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Old Colony Elder Services Receives Generous Grant from Massachusetts LifeSpan Respite Coalition and the Administration on Aging

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) the Brockton based regional elder services agency serving seniors and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Brockton and Plymouth county, has been awarded the Massachusetts LifeSpan Respite Grant of $10,000.

OCES’ Family Caregiver Support Program was one of 10 recipients of a $100,000 grant funded through the Massachusetts LifeSpan Respite Coalition and the Administration on Aging. The Massachusetts LifeSpan Respite Grant enables OCES to provide much needed, quality respite support to family caregivers, including spouses, adult children caring for parents and grandparents caring for grandchildren.

Respite services provide family caregivers a needed break from their ongoing responsibilities. Services are customized to provide quality individualized respite options that will meet each caregiver’s needs. For example, one week of Adult Day Health Care can be provided for a caregiver’s parent suffering from Alzheimer’s; one week of camp can be provided for a caregiver’s grandchild.

This essential grant helps local family caregivers who aren’t eligible to receive public funding assistance and who could not otherwise afford respite care for their loved ones.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 towns in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The organization’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living.

The agency has 171 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Tufts Health Plan Foundation Awards Grant to Old Colony Elder Services For Caregiver Workshops

For the third consecutive year, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) the Brockton based regional elder services agency serving seniors and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Brockton and Plymouth county, has been awarded a generous grant from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation.

The $6,054 grant from Tufts Health Plan Foundation will fund OCES’ successful “It’s About Time” free workshops for caregivers. The workshops teach caregivers techniques and strategies for managing time and reducing stress. Topics typically covered in the workshops inculde meal preparation, time management and relaxation techniques.

“The ‘It’s About Time’ workshops teach caregivers the much-needed strategies which help them to avoid burnout and remain physically and emotionally healthy while they provide essential care-giving services. We are very fortunate to receive the grant from Tufts Health Plan Foundation,” noted Diana DiGiorgi, OCES’ Executive Director.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 towns in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The organization’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living.

The agency has 169 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Old Colony Elder Services new pet food grant helps elders

Read this great article by Sue Scheible of The Patriot Ledger:
A GOOD AGE: Helping elders feed their pets as well as themselves
http://www.patriotledger.com/lifestyle/50_plus/x997482083/A-GOOD-AGE-Elders-pets-get-help-from-distant-benefactor

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Old Colony Elder Services Offers Diabetes Self-Management Program for Seniors to be held at Duxbury COA

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), a private, non-profit agency designated as an Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) serving seniors and individuals with disabilities throughout the greater Brockton and Plymouth county areas, will offer a six week “Healthy Eating” Diabetes Self-Management Program at the Duxbury Council on Aging (COA), located at 10 Mayflower Street.

The Healthy Eating Diabetes Self-Management Program will be held on Mondays, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., from July 22 to August 26, 2013. As diabetes affects seniors at a much higher rate than younger adults, the program is geared towards seniors and their caregivers. Dorothy Slack, RN, Wellness Program Manager, and Donna Marie Forand, Outreach and Education Specialist, from OCES, will lead the program.

The Healthy Eating Diabetes Self-Management Program is an evidence-based program developed at Stanford University designed to help individuals develop a greater awareness of their role in disease management. The Healthy Eating program is for the newly diagnosed and talks about the impact of diabetes on their lifestyle. Attendees will learn about common problems with diabetes, reading food labels, enhancing communication, advocating for themselves and creating an action plan.

“The goal of the Healthy Eating Diabetes Self-Management Program is to help people choose healthy eating behaviors they would like to follow and to design strategies for incorporating these behaviors into daily life. Setting weekly goals, making an action plan, giving feedback and sharing are a significant part of each workshop session,” explained Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

There is no cost to attend this program. Registration is required. To register, contact the Duxbury COA at 781-934-5774.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 towns in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The organization’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living.

The agency has 169 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Keeping Pets & their People Together – Old Colony Elder Services Receives Pet Food Distribution Grant

Old Colony Elder Services’ (OCES), a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has recently received a Pet Food Distribution Grant from Banfield Charitable Trust.

Low-income seniors are among America’s millions struggling with hunger and food insecurity. Many seniors and individuals with disabilities receive nutritious daily meals through OCES’ Meals On Wheels program. In an effort to keep seniors and their beloved pets well nourished, OCES now also provides nutrition support for their pets.

For nearly a decade, Banfield Charitable Trust has been working to keep pets and their people together. The Banfield Grant enables OCES to purchase pet food and distribute to low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities, so that they can continue to care for their pets in their home. Essentially, OCES’ Meals On Wheels recipients are assured nutritious daily meals AND now their pets can receive nutritional support.

