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Christine McLaren named Community Programs Manager for Old Colony Elder Services

C McLarenChristine McLaren has been named Community Programs Manager for Old Colony Elder Services (OCES).  In her new capacity, Mrs. McLaren will now manage both the organization’s Nutrition and Healthy Living Programs.

OCES’ Nutrition program provides over 34,000 nutritionally sound and satisfying meals per month to older adults (60 plus) and individuals with disabilities in Southeastern Massachusetts. The program includes 23 congregate meal sites at Councils on Aging and public housing communities plus the delivery of meals for those who cannot attend the sites.

OCES’ Healthy Living program provides evidence-based workshops in both English and Spanish to teach individuals about the prevention and management of chronic diseases and other health concerns. These workshops are held throughout OCES’ service area.

With five years of tenure with OCES, Mrs. McLaren had previously worked 20 years in the property and casualty insurance industry in operations and marketing.  “I wanted to segue into the helping profession,” noted Mrs. McLaren who started as a volunteer long-term care ombudsman.  She added, “My expanded position at OCES allows me to have a positive impact on many older adults and to enjoy a fast paced environment.”

Mrs. McLaren concluded, “Providing tasty and nutritious food to older adults is an on-going challenge and we work closely with older adults, nutritionists and registered dieticians to obtain feedback, try new recipes and keep our menus interesting and appealing.”

A Canton, MA resident, Mrs. McLaren earned a BA in Liberal Arts from Middlebury College and a Certificate in Gerontology from the University of Massachusetts/Boston.

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 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 179 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 the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Old Colony Elder Services Sponsors 11th Annual LGBT Senior Pride Tea Dance

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional agency serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Brockton and Plymouth County, is a sponsor for the “11th Annual Pride Tea Dance for LGBT Seniors and Their Friends”, on Sunday, June 8, 2014.

The Pride Tea Dance for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Seniors and Their Friends will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn at 1200 Beacon Street in Brookline. The LGBT Senior Pride Coalition is hosting the event during Boston Pride Week, June 6 to June 15, 2014.

“OCES supports this event and is striving to create greater awareness of this population. OCES aspires to support everyone without exception,” noted Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

Tickets are $12 each and may be purchased at the Pride Tea Dance on June 8th.

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 179 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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Old Colony Elder Services Announces Family Caregiver Workshop on June 12th in Whitman

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional agency serving older adults, individuals with disabilities and caregivers, is holding an “It’s About Time” workshop on Thursday, June 12, 2014 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Whitman Council on Aging, 16 Hayden Avenue in Whitman.

The “It’s About Time” workshop is a free event for family caregivers of older adults and grandparents raising grandchildren. Caregivers are taught techniques and strategies for managing their time and reducing stress. Topics covered include meal preparation, time management and relaxation techniques.

This workshop is offered in partnership with the Whitman Council on Aging. Funding is provided through a generous grant from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation.

“The ‘It’s About Time’ workshop teaches caregivers the much-needed strategies which help them to avoid burnout and remain physically and emotionally healthy while they provide essential caregiving services,” noted Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director at OCES.

There is no cost to attend the workshop and a companion book will be provided free of charge.  Attendees will also enjoy complimentary lunch and raffles. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required.

To register, contact Rochelle Sugarman, Outreach and Education Specialist in the Family Caregiver Support Program at OCES (508) 584-1561 extension 312.

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 179 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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Old Colony Elder Services Promotes Elizabeth DosSantos to Senior Care Options Program Manager

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional agency serving older adults and individuals with disabilities, has promoted Elizabeth DosSantos to Senior Care Options (SCO) Program Manager.

In her new role, Ms. DosSantos will oversee the SCO Supervisors working with the Geriatric Support Services Coordinators. She will be responsible for training, ensuring compliance, and clarifying procedures among other managerial duties. The SCO program seeks to ensure that elder participants can remain living safely in the community as long as possible. As a certified interpreter in Portuguese and Cape Verdean languages, Ms. DosSantos is a valuable member of the SCO department and OCES management.

Prior to OCES, Ms. DosSantos worked part-time as a Residential Counselor at BAMSI in Brockton for 1.5 years. She began working at OCES in 2006 as an intern. In 2007, she was hired as Geriatric Support Services Coordinator and, in 2010, was promoted to SCO Program Supervisor.

Ms. DosSantos, a Brockton resident, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Bridgewater State University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Healthcare Management at Cambridge College. She is also pursuing her license in social work (LSW).

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.

Old Colony Elder Services Promotes Elizabeth DosSantos to Senior Care Options Program ManagerRead More

Old Colony Elder Services Offers Calcium & Osteoporosis Workshop on May 12th

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional agency serving older adults, individuals with disabilities and caregivers, is offering a Calcium & Osteoporosis Workshop on Monday, May 12, 2014 at 12:30 p.m. at Belair Towers, 105 Belair St. in Brockton.

This free workshop will cover the connections between calcium and osteoporosis and will include such topics as: osteoporosis and what it means to you; how to read food labels; Vitamin D and bones; calcium consumption and the foods you eat.

