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Elder abuse rising in Mass. as funding dips
Experts frustrated by budget reductions. Read Sue Scheible’s article:
Read more: Elder abuse rising in Mass. as funding dips – Quincy, MA – The Patriot Ledger http://www.patriotledger.com/archive/x938336414/Elder-abuse-rising-in-Mass-as-funding-dips#ixzz1FZ6fYiUm
http://bit.ly/i2niFF
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More than 162 elderly and disabled individuals in the Adult Foster Care (AFC) Program of Old Colony Elder Services will be affected by the Patrick Administration’s proposed cuts to MassHealth.
In January, the Patrick Administration released news of MassHealth budget cuts to the Adult Foster Care Program which provides daily assistance with personal care and care management oversight in a caregiver’s home on a 24/7 basis. The proposal would decrease the payment rates for all AFC services by 6.2% effective March 15, 2011.
In light of this, 29 individuals, including Old Colony Elder Services AFC staff, AFC caregivers and clients recently attended a public hearing held at the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy in Boston. Caregivers had an opportunity to voice their concerns and spoke about the level of work and commitment involved in their 24/7 role as caregivers. Many testified that they would receive better pay and benefits working outside the home. AFC Level I caregivers receive approximately $25 per day and AFC Level II caregivers receive approximately $50 per day.
AFC staff and other professionals in attendance, including Al Norman, Mass Home Care Executive Director, explained to the audience that AFC actually keeps frail and vulnerable citizens living at home and out of more expensive institutional settings.
AFC Level II enrollees, often requiring care similar to those in nursing homes, have an annual cost of $30,327.00. In comparison, the annual cost of a skilled nursing facility is at least $58,765.00.
“It just doesn’t make fiscal sense. Cutting the AFC rates will ultimately result in fewer caregivers and an increased number of elders entering skilled nursing facilities. It will cost the state almost twice as much as it would if the program remained intact,” said Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of Old Colony Elder Services. She continued, “The decrease in AFC rates will make it difficult to attract caregivers. This would be unfortunate in