“What we have found is that elders will often feed their pets before they feed themselves. We’re working to identify and meet the needs of low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities who have pets,” explained Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

To learn more about the program, contact OCES’ Nutrition Department at (508) 584-1561.

About Banfield Charitable Trust

Banfield Charitable Trust provides grants to nonprofit organizations and nonprofit hospices to support their efforts to keep pets and people together. Pet food distribution program grants provide financial support to nonprofit organizations and Meals On Wheels Associations of America (MOWAA) members to fund expenses associated with starting or maintaining a pet food distribution program. For more information, visit www.banfieldcharitabletrust.org.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 towns in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The organization’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living.

The agency has 169 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Old Colony Elder Services Promotes Glenda DeVincentis, LSW to MassHealth Community Programs Director

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), a private, non-profit agency designated as an Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) serving seniors and individuals with disabilities throughout the greater Brockton and Plymouth county areas, has promoted Glenda DeVincentis, a Licensed Social Worker, to MassHealth Community Programs Director.

In her new role, Ms. DeVincentis will be a part of the Senior Team and report directly to the Executive Director, Diana DiGiorgi.

Previously, Ms. DeVincentis was the Senior Care Options Program Director where she was responsible for overseeing staff who provide care management for 1350 individuals enrolled in three health plans: Senior Whole Health, United Healthcare Community Plan, and Fallon Community Health Plan. Ms. DeVincentis has worked for OCES since 1989 in various roles of increasing responsibility, from Care Manager in the Home Care Program to Coordinator in the Congregate Housing Program, Care Advisor in the Family Caregiver Support Program to Senior Care Options Director.

In her new role, Ms. DeVincentis will oversee the Senior Care Options Program, the Personal Care Attendant Program and the Adult Family Care Program in tandem with the supervisors and managers of these programs. These programs seek to ensure that participants can remain living safely in the community as long as possible.

Ms. DeVincentis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Bridgewater State University. She is a Licensed Social Worker and also volunteers for OCES delivering Meals On Wheels to local seniors. A native of Brockton, Ms. DeVincentis resides in Taunton, MA.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 towns in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The organization’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living.

The agency has 169 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Old Colony Elder Services Recognizes Businesses Supporting Emergency Fund in 2013

Krystal Brig, Branch Manager at AAA Southern New England in Plymouth presents Lucille Dallaire, Development Director at OCES, a donation towards OCES’ Emergency Fund Program.

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), a private, non-profit agency designated as an Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) serving the greater Brockton and Plymouth county areas, has received a total of $8,385 in donations to their Emergency Fund from the business community.

OCES would like to thank the following companies for their generous donations to the Emergency Fund, which provides funds for food, fuel and medications to elders and individuals with disabilities who are on a fixed income and in a crisis situation:

AAA Southern New England, Affinity Home Health Care, Inc., Anodyne Homemaker Services Corp., Apothecare South Shore, Attentive Home Care, Inc., BC Tent & Awning Co., Inc., Best of Care, Inc., Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Bridgewater Savings Bank, Brockton Visiting Nurse Association, Crescent Credit Union, Cushman Insurance, Duval’s Pharmacy Inc., Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., Fitzgerald Appraisals, Geriatric Home Health Care, Inc., Greenlife, Inc., HarborOne Credit Union, Home Health Resources, Inc., HomeWatch Caregivers, K Cashman Group, Inc., Liberty Printing, Lindley Acquisition Corp. d/b/a Lindley Food Service, LiteControl, PMG Physician Associates, Right At Home, Robert Berks, Attorney at Law, Senior Whole Health, Shanahan Drywall & Plastering, LLC, South Coastal Bank, Tedeschi Food Shops, Trufant Real Estate, Inc., Walker Clay, Inc. and W.R.S. Painting.

Last year, OCES’ Emergency Fund helped 253 low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities remain in their homes, including a 60 year-old woman who couldn’t pay for heating oil who stated “This is the first time in my 60 years on earth I’ve needed help. OCES was like Angels from Heaven. There is no possible way I could have made it through the winter without OCES. Thank you so very, very much.” Historically, the number of elders and individuals with disabilities in need greatly increases during the winter months, when home heating costs rise as the temperature drops.

“Our Emergency Fund enables us to meet the needs of elders and individuals with disabilities who are in crisis or emergency situations that threaten their health or living status and cannot be addressed through the use of any other resource. These needs include fuel assistance, utility bill payments, short-term emergency shelter, medical transport, medications, air conditioners for individuals with breathing difficulties, hot water heaters, food and more. We are very grateful for the generosity of these businesses that have come to the aid of needy seniors and individuals with disabilities in our communities,” noted Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 towns in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The organization’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living.

