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MassHealth Services to be Cut by $15.5 Million

Old Colony Elder Services, an agency that serves elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers in 23 towns in the Brockton and South Shore area, shares insight on the impact of the proposed budget cuts which were recently announced by the Patrick Administration.

The Patrick Administration is set to make a series of rate cuts to several key MassHealth programs and services. These cuts will ultimately affect the area’s most vulnerable residents – low-income seniors.

Approximately $3.25 million will be cut from programs in the remaining months of 2011, plus another $12.3 million is slated to be cut from the 2012 budget.

According to Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the MassHealth cuts are proposed for the following.

Adult Foster Care – a program that provides daily assistance with personal care and case management oversight in a caregivers home on a 24/7 basis. The proposal would decrease the payment rates for all adult foster care (AFC) services by 6.2% effective March 15, 2011. Reduced rates would not be enough to attract the additional caregivers needed to expand this program and may even reduce the number of existing caregivers. Fewer caregivers will result in the state’s taxpayers paying for more costly living arrangements for these elderly and disabled individuals. Currently OCES has 162 people in this program.

Adult Day Health – a community-based day program providing nursing, therapeutic services and oversight for seniors in an effort to postpone nursing facility placement. Services provided also include nutrition, dietary counseling, case management, activities, and assistance with activities of daily living. The proposed cuts decrease the payment rates for adult day health (ADH) services by an average of 7.8%. Mass Home Care estimated that Adult Day Health enables nearly 7,000 individuals to remain living in the community, which saves taxpayers millions of dollars annually. According to Mass Home Care’s Executive Director Al Norman, “If these seniors had to be institutionalized due to lack of ADH services, the cost would be roughly $408.8 million annually, whereas the entire cost of the ADH program is only about $90 million.”

Group Adult Foster Care – a program that provides daily assistance with personal care services and case management oversight by the provider in an elderly/disabled housing complex or Assisted Living Residence. The Administration has proposed cutting this program’s rates by 7.6%.

“The proposed funding cuts to MassHealth’s Adult Foster Care, Adult Day Health and Group Adult Foster Care programs will affect those most in need. Their only other option is expensive institutional care. These MassHealth programs and services are essential because they enable seniors and disabled individuals who are financially needy to remain living at home longer and with a better quality of life. A reduction in funding for these program will most certainly increase the number of people living in nursing homes,” explained Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

Ironically, these same programs and services are critical to the success of Governor Patrick’s Community First initiative to enable people to live as long as possible in the least restrictive setting possible.

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

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Weston resident and award-winning builder constructs ENERGY STAR-certified, “dream green home” in Weston.

WESTON AND WALTHAM, MA…

 

As president of Meyer Homes, Craig Meyer, a Weston resident, builds upscale homes and communities that maintain the integrity of the environment. The completion of his latest project, a 12-room colonial located at 42 Coburn Road in Weston, takes on an added significance because it’s not only in his hometown of Weston, but it is Meyer Homes’ first project in partnership with the Massachusetts New Homes with ENERGY STAR program.

 

The Massachusetts New Homes with ENERGY STAR program is a new construction program based on an energy efficiency standard developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ENERGY STAR qualified homes are at least 15 percent more energy-efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC).

 

“The term ‘green’ has been thrown quite around these days without a clear cut definition of what that actually means,” said Meyer. “Partnering with the Massachusetts New Homes with ENERGY STAR program on this project means that there are standards the home has to meet to be certified as energy-efficient or green. I’m proud to say that this home, built in my hometown of Weston, meets those specifications.”

 

The program has specific energy efficiency standards above and beyond the Massachusetts building code which are enforced during the design and construction of the home by independent inspectors. At the completion of construction, the inspectors give the home a HERS rating which grades the increased energy efficiency of the home relative to non ENERGY STAR certified homes. The benefits to homeowners include savings on heating and cooling costs, a more comfortable and healthy home with reduced drafts and noise, and a home with less of an impact on the environment

Some of the performance features that distinguish an ENERGY STAR home from the average quality home are:

·         Enhanced Insulation – Higher insulation levels in walls, floors, and attics result in better energy performance and improved homeowner comfort. The insulation value of windows and doors is also an important determinant of comfort.

·         Air Sealing – Simply caulking, foaming, and gasketing the holes and gaps in the heated building envelope can reduce annual heat loss and utility bills by more than 15 percent.

·         Ventilation – All ENERGY STAR homes come equipped with mechanical ventilation, which ensures a continuous supply of fresh air to the home.

·         High-Efficiency Appliances – ENERGY STAR homes typically have high-efficiency household appliances, lighting, and heating and cooling systems, which use less energy to perform the same job.

