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$110 Million Federal Grant Will Increase Community First Options For Older Adults and People with Disabilities

A $110.6 million grant has been awarded from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to help the Office of Health and Human Services (HHS) expand and enhance the Commonwealth’s community-based long term services and supports system for elders and individuals with disabilities. Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional agency that serves older adults and individuals with disabilities, is pleased with this news because the much needed funding will help ensure long-term home care needs will be addressed.

The grant award comes from CMS’s Balancing Incentive Program (BIP), a part of the Affordable Care Act, which provides enhanced federal funds to states that enrich their long-term care system. States participating in BIP are required to spend at least 50 percent of their federal funding on non-institutional community-based, Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) by September 2015.

According to Mass Home Care, the Community First/Olmstead Plan of 2007 established a road map that has been guiding the development of increased access to person-centered information and self-directed services for people in need of LTSS. BIP provides another major opportunity toward full access for all populations in need of LTSS.

“We applaud the Administration for expanding its Community First effort, while at the same time, increasing federal matching funds to the state,” said Mass Home Care Executive Director Al Norman. “Elders want a chance to live out their days at home. BIP will provide more funding to honor that desire.”

“This funding is of great significance as it will support the dignity and independence of elders and people with disabilities by helping them receive essential services to maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization,” said Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of Old Colony Elder Services.

Per Mass Home Care, the Governor’s FY’15 budget proposal also includes a $16.9 million expansion of the Commonwealth’s Home Care Program and $1.3 million to expand the Supportive Housing Program from 31 to 41 sites, to allow public housing residents to age in place in an “assisted-living” environment. Over the last decade, Massachusetts has demonstrated a 62 percent increase in length of stay in Elder Affairs Community First programs, helping eliminate or delay long-term facility placement for thousands of residents.

“This funding is an affirmation of our commitment to making community-based services a reality for our most vulnerable residents. I thank the Obama Administration for their partnership in providing our seniors and individuals with disabilities the support they need to live comfortably,” said Governor Deval Patrick in a Mass Home Care press release.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 communities 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. OCES’ 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 173 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit 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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Nonotuck Resource Associates, Inc. hires Talainya Thames for its Kingston, MA office

KINGSTON, MA…

For more than 40 years Nonotuck Resource Associates has helped transform the lives of hundreds of people with intellectual and physical disabilities by offering the personalized service of shared living and Adult Family Care.  The ever increasing demand from families for these non-traditional, value based services recently led Nonotuck to add staff at several of its regional offices.

Talainya Thames is one of Nonotuck. A case manager, she works out of Nonotuck’s office in Kingston, Massachusetts. An experienced case manager and dormitory attendant, Thames, a resident of Malden, Massachusetts, will spearhead the opening of Nonotuck’s Boston office later this summer.

“We are delighted to welcome Talainya to the Nonotuck family and look forward to expanding her role as we open our Boston office,” said George Fleischner, executive director of Nonotuck Resource Associates, Inc. “Our regional offices cover quite a bit of territory in several parts of Massachusetts. As we continue to grow, it’s critical that we bring in professionals of Talainya’s caliber to continue to offer the high level of service that the families we work with are accustomed to.”

Nonotuck offers Shared Living, Adult Family Care and Day Services for families who choose to care for their loved ones suffering with Alzheimer’s, autism, brain injuries, cancer, muscular dystrophy and other intellectual and physical disabilities at home. Based in Florence, Nonotuck has offices in Central and Western Massachusetts as well as on Boston’s South Shore and on Cape Cod. An office in the Boston area will open later in 2013.

For complete information on Nonotuck Resource Associates, including office locations, you can visit www.nonotuck.com or call Nonotuck’s main office at 413-586-5266 x104.

Caregiving with Love –  Nonotuck Resource Associates, Inc.

Founded in 1972 by a group of parents who had the courage and foresight to seek community care for their loved ones, Nonotuck has since helped transform the lives of hundreds of people with intellectual and physical disabilities by providing the personalized service of Shared Living and Adult Family Care.  Each day Nonotuck addresses the ever increasing demand from families for these non-traditional, value based, in home services with love and care.  If you are interested in finding out more about this unique service and our locations please visit www.nonotuck.com or call 413-586-5256 x 104.

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Nonotuck Resource Associates, Inc. continues growth with multiple new hires

FLORENCE, MA…

For over 40 years Nonotuck Resource Associates has helped transform the lives of hundreds of people with intellectual and physical disabilities by offering the personalized service of shared living and Adult Family Care.  To meet the ever increasing demand from families for these non-traditional, value based services Nonotuck addressed this need by recently welcoming several new key staff members: John “Jack” Kelleher, Ashley Beauregard and Jared Bourassa.

Kelleher, an Orange, MA resident, will serve as the director of human resources. In this newly created position, he will work out of Nonotuck’s Florence, Mass. headquarters. Kelleher has worked as a human resource professional for not-for-profit organizations for the past 20 years.

Beauregard, a Hubbardston, MA resident, will work out Nonotuck’s Auburn office in the Adult Family Care program. She holds a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Fitchburg State University. Beauregard has experience in delivering holistic care through the use of nursing skills, assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention and evaluation.

