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Elder Agency Selling Calendars to Help Seniors in Crisis

In an effort to raise money for seniors in crisis situations, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional elder services agency serving elders, individuals with disabilities and caregivers in 23 towns in the Plymouth county and Brockton areas, is selling Fundraising Calendars for $5 each.

The Fundraising Calendars, which will offer cash prizes, are available now and may be purchased through January 2012. Proceeds from the calendars go towards OCES’ Emergency Assistance Program which will help with purchases such as food, fuel and medications for seniors who are on a fixed income and in a crisis situation.

A total of $1,750 in cash prizes will be awarded to Fundraising Calendar holders via daily random drawings to be held in February 2012. There will be one winner named per day and the cash prize values will vary. Winners will be notified by phone and winning numbers posted online at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

To obtain a Fundraising Calendar, contact OCES at (508) 584-1561 or send an email to LDallaire@oldcolonyelderservices.org.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is a private, non-profit corporation designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver Support; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services and Home Care.

OCES elders, individuals with disabilities and caregivers in 23 towns in Southeastern Massachusetts: Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization.

The agency has 157 employees. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org

Elder Agency Selling Calendars to Help Seniors in CrisisRead More

Old Colony Elder Services Receives Grant from Tufts Health Plan Foundation to Fund Caregiver Program

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) the Brockton based regional elder services agency serving seniors, their families and caregivers throughout greater Brockton and Plymouth county, has recently been awarded a grant from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation. The $3,869 grant will be applied to OCES Family Caregiver Support Program’s “It’s About Time” free workshops for caregivers.

“We are fortunate to have been awarded this significant grant from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation. Old Colony Elder Services and the Tufts Health Plan Foundation have a very similar mission – to provide programs and services that support healthy aging and promote the physical, mental and emotional well-being of seniors,” said Diana DiGiorgi, OCES’ Executive Director. “The ‘It’s About Time’ workshops for which we have received this grant, provide support and assistance to caregivers who are caring for seniors at home. The workshops are designed to help caregivers avoid burnout and remain physically and emotionally healthy while providing essential caregiving services.”

Three “It’s About Time” workshops will be offered in partnership with Councils on Aging in Marshfield, Plymouth and Brockton. The workshops will teach caregivers techniques and strategies to manage their time and reduce stress.

The first workshop will be held on November 3, 2011, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Marshfield Council on Aging, located at 230 Webster Street in Marshfield. There will be three speakers: Shawn Smith, RD, Nutrition Director at OCES will discuss meal preparation; Sharon Fisher of Come to Order Professional Organizing Services will discuss time management and Dee Lyon, RYT of Real Life Yoga will share relaxation techniques. (Dates for the second and third workshop TBA.)

Attendees will receive lunch and a quick-meal cookbook. There is no cost to attend, but class size is limited. Caregivers may register for the workshops by contacting Rochelle Sugarman at OCES
(508) 584-1561 ext 312.

About the Tufts Foundation
The Tufts Health Plan Foundation funds over $2 million annually in grants to Massachusetts and Rhode Island nonprofit organizations that provide a range of programs and services that address healthy aging. For more information, visit tuftshealthplanfoundation.org.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is a private, non-profit corporation designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver Support; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services and Home Care.

OCES serves elders, their families and caregivers in 23 towns in Southeastern Massachusetts:
Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization.

In 2009, OCES was honored with the Metro-South Chamber of Commerce’s “Economic Impact Award”. The agency has 157 employees. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org

Old Colony Elder Services Receives Grant from Tufts Health Plan Foundation to Fund Caregiver ProgramRead More

Old Colony Elder Services appoints Kelly Walsh as Geriatric Support Services Coordinator

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), a non-profit Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) which serves residents in 23 towns in the greater Brockton and Plymouth areas, has recently appointed Kelly Walsh as Geriatric Support Services Coordinator.

In her new role as Geriatric Support Services Coordinator, Ms. Walsh will assist elders in gaining and retaining their ability to live independently in their own homes. She will conduct home visits and assessments as well as coordinate the necessary long term support services that will help ensure that elders remain living safely and independently at home in the community. Ms. Walsh will also be responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of the services provided and maintaining communication between nurses and the community resource coordinators.

Ms. Walsh recently graduated from Bridgewater State College and holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work. Her experience includes six years serving as a Sales Representative for Jordan’s Furniture in Avon.

Ms. Walsh is a native and resident of Brockton.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver Support; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services and Home Care.

OCES serves elders, their families and caregivers in 23 towns in Southeastern Massachusetts:

Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization.

In 2009, OCES was honored with the Metro-South Chamber of Commerce’s “Economic Impact Award”. The agency has 140 employees. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org

Old Colony Elder Services appoints Kelly Walsh as Geriatric Support Services CoordinatorRead More

Read Seth Jacobson’s article “Proposed cuts will not affect South Shore seniors’ emergency fund”

Read more about Old Colony Elder Services Emergency Fund and the $15.5 million in cuts to MassHealth services – http://bit.ly/gtyQdB

Read Seth Jacobson’s article “Proposed cuts will not affect South Shore seniors’ emergency fund”Read More

Old Colony Elder Services Needs Emergency Fund Sponsors

Last year, through its Emergency Fund, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) helped 202 low–income seniors remain in their homes. These seniors ranged from 60 to 93 years old and most of their needs were fuel, medical transportation and utility bills. The number of elders needing emergency assistance has increased greatly this year and OCES is seeking sponsors.