In addition to being ENERGY STAR-certified, the home at 42 Coburn Road in Weston features four bedrooms, five full and two half baths, has more than 5,300 square feet of living space and is walking distance to Weston Center. Built with attention to detail and high end finishes, the home also includes a walkout lower level with exercise room, media room and game room with large fireplace.

“Building greener homes is extremely important but at the end of the day, we also want to build good homes that our customers love. With ENERGY STAR’s New Homes program providing a measurable standard for energy-efficiency, we’re able to do both,” said Meyer.

The home lists for $2,300,000. Kathleen Sheppard and Georgia Foote of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Weston are the listing brokers. They can be reached at (617) 417-5752 or Kathleen.Shepard@nemoves.com.

In addition to being a Weston resident and the principal of Meyer Homes, Craig Meyer is the current president of the Builders Association of Greater Boston (BAGB) and a Certified Green Professional. He’s received numerous industry awards, most recently: Greater Boston Builder of the Year (BAGB); Prism Award for Best Single Family Design over $1m and Community Service Award for Dream House (BAGB); and the Connecticut Home Builders Association Award for Best Traditional Subdivision, Best $500,000-$700,000 Home and Best Luxury Home.

For more on Meyer Homes, please visit www.meyerhomes.net. For further information on Massachusetts New Homes with ENERGY STAR program, please go to www.maenergystarhomes.com.

 

About Meyer Homes

Meyer Homes is a Waltham, MA-based design/build firm specializing in building upscale homes and communities. Meyer Homes takes pride in working collaboratively with a team of design and construction professionals to produce the best possible home at the best possible value for its clients. For more information, please call 781-891-5076 or visit www.meyerhomes.net. 

 

Weston resident and award-winning builder constructs ENERGY STAR-certified, “dream green home” in Weston.Read More

DirectBuy of Boston South provides one-stop shopping solution for green building materials and appliances.

ROCKLAND, MA…There’s a misconception among many consumers that buying “green” refers strictly to products made of natural materials. While that’s part of the equation, there’s much more to it. Like appliances and lighting that last longer and use less power to run. Or plumbing that requires less water. At DirectBuy of Boston South, members not only have the opportunity to purchase the full spectrum of green products under one roof, but they also can save some “green” buy paying manufacturer-direct prices.

Some of the green products available to DirectBuy members include:

  • Faucets and plumbing fixtures that offer low consumption
  •  Natural cork flooring and underlayments
  •  Flooring made of renewable natural bamboo 
  •  Lighting and ceiling fans with Energy Star ratings
  •  Energy Star compliant kitchen appliances, washers and dryers
  •  Cabinets treated with low-voc, LEED-compliant stains
  •  Bedroom, dining room, living furniture manufactured by members of the Sustainable Furniture Council; many of these pieces are made from natural fibers, use eco-friendly foam and contain organic, halogen-free fire retardants.

“Consumers are always being encouraged to make ‘greener’ purchases, but there’s no real road map as to where to make these purchases and whether or not what they do buy is green,” said John Massaria, owner of DirectBuy of Boston South. “The green products our members can buy through DirectBuy have been rated by recognized authorities like Energy Star, LEED and the Sustainable Furniture Council, so you know the green purchase you’re making is part of the solution.”

Energy Star ratings refer to the U.S.-government backed program ranking the energy efficiency of products. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a voluntary green building rating system, which is a consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance sustainable buildings. The Sustainable Furniture Council is a non-profit balanced coalition of manufacturers, retailers and consumers offering a public tagging program to identify good “green” choices.

“We all know we should be making greener purchases, particularly when it comes to products we use in our everyday lives like lighting and appliances. Unfortunately, making those wiser choices can be quite costly. By making all these green options available at DirectBuy, we give our members the choice to save money and valuable natural resources,” said Massaria.

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. DirectBuy of Boston South, conveniently located at 11A Commerce Road in Rockland, Massachusetts, offers consumers a comfortable, welcoming setting where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

 

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House in the Rockland location by contacting DirectBuy of Boston South at 781-878-8846 or by visiting www.directbuybostonsouth.com.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct enables members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. DirectBuy of Boston South opened in 2006 and prides itself in providing excellent member service, access to confidential prices, local suppliers and unparalleled selection, all of which help make members’ dream projects a reality.  It’s a comfortable setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. DirectBuy of Boston South is one of more than 160 locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House in the Rockland, Mass. location by contacting DirectBuy of Boston South  at 781-878-8846 or by visiting www.directbuybostonsouth.com.

DirectBuy of Boston South provides one-stop shopping solution for green building materials and appliances.Read More