The workshop will be led by Donna-Marie Forand, Outreach and Education Specialist at OCES. Ms. Forand is a Master Trainer in Evidence-Based Programs, including Chronic Disease Self Management, Diabetes Self Management, Chronic Pain Self Management and Healthy Eating.

For more information or to register for this free workshop call Linda Marshall-Bibby at Belair Towers, 508-427-9166.

If you are interested in holding this or other workshops at your site, contact Donna-Marie Forand at 508-584-1561, extension 237.

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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Old Colony Elder Services Announces Lower Sodium Workshop on May 19th

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional agency serving older adults, individuals with disabilities and caregivers, will hold a workshop entitled “Sodium and the Effects On Your Blood Pressure” on Monday, May 19, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at the Brockton Council on Aging (COA), 10 Father Kenney Way in Brockton.

This free workshop will cover such topics as:  how to measure your blood pressure; what are some causes of high blood pressure; what foods are high sodium; and why reading food labels is important.

The workshop will be led by Donna-Marie Forand, Outreach and Education Specialist at OCES. Ms. Forand is a Master Trainer in Evidence-Based Programs, including Chronic Disease Self Management, Diabetes Self Management, Chronic Pain Self Management and Healthy Eating.

For more information or to register for this free workshop call Michelle Brace at the Brockton COA, 508-580-7811.

If you are interested in holding this or other workshops at your site, contact Donna-Marie Forand at 508-584-1561, extension 237.

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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Old Colony Elder Services Receives Grant from Eastern Bank for the Money Management Program

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional elder services agency serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Brockton and Plymouth County, has recently received a $10,000 grant for their Money Management Program (MMP) from Eastern Bank.

MMP volunteers assist older adults and individuals with disabilities with managing their household finances. These limited income individuals are at risk of losing their independence due to their inability to pay rent, food and utility bills.  MMP volunteers help these individuals by establishing a budget for them, organizing their mail, helping them write checks to pay their bills and balancing their checkbook.

MMP volunteers are needed in all 23 towns that OCES serves, particularly in the towns of Marshfield, Stoughton, Wareham, and Brockton.  MMP volunteers make home visits at least once a month to help keep track of their income and expenses. MMP Volunteers are trained for their task and come from all walks of life and include bookkeepers, accountants, teachers, attorneys, bankers and others.

According to Diana DiGiorgi, OCES’ Executive Director, “We are very grateful for the donation from Eastern Bank.  We have a number of older adults and individuals with disabilities who have been waiting for financial management assistance for a while now.  We are in need of MMP volunteers; we urge people to contact us.”

For more information or to become a Massachusetts Money Management Program volunteer, contact Brenda Carrens, OCES’ Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator at (508) 584-1561 extension 252.

OCES sponsors the Massachusetts Money Management Program to the local service area. The program is jointly sponsored by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs and Mass Home Care.

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 the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Mass Association of REALTORS Awards Grant to Old Colony Elder Services

Old Colony Elder Services Check Presentation
Old Colony Elder Services, the regional elder services agency headquartered in Brockton and serving 23 towns in the South Shore and Brockton area, has recently been awarded a $2,500 grant from the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS.

Old Colony Elder Services was nominated as a local non-profit to receive the grant by the Plymouth and South Shore Association of REALTORS. The grant, which was awarded by the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS Charitable Foundation, will be put toward Old Colony Elder Services’ Emergency Fund which helps low-income seniors remain in their homes by helping them pay for fuel, medical transportation or utilities.

“We’d like to express our gratitude to the Plymouth and South Shore Association of REALTORS for their nomination of our organization and to the Mass Association of REALTORS Charitable Foundation for awarding us with the $2,500 grant. It will go a long way towards helping seniors in crisis situations,” said Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of Old Colony Elder Services.

Old Colony Elder Services 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.

DiGiorgi continued, “Through the generous support of companies and individuals, we can continue to provide critical services to elders in the Brockton, Plymouth and South Shore communities who are most at risk. Historically, almost half of all the Emergency Funds dispersed have assisted elders with fuel. We had a rough winter last year and we anticipate an even greater number of elders in need this winter.”

Tax-deductible donations may be sent to Old Colony Elder Services Emergency Fund, 144 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301.

About the Plymouth and South Shore Association of REALTORS®
The Plymouth and South Shore Association of REALTORS (PASS) is a local chapter of the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) and is the second largest Association under the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS (MAR). Their membership consists of over 2,000 REALTOR members and over 70 Affiliate members and they serve 18 communities south of Boston. For more information, visit www.passrealtors.com.

About the Mass Association of REALTORS®
The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® is a professional trade association for licensed real estate practitioners and serves as the parent organization to the state’s 16 local REALTOR® associations. Since 1992, the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS Charitable Foundation has provided assistance to needy individuals and the community – awarding more than $250,000 in grants to victims of natural disasters, financial assistance to Massachusetts-based non-profit organizations, home buyer counseling and shelter services. The association is headquartered in Waltham, MA. For more information, visit the website at www.marealtor.com.

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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