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When it comes to the end of life, talking matters.

Arza Goldstein, who manages a private practice as an End of Life Doula, helping the dying and their families make the time that remains less stressful and more meaningful, will lead a workshop on Wednesday, May 1st at 6 p.m., at FirstLight Home Care of West Suburban Boston, 109 – 123 Highland Avenue, Suite 301, Needham, MA  02494 (directly across from Panera Bread and between TD Bank and Petco).

The program, named “The Conversation Project”, was developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and is centered on how sharing your wishes for end-of-life care can bring you closer to the people you love.

The Conversation Project Nation Survey (2018) underscores the following statistics –

92% of people say that talking with their loved ones about end-of-life care is important.

32% have actually done so.

21% of people say they haven’t had the conversation because they don’t want to upset their loved ones.

53% say they’d be relieved if a loved one started the conversation.

Arza Goldstein is an entrepreneur, journey woman and advocate. Her career path has taken her from Birth Doula to Hospice nurse, community organizer and co-founder of Living Wisely, Dying Well, an organization designed to encourage conversations about death and dying.

Today, after 11 years as a hospice nurse, sitting at the bedside of hundreds of dying patients, Arza has a private practice as an End of Life Doula, helping the dying and their families make the time that remains less stressful and more meaningful. Most of us don’t like to talk about dying but come for this conversation and see how thinking about death and dying makes us live our lives with greater intention.   

This interactive presentation encourages participants to ask questions and provide their own anecdotes.

About FirstLight Home Care

FirstLight Home Care is a leading provider of non-medical home care, helping individuals in more than 30 states achieve the quality of life they deserve. The company has set a new standard in home care by creating an unmatched Culture of Care that drives industry-leading client and employee satisfaction. FirstLight is a lifeline not only for seniors, but for people recovering from illness, injury or surgery; adults with disabilities; and anyone over the age of 18 who needs extra assistance. Care can be provided at private residences, as well as independent and assisted living communities.

To RSVP, please visit http://tinyurl.com/y2fbztpd.

For additional information, please contact FirstLight Home Care of West Suburban Boston, 781-559-0220,   https://www.firstlighthomecare.com/home-healthcare-west-suburban-boston/contact/

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Silver Tiger Consulting receives Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certification

WAKEFIELD, MA…

Cori DiDonato of Silver Tiger Consulting

Silver Tiger Consulting, a Wakefield, Mass.-based business management and consulting company with a niche for providing marketing, HR, and business operations solutions was recently state certified as a WBE business (Women Business Enterprise) by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Silver Tiger received this certification (#ID 20180276) from the Supplier Diversity Office of the state’s Operational Services Division in March.

“We work with many other businesses in the private and public sector, many of whom work on state-wide contracts with women-owned and minority-owned business spending goals.  With the WBE certification, in addition to the myriad of HR, marketing and management consulting services we offer, we can now help our clients meet supplier diversity partner goals for projects for the Commonwealth,” said Cori DiDonato, president of Silver Tiger Consulting. “Spending on ancillary services, such as those we provide count towards these specific SDP goals.”

Silver Tiger Consulting handles and consults on a variety of back-end business operations for its clients. Silver Tiger Consulting’s managed HR solution provides retained recruiting, employee policy and procedure development, and other functions such as payroll set up and administration.

“For many of our businesses, they have to ramp up both staffing and compliant systems in fairly short order to begin work on specific project and meet deadlines. With our retained recruiting and other HR-related offerings, we can help clients rapidly hire new talent and implement quality HR systems to streamline the entire onboarding and human resources process” said DiDonato.

Additionally, Silver Tiger Consulting is a Certified Constant Contact Solution Provider and offers both staff training on marketing as well as social media and email marketing services. These services include the development of project and client newsletters, ghost writing articles, and managing and creating various social media campaigns.

“Many firms utilize administrative staff for marketing functions and it’s really not their forte,” said DiDonato. “Being a Constant Contact partner, we not only have the ability to provide extensive training through our workshops and webinars for our clients’ staff, but we have the design and content generation skills to create project updates, social media posts, and other collateral needed to keep clients, abutters, state legislators and other concerned citizens apprised of a project’s status.”

DiDonato founded Silver Tiger Consulting in 2016. In addition to a team of seven she has acquired a vast pool of skilled administrators, technology implementation specialists and marketing talent to meet clients’ needs.

For information visit http://www.silvertigerconsulting.com/ or call 781-968-5421.

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Behavioral Concepts Appoints Tiffany Bellina as Director of Northeast Programs

Behavioral Concepts (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Massachusetts, has recently promoted Tiffany Bellina, M.S., BCBA, LABA to Director of Northeast Programs. She is a resident of Leominster, MA.