The agency has 169 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Paul Raia, PhD Speaks About “Alzheimer’s Perfect Storm” at Old Colony Elder Services

May is Older Americans Month and the Administration on Aging (AoA), an agency of the U.S. Administration for Community Living, has announced that this year’s theme is “Unleash the Power of Age”.

According to the AoA, “People across our nation are achieving remarkable things in later life. Many older adults are experts in their fields, have years of valuable experience, and are using that knowledge to improve the lives of others.”

In honor of Older Americans Month, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), a private, non-profit agency designated as an Aging Services Access Point (ASAP), hosted a talk by Paul Raia, PhD, an innovator and renowned expert in the field of dementia.

Dr. Raia spoke to OCES staff and board members about the “Alzheimer’s Perfect Storm”; he shared definitions and demographics, current research and Habilitation Therapy, an approach that he developed more than 20 years ago that is now accepted as the best standard of care.

Dr. Raia has been directing patient care and family support at the Alzheimer’s Association for over 22 years, and now serves as vice president of clinical programs at the MA/NH Chapter. He developed the Habilitation Therapy approach to dementia, which focuses on the patient’s emotions and their remaining capacities. As a frequent contributor to various publications and journals, Dr. Raia has written primarily on dementia as a treatable condition. He serves on the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and frequently appears as an expert on Alzheimer’s for television, radio and print news media. Dr. Raia has been recognized by several organizations for his distinguished service receiving awards from The Massachusetts Gerontology Association, the Massachusetts State Legislature, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Massachusetts Homecare Association.

“Dr. Raia is a pioneer in the field of dementia and we were very fortunate to have him as a guest speaker to share his vast knowledge of Alzheimer’s Disease, research and Habilitation Therapy,” noted Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 towns in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The organization’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living.

The agency has 169 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Old Colony Elder Services Announces Multi-Community “Mayors for Meals ” A Huge Success

Mayor Linda M. Balzotti delivered a meal to Diane Damon

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), a private, non-profit agency designated as an Aging Services Access Point (ASAP), recently held Mayors For Meals in the communities of Brockton, East Bridgewater, Plymouth and Stoughton.

Mayors For Meals is part of the Meals On Wheels Association of America’s March For Meals national campaign. Elected officials, law enforcement officers, Council On Aging (COA) Directors and OCES representatives from the four communities participated in the event to show their support for their community’s homebound and hungry seniors.

OCES’ Mayors For Meals event was held on Wednesday, March 20th in Brockton and Stoughton. Mayor Linda M. Balzotti and Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES, delivered noon-time meals to Brockton area seniors. Selectman John Anzivino, Karen Hall, Director of Stoughton COA and Courtney Niebauer, Nutrition Program Manager at OCES, delivered the meals in Stoughton.

On March 21st, Mayors For Meals was held in East Bridgewater. Police Chief John Cowan, Sergeant Steve Brown and Officer Tallitha Connor of East Bridgewater Police along with Nancy Hill, Director of East Bridgewater COA; Timothy Valentine, Assistant Executive Director of OCES; and Courtney Niebauer, Nutrition Program Manager of OCES, delivered the noon time meals.

Mayors For Meals was held on March 26th in Plymouth. Chairman of Plymouth Selectman Matt Muratore along with Constance DiLego, Director of Plymouth COA and Timothy Valentine, Assistant Executive Director of OCES, delivered the meals to Plymouth seniors.

“We’re very fortunate that many of our elected officials, law enforcement and COA Directors were able to participate in our Mayors For Meals event, which encompassed four communities,” said DiGiorgi.

She continued, “We have seniors who are homebound and unable to manage their grocery shopping or attend one of our congregate meal sites. The Meals On Wheels program is absolutely essential to them, as they would otherwise not get a nutritious daily meal. Furthermore, the daily social contact is crucial to check on the safety of seniors living alone.”

The Meals On Wheels program serves individuals age 60 and over. Both the Meals On Wheels program and the congregate meal sites rely on help from volunteers. For more information contact the OCES Nutrition Department at (508) 584-1561.

About Meals On Wheels Association of America

The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the only national association and network dedicated solely to ending senior hunger in America. MOWAA is the oldest and largest organization composed of and representing local, community-based Senior Nutrition Programs in all 50 states as well as the U.S. territories. MOWAA’s vision is to end senior hunger by 2020. To obtain more information about MOWAA or to locate a local Meals On Wheels program, visit the MOWAA website at www.mowaa.org.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 towns in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The organization’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living.

The agency has 169 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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