OCES’ Emergency Fund provides assistance to meet the needs of elders in crisis or emergency situations that threaten their health or living status and cannot be addressed through the use of any other resource. In other words, there is no other funding source or agency available to address the need identified. These needs include fuel assistance; new stoves/oil burners; utility bill payments; short-term emergency shelter; medical transport; medications; air conditioners for individuals with breathing difficulties; hot water heaters; plumbing, food and more.

According to Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES, “It is through the generous donations of individuals and businesses that OCES is able to continue to provide critical services to elders in the community who are most at risk. As we begin a new year on the heels of ‘Blizzard 2010’ with a growing number of elders in crisis situations, please consider sponsoring our Emergency Fund.”

Examples of elders who have received assistance from OCES include:

  • A 75–year–old single female living alone in her own home on a fixed income whose hot water heater was leaking and needed to be replaced. She could not afford to pay for the entire replacement. The cost to replace the hot water heater was $900. She was only able to pay $300 towards the new heater. OCES’ Emergency Funds assisted her with the balance.
  • A 63–year–old female, living alone in her own home and suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, neuropathy, anxiety and depression and who has a history of stroke. She lives on fixed income and was in need of fuel. OCES’ Emergency Funds helped provide her with oil delivery.
  • An 80–year-old woman living with her spouse in their own home on a fixed income. They were in need of a furnace replacement, but did not have the funds to pay for it. They received funding assistance from two other resources to help cover the cost, but not the total amount. OCES’ Emergency Funds were used to help pay for the balance on a new furnace.

Historically, almost half of all the Emergency Funds dispersed have assisted elders with fuel/heating and plumbing.

Donations may be made to:

Old Colony Elder Services

144 Main Street

Brockton, MA 02301

Attn: Emergency Fund

Old Colony Elder Services provides a number of programs to assist seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. Although these programs are partially supported by government funding, the agency’s Emergency Fund, a fund specifically established to meet the needs of elders in crisis or emergency situations, is funded by individual and corporate sponsors.

For questions about the Emergency Fund, please contact Lucille Dallaire at

OCES (508) 584-1561.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver Support; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services and Home Care.Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.  The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization. In 2009, OCES was honored with the Metro-South Chamber of Commerce’s “Economic Impact Award”. The agency has 140 employees. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org

OCES serves elders, their families and caregivers in 23 towns in Southeastern Massachusetts:

Old Colony Elder Services Needs Emergency Fund SponsorsRead More

Old Colony Elder Services Announces “Stress & The Caregiver” Seminar on November 4th

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) will hold a “Stress & The Caregiver” seminar on Thursday, November 4th at 7 p.m. at the Kingston Public Library, 6 Green Street in Kingston. OCES is an Aging Services Access Point headquartered in Brockton and serves seniors and caregivers in 23 towns south of Boston.

This free “Stress & The Caregiver” seminar will be led by Rochelle Sugarman, Family Caregiver Support Program Supervisor at OCES. This seminar offers education and guidance to help caregivers better manage stress.

To RSVP or for questions, contact Rochelle Sugarman at 508-584-1561.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services; Home Care and more.

OCES offers these programs in the towns of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization.

In 2009, OCES was honored with the Metro-South Chamber of Commerce’s “Economic Impact Award”. The agency has 140 employees. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

Old Colony Elder Services Announces “Stress & The Caregiver” Seminar on November 4thRead More

Old Colony Elder Services To Hold Disease Self-Management Program for Elders & Caregivers Beginning October 18th

Arthritis, diabetes and heart disease are illnesses and chronic conditions that affect seniors at a much higher rate than younger adults. One in three people over the age of 65 experience a fall each year. Two out of 10 people over the age of 60 have diabetes. 70 percent of Americans die from a chronic disease each year.

In light of this, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) is helping seniors take charge of their own health through the My Life, My Health Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), which is a community workshop designed to give people with chronic conditions (such as arthritis, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma, etc.) and/or their caregivers the knowledge and skills needed to take a more active role in their health care.

The first six-week session begins Monday, October 18 from 10 a.m. To 12:30 p.m. and will be held at the Brockton Council on Aging, located at 10 Father Kenney Way in Brockton. The program is facilitated by Old colony Elder Services’ staff who are trained leaders dealing with a chronic disease themselves or are living with chronic disease.

The workshops teach seniors how to deal with issues such as frustration, pain, isolation, and fatigue. Seniors learn how to exercise to improve strength and endurance, and how to improve nutrition by healthier eating. They will also learn how to set goals, use medications properly and speak effectively with doctors or other health care professionals.

The My Life, My Health program is FREE and lunch will be provided each week. Seating is limited.

To sign up for the program, contact Janice Fitzgerald at 508-580-7811.

Dorothy Slack, Rochelle Sugarman, Lauren Murphy and Rick Alvarnaz of Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) have been certified as Leaders through the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), My Life, My Health sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Duxbury, Middleborough and New Bedford Senior Centers. OCES now has a License from Stanford University to present 10 CDSMP.

“Disease self-management programs emphasize the senior’s role in managing their illness and building self-confidence so they can be successful in adopting healthier behaviors. By empowering seniors, we are helping to ensure that they are able to continue living at home as opposed to living in an institution,” explained Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES. She continued, “We would like to thank the Brockton Council on Aging for sharing their space with us so we can run this essential program.”

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services; Home Care and more.

OCES offers these programs in the towns of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization.

In 2009, OCES was honored with the Metro-South Chamber of Commerce’s “Economic Impact Award”. The agency has 140 employees. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

Old Colony Elder Services To Hold Disease Self-Management Program for Elders & Caregivers Beginning October 18thRead More