BCI is meeting the need for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) providers in the Northeast area by providing specialty Early Intervention ABA services to families through their temporary office at 1501 Main Street, Units 29-30, in Tewksbury, MA.

Bellina has been promoted to Director of Northeast Programs and will oversee the Northeast team and all services. Prior to her promotion, Bellina was Behavior Analyst and Director of Intakes and Scheduling in Worcester, handling all hiring of staff for the greater Worcester region. 

Bellina joined BCI in 2010 as an ABA Therapist and was quickly promoted to Clinical Coordinator before becoming Director of Intakes and Scheduling. A graduate of Kaplan University with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis, Bellina is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst (LABA) in the state of Massachusetts. Additionally, she serves as an ABA supervisor for Bay Path University’s ABA graduate program that operates onsite at BCI.

Bellina works closely with Katherine Law, BCBA, LABA, Assistant Director who leads Early Intervention services from the Tewksbury office. BCI provides Early Intervention services to more than 50 families in the Northeast area. These targeted services are designed to assist infants and toddlers (birth to age three) in making significant strides in their development, and are evidence-based, tailored to their needs, and usually provided in the home.

BCI is a partner agency that receives Early Intervention referrals from the Department of Public Health for children under age three with a diagnosis Autism Spectrum Disorder. BCI accepts most major insurance plans operating throughout Massachusetts as well as Mass Health.

BCI is looking to site a new ABA center in 2019, which will enable them to expand their offerings in the Northeast area to include center-based and home & community insurance-funded ABA services that families can elect to have for children age three to 22 years old.

To learn more about BCI’s services, visit https://bciaba.com.

About BCI

Behavioral Concepts (BCI) provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children with autism and their families in central Massachusetts. We identify and facilitate effective personalized instruction that allows children to discover more, learn more, and be more – increasing their independence and enhancing their quality of life at home, in school, and in the community. BCI is a Massachusetts Department of Public Health approved provider of specialty ABA services for early intervention. BCI also provides center, home-based, and afterschool services through private and public health insurance. The organization was founded in 2002 by Dr. Jeffrey R. Robinson. Further information on BCI is available at https://bciaba.com.

BCI is part of the LEARN Behavioral family of companies, a national organization dedicated to helping all children succeed in school and life. Learn more at http://learnitsystems.com.

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Rodman CPAs Promotes Marc Scribi to Audit Supervisor

Rodman CPAs, a full-service tax and accounting firm based in Waltham, MA serving small and mid-sized businesses throughout the greater Boston area, has promoted Marc Scribi, CPA, MBA to Audit Supervisor. He is a resident of Walpole, MA.

In his new role at Rodman CPAs, Scribi works with clients in a variety of industries preparing audits, reviews, and compilations. He specializes in audits of nonpublic companies and nonprofit organizations. In addition to his audit-related engagements, Scribi prepares corporate, partnership and individual tax returns. Prior to his promotion, Scribi held the position of Senior Associate for two years.

Scribi holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics, along with a Master of Business Administration in Accounting from Suffolk University. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Scribi is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants (MSCPA).

About Rodman CPAs

Rodman CPAs provides tax advisory, accounting, and business strategy to small and mid-sized emerging and established businesses. Named one of the largest accounting firms in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal, Rodman CPAs offers an innovative and strategic approach with the personal touch of a smaller regional CPA firm. For more than 50 years, Rodman CPAs has been specializing in customized accounting and tax solutions that improve business performance, processes, financial operations, and information technology.  

The firm serves as a true business partner, helping clients perform and succeed during each stage of the business lifecycle. As domain experts in alternative energy, the “Green Team” at Rodman CPAs works with renewable energy producers and businesses throughout the U.S. offering tax advisory, financial, accounting services, and Investment Tax Credit (ITC) studies. 

Rodman CPAs is an independent member firm of BDO Alliance USA, which enables them to expand services to clients by accessing the resources of BDO USA, LLP and other Alliance members, ensuring greater flexibility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. For more information, visit http://www.rodmancpa.com or contact (617) 965-5959.

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Providing Support to Working Caregivers — OCES’ CEO outlines benefits of Family Caregiver Support Program at Good Morning Metro South

Nicole Long

Nicole Long, MSW, LICSW, Chief Executive Officer at Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), which serves older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County, recently addressed the topic of working caregivers at Good Morning Metro South Brunch Edition at Southeastern Technical Institute.

During the special Regional Roundtable/Legislative Luncheon edition of Good Morning Metro South which covered various topics of regional concern, Long spoke to local businesses about the growing number of working caregivers and how OCES’ Family Caregiver Support Program may help their employees. Specifically, Long outlined how the Family Caregiver Support Program can provide free services and support to employees who are balancing work along with caregiving for aging family members, grandchildren, or individuals with chronic condition or disability.

“According to research by Family Caregiver Alliance, one out of every six employees in the U.S. is a caregiver to a family member or loved one,” explained Long. 

OCES’ Family Caregiver Support Program empowers and supports working caregivers by providing them with much needed personalized information, tools and services. In this way, OCES can help companies prepare for today’s accommodating needs of their workforce.

Long, who holds a Master of Social Work from Bridgewater State University and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) continued, “Handling both work and family caregiving is a difficult balancing act and each employee’s situation is unique and complex. Our goal is to support an individual’s ability to prioritize and manage their caregiving so they have a more fulfilling and balanced work/home life balance. OCES helps caregivers navigate through life’s hardest but rewarding job, while also helping to improve the productivity of working caregivers.”

To learn more about OCES’ Family Caregiver Support Program or to arrange for a Family Caregiver Support Program presentation at your organization, contact Brenda Carrens, Community Programs Director of OCES at bcarrens@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 26 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and people with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org. 

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Don’t do Divorce alone. Divorce workshop offers support and practical direction.


It’s impossible to understand how painful divorce is, if you haven’t been through it.

The newly formed Divorce Support Group provides a safe, welcoming place to work through your feelings with other people facing similar challenges. Together, we explore denial, fear, loneliness, friendships, guilt/rejection, grief, anger, and whatever else arises. We will also discuss practical ways to take care of yourself. 

The workshop is scheduled for eight Thursdays,  6pm – 7:30 p.m. March 7 and includes March 7, March 14, March 21, March 28, April 4, April 18, May 2 and May 9 at the Maverick Wellness, 67 Coddington Street, #209, Quincy MA 02169.  Cost is $240 for the 8-week session.  Group support works best when members can commit to attending all the sessions.  Participants are encouraged to sign up only if  they believe they will be able to attend all the sessions.

This small support group (limit is 6-8 members) will provide a safe, accepting space to discuss the emotional challenges of your divorce, talk with people who “get it,” and learn from each other.

Specifically, the workshop explores practical ways to take care of yourself, cope with stress, how to talk with your children, meeting with your lawyer, ways to co-parent with your ex, feelings around the family home, personal belongings and more.  

The workshop was developed and will be led by Frances T. Spillane, a divorced mother of two children and recently remarried.  She is an LMHC and Life Coach who supports clients in creating meaningful, fulfilling lives.

“When I look back at my divorce, I often wonder ‘What was wrong with me?’”  She added, “Why did I try to do it all alone?  Why didn’t I ask for more help? Why didn’t I do more to help myself?  Why didn’t I find more support?  What was I thinking? Having survived that gauntlet, I developed this workshop.”

Fran is on her third career.  Prior to becoming a therapist, she was a tax accountant, then a stay-at-home mom. Her own journeys through transition give her a deep sense of empathy and compassion, as well as the knowledge that change provides the opportunity to create a more joyful life. Her authentic and unconditional positive regard for clients supports their honest exploration of their most important issues.

Fran practices in Attleboro and Quincy, MA.  She earned her M.A. at Bridgewater State University, and her B.A. at University of Notre Dame.

To RSVP, please visit https://www.EmbraceYourFreedom.Net or email FTSpillane.obhi@Gmail.com.

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Buying a home with an FHA Reverse Mortgage: a new two credit CE class for Massachusetts Realtors.

Real estate agents are invited to attend this two credit Continuing Education class that reveals the little-known homebuying tool that can assist nearly one out of every four of your last-time homebuyers. The class is scheduled for Thursday, April 25 from 9am-11am (registration begins at 8:30am).

The class will be held in the 3rd Floor Conference Room, 100 Grandview Road, Braintree, MA 02184 directly across from the South Shore Plaza and next to the AMC movie theater. Ample and free parking is available.

Although not required, a $20 – $30 donation is suggested.

Topics covered by the 2 credit CE class will include how to use this program to:
• Recover lost listings
• Qualify more buyers
• Sell more expensive homes
• Show empty nesters how they can purchase their mortgage-payment-free retirement home with half the cash

Attendees will learn:
• Which properties are eligible for HECM for purchase
• Which buyers are eligible for HECM for purchase
• What are the consumer safeguards and what does the FHA insurance protect
• What are the rates, costs, and maximum loan amounts

The class will be taught by industry expert, Brett Kirkpatrick, CRMP (NMLS #38612) , of Harbor Mortgage Solutions (NMLS #2846), who has specialized in the uniquely powerful and triple-insured FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (also known as reverse mortgage) since 2001.

The suggested class donation goes directly to the Real Angels Foundation, a 503 (c) non-profit, focused on real estate professionals supporting and promoting local charities, such as Magical Moon Foundation in Marshfield, MA, (helping children battle cancer and other serious diseases) and Heidrea for Heroes in Plymouth, MA, (providing support to local veterans facing everyday challenges).

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Seating is limited so PLEASE only register if you are certain you can attend. RSVP by visiting http://www.RealAngelsAcademy.org or email mailto:info@realangelsfoundation.org.

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4th Annual Moving Heels for Meals on Wheels 5K Road Race/Walk on April 28. Sponsors Needed.

Start Spring off on the right foot by supporting a great cause! Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) has announced the 4th Annual Moving Heels for Meals on Wheels 5K Road Race/Walk will be held Sunday, April 28, 2019 at 9 a.m. at Silver Lake Regional High School in Kingston, MA.

All funds raised support OCES’ vital Nutrition program.

Meals on Wheels is part of OCES’ Nutrition Program. OCES delivers 1,600 nutritious meals a day to older adults and individuals with disabilities living within 23 communities in greater Plymouth County. These “Meals on Wheels” are planned by a nutritionist, and with the help of hundreds of volunteers, are delivered either to individual homes or to Community Dining Sites, which provide older adults opportunities for social interaction. 

More than $11,000 was raised at last year’s Moving Heels for Meals on Wheels 5K for OCES’ Meals on Wheels program.

Sponsor Call

Sponsors are needed for this event. Several levels of sponsorship for businesses and individuals to consider range from Platinum Heel of $2,000 to Silver Heel sponsorship at $750, to Supportive Heel sponsorship at $250. In-kind sponsorships are also much appreciated.

To date, Moving Heels for Meals on Wheels 5K sponsors include: (Golden Heel sponsor) Anodyne Homemaker Services Corp; (Silver Heel) Best of Care, Inc.; (Bronze Heel) Home Health Resources, Inc. and The Mentor Network (Brockton Adult Day Health); and (Supportive Heel) Alert Sentry Group, LLC, Diman Laundry, Greater Boston Home Health Care Services, Inc., Law Office of Paula M. P. Schlosser, and United Health Care Community Plan.

About the Race 

The race begins at 9:00 a.m. at Silver Lake Regional High School, 260 Pembroke Street in Kingston, MA 02364. Online registration for the Moving Heels for Meals on Wheels 5K is $25 for adults; $20 for students age 11-18; $15 for children (age 10 and under) and children in carriages ride free. Runners/walkers registered by Tuesday, April 16th will receive a race T-shirt. 

“Essentially, the cost of one registration for the 5K Road Race/Walk helps cover the cost of one individual receiving a daily meal for almost a week,” explained Nicole Long, CEO. “OCES is committed to this vital program which ensures that older adults and individuals with disabilities continue to receive our Meals on Wheels deliveries.”

To register for the 5K or to become a sponsor, visit  https://www.ocesma.org/5k/

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 26 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and people with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.

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Old Colony Elder Services Announces New Supportive Housing Liaison Program in Abington

OCES Supportive House Team (Left to Right):  Sydney Rimmer, Congregate Housing Coordinator; Melany Carvalho, Supportive Housing Specialist; Marylew Lis, Supportive Housing Specialist; Elizabeth Weiner, Housing Programs Manager; Jillian Brown, Congregate Housing Coordinator; and Jeffrey Olivier, Supportive Housing Specialist

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency proudly serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County, has announced a new Supportive Housing Liaison Program in Abington, MA.

Elizabeth Weiner, Housing Programs Manager at OCES oversees this program along with all of OCES’ other supportive and congregate housing programs. 

“OCES works with the housing authority in Abington to support both the residents and housing management,” explained Weiner. “Supportive Housing Programs are designed to create a community environment which allows residents to age in place.”

The goal of supportive housing is to integrate community resources, information, and services for the individuals who reside at a particular local housing authority site, and essentially, to enrich the lives of those residents.

Through the Supportive Housing Liaison Program, a specialist from OCES’ housing team conducts an assessment to determine the specific needs of every resident residing within the Abington Housing Authority.  All residents at these sites are eligible for information and referral services, case management assistance, and access to social or educational programs. Depending on eligibility, many other services are available as well.

For more information about OCES’ Housing Programs, visit www.ocesma.org or call OCES at 508-584-1561.

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 26 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and people with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org. 

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