partners like United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, the Hartford Community Foundation, the Farmington Community Chest, Subaru of America and hundreds of private donors.

“I am so excited to continue Nancy’s work at Services for the Elderly,” said Nicole Bardeck. “I am thankful to have had these months to work alongside Nancy so that I can hit the ground running. I love that I can make a difference in the lives of our aging population and I am thankful for all that Nancy Walker and Services for the Elderly has done for our community.”

Services for the Elderly of Farmington is a 501(c)3 organization located at 321 New Britain Avenue in Unionville and can be reached at (860) 673-1441 and services@farmingtonseniors.org. For more information go to www.farmingtonseniors.org and follow the organization on Facebook at @farmingtonseniors.