Bourassa, a Lenox resident, will serve as the assistant program director in Nonotuck’s Lee office. Bourassa brings a legal perspective to the agency, having worked as a paralegal and being chosen as an intern at the US Supreme Court. Bourassa earned a juris doctorate from Cardoza University Law School.

“We are delighted to welcome Jack, Ashley and Jared to the Nonotuck family,” said George Fleischner, executive director of Nonotuck Resource Associates, Inc. “The growing demand for our services has created tremendous growth in our organization. We are fortunate to be able to bring professionals of their caliber into the fold.”

Nonotuck offers Shared Living, Adult Family Care and Day Services for families who choose to care for their loved ones suffering with Alzheimer’s, autism, brain injuries, cancer, muscular dystrophy and other intellectual and physical disabilities at home. Based in Florence, Nonotuck has offices in Central and Western Massachusetts as well as on Boston’s South Shore and on Cape Cod. An office in the Boston area will open later in 2013.

For complete information on Nonotuck Resource Associates, including office locations, you can visit www.nonotuck.com or call Nonotuck’s main office at 413-586-5266 x104.

Caregiving with Love –  Nonotuck Resource Associates, Inc.

Founded in 1972 by a group of parents who had the courage and foresight to seek community care for their loved ones, Nonotuck has since helped transform the lives of hundreds of people with intellectual and physical disabilities by providing the personalized service of Shared Living and Adult Family Care.  Each day Nonotuck addresses the ever increasing demand from families for these non-traditional, value based, in home services with love and care.  If you are interested in finding out more about this unique service and our locations please visit www.nonotuck.com or call 413-586-5256 x 104.

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Old Colony Elder Services Announces Class for Family Caregivers Beginning May 2nd

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional elder services agency serving seniors, their families and caregivers throughout greater Brockton and Plymouth county, is offering a “Powerful Tools For Caregivers” six-week educational program for family caregivers.

Designed to help family caregivers take care of themselves while caring for a relative or friend, the class meets on Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Stoughton Council on Aging located at 110 Rockland Street. The class begins May 2, 2012 and concludes on June 6, 2012.

There is no fee to attend.

Family caregivers who are caring for a parent, spouse, friend or someone who lives at home, in assisted living/nursing home or across the country can benefit from this class.

Attendees will learn how to reduce stress; communicate more effectively; take care of themselves; reduce guilt, anger and depression; set goals and problem-solve. They will also receive a complimentary copy of the Caregiver Helpbook.

Class size is limited and registration is required. Call Rochelle Sugarman, Family Caregiver Support Program Supervisor and Class Leader, to register (508) 584-1561 ext 312.

This educational program is presented by OCES Family Caregiver Support Program and is sponsored by Stoughton Council on Aging.

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. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org

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OCES to hold Alzheimer Care Seminar for Family Caregivers on Friday, January 27

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 announced that an “Essential Skills for Alzheimer Care” seminar will be held at the Kingston Senior Center, located at 30 Evergreen Street, on Friday, January 27, 2012 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
There is no cost to attend.

Presented by Jill Seiler-Moon of the Alzheimer’s Association, the “Essential Skills for Alzheimer Care” seminar is geared towards the family caregiver who wishes to learn successful ways to start conversations and activities with a loved one who has mid-to-later stage dementia. This is the first in a series of new skills-based programs specifically for family caregivers.

Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. To register, call the Alzheimer’s Association at 800-272-3900 or visit the website at www.alz.org/MANH.

This seminar is funded by an Administration on Aging Grant administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs. OCES’ Family Caregiver Support Program presents this seminar in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association.

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.

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

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Old Colony Elder Services Offers two Family Caregiver series beginning in July

Old Colony Elder Services, the regional elder services agency headquartered in Brockton and serving 23 towns in the South Shore and Brockton area, has announced two free Family Caregiver series beginning in July to be held at the Brockton Council on Aging located at 10 Father Kenney Way.

Old Colony Elder Services’ Family Caregiver Support Program will be holding two events of interest to caregivers at the Brockton Council on Aging, 10 Father Kenney Way, Brockton. The Powerful Tools for Caregivers series, a six week educational series will begin on July 12th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This program is designed to give family caregivers the skills and tools to better cope with the demands of caregiving. Caregivers will learn methods to reduce stress, anger and depression, while improving communication skills, decision making and self care. The series is free for family caregivers and a copy of the Caregiver Handbook will be provided. Participants are asked to bring a bag lunch. Registration is required; please call Rochelle Sugarman, Family Caregiver Support Program Supervisor, to register or for more information. 508-584-1561, extension 312.

A new Grandparent Support Group will be held at the Brockton Council on Aging, 10 Father Kenney Way, Brockton on Wednesday, July 20th from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This is a monthly support group for grandparents raising grandchildren and will offer grandparents a time and place to share information as well as successes and strategies for handling this very challenging responsibility. A permanent schedule will be established at the second meeting. Interested grandparents are asked to call Rochelle Sugarman, Family Caregiver Support Program Supervisor, for more information. 508-584-1561, extension 312.

The Powerful Tools for Caregivers series and Grandparent Support Group are presented by Old Colony Elder Services Family Caregiver Support Program. Rochelle Sugarman, Family Caregiver Support Program Supervisor and Christine McLaren will facilitate both groups.

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

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