Client News

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout Greater Plymouth County, recently held two Volunteer Appreciation events in Bridgewater and Plymouth.
 
To honor and celebrate their outstanding volunteers, OCES held appreciation events at Bridgewater Senior Center and Plymouth Center for Active Living in late August. A total of 87 volunteers from OCES’ Nutrition Program, Money Management Program, Board of Directors, and RSVP of Plymouth County attended the two outdoor events, which featured live music by Lisa Yves, Emma Murphy, Caleb Wolf and Fiona Campbell as well as delicious food from Flashback Franks and The Whoo(pie) Wagon food trucks.
 
According to Courtney Krajeski, OCES’ Volunteer Coordinator, “These events were a tremendous success and I could not be more pleased with the turnout and execution of each event. We received great compliments on the food trucks and the music. Our dedicated OCES volunteers deserve recognition for their heroic efforts during a difficult year. We also wanted to give them the opportunity to connect and celebrate in person – a connection that we were all happy to share.”
 
Nutrition volunteer Emilia Cantwell and her job coach Susan Kallio of the Nemasket Group Building Futures Project support Meals on Wheels (MOW) in Wareham. (The Nemasket Group offers personalized, flexible support to families and individuals with disabilities to live, work and develop relationships within our communities.) As a team, Cantwell and Kallio have continued to deliver meals throughout the pandemic. Kallio said, “Volunteering with Meals on Wheels has been a great opportunity to connect with people in a safe way. Emilia loves meeting new people and helping others. She remembers the names of those she delivers to which allows for that personal connection.”
 
Volunteering for OCES
With the help of 325 Nutrition Program volunteers who perform many tasks, OCES serves 1,800 meals each weekday as part of its MOW Program. Over 35 Money Management Program (MMP) volunteers assist older adults and individuals with disabilities with bill paying, reconciling bank statements, balancing checkbooks, and in special cases, negotiating debt with creditors.
 
OCES is an AmeriCorps Seniors grantee that receives funds through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) which is for volunteers age 55+. RSVP of Plymouth County volunteers help OCES and other local agencies that are OCES business partners. Volunteers also serve on the OCES Board of Directors, and the MMP or RSVP Community Advisory Councils and contribute with many other important efforts.
 
To learn more about becoming a volunteer for OCES contact Courtney Krajeski at 508-584-1561 x355 or visit ocesma.org.
 
About OCES
Founded in 1974, OCES proudly serves greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton with a second office in Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 25 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ 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

Old Colony Elder Services Holds Volunteer Appreciation EventsRead More

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency proudly serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County, is offering a series of workshops based on the “Buried in Treasures Workbook Model”. Each workshop will offer support for individuals with hoarding tendencies. 

 
This Workshop Series is an educational, judgment-free, self-help program facilitated by OCES that will meet on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. beginning October 19, 2021. This confidential Workshop Series is for anyone struggling with clutter, compulsive acquiring, saving, and hoarding. Classes will be held virtually once a week for 15 weeks. This specific Workshop Series is for individuals working on their own recovery; it is not for friends, family or service providers. However, others are welcome to contact OCES for information and resources. 

             
OCES’ Workshop Series is grant-funded and free of charge, but registration and prescreening is required. Previous participants have shared that they found them to be very helpful; they felt supported and would recommend the workshops. 

             
What is Hoarding? 
Hoarding is when individuals continue to accumulate items, such as clothing, newspapers and food, and then have persistent difficulty discarding possessions. Individuals with hoarding behaviors often face health issues related to falls, as well as the risk of losing their homes. 

 
Individuals interested in attending the self-help program are required to complete a prescreening assessment before enrolling in the Workshop; contact OCES at 508-584-1561 for more details. 
 

About OCES 
Founded in 1974, OCES proudly serves greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton with a second office in Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 25 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ 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

Virtual “Buried in Treasures” Based Workshop Series Begins October 19thRead More

September marks the 30th year that the Massachusetts Money Management Program (MMMP) has been helping adults over 60, and adults living with disabilities, maintain their independence. The MMMP is a free, volunteer-supported program that is vital to those it serves. Without the program, many individuals would face food insecurity, financial exploitation, eviction, and premature institutionalization.

MMMP volunteers have always gone above and beyond for their consumers and for the 30th anniversary, their dedication and hard work were recognized by Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) at its volunteer appreciation event last month.

MMMP volunteers work one-on-one with at-risk individuals to help them create a budget, pay their bills, reduce debt, and find local support services. Since 1991, MMMP volunteers have served 13,000 Massachusetts residents. The past 18 months, MMMP volunteers were a lifeline to individuals who had no one else to turn to, or even talk to, during the pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, volunteers continued to support their consumers in a variety of ways including phone calls and virtual meetings.

Below are quotes from consumers and volunteers:

– “Helped in so many ways, I was losing confidence in myself. My volunteer has restored my confidence. If it wasn’t for the MMP I would have given up.”

– “My financial life has been saved because of this service.”

– “As an OCES’ Money Management Volunteer for 18 years, I have worked with Consumers that have faced not having enough money for food, on the verge of having electricity and gas shut off, and family members taking advantage of them. I have helped Consumers manage their finances so they don’t have to worry about the mortgage or losing their homes. Being a part of this MMP, I feel like I am making a difference in someone’s life. It’s very rewarding and there are many people out there in need of assistance.”  

The MMMP would not exist without the hundreds of volunteers who devote so much time and effort to support people in their communities. On behalf of the statewide program and all local programs, we would like to say a big Thank You to current and past volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering for OCES’ Money Management or other programs, please call 508-584-1561 and ask for the Volunteer Coordinator. 

Assistance & Volunteer Opportunities Available

OCES is accepting new consumers and volunteers into the Money Management program.  Donations to OCES’ MMMP are vital and may be made by visiting OCES’ website and clicking on Donate Now. For more information, to volunteer, or to make a donation to OCES’ Money Management Program, visit www.ocesma.org

About the MMMP
The Massachusetts Money Management Program’s mission is to promote and prolong independent living for income-eligible individuals over 60 who are at risk because of their inability to manage their finances. In order to achieve this mission, the MMMP:

– Provides assistance that enables people to live as independently as possible;

– Helps in the least intrusive way so that a person’s dignity and privacy are preserved; and

– Includes program safeguards to protect the consumer, the volunteer, and the local ASAP.

To learn more about the statewide program, to refer someone, to volunteer, or donate, please visit massmmp.org. You can search for your local program by city or town. You can also email mmmpinfo@tves.org or call 508-949-6640 ext. 3376.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES proudly serves greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton with a second office in Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 25 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ 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.

The Massachusetts Money Management Program Celebrates its 30th Year. Program Volunteers are recognized by Old Colony Elder Services and other local sites throughout the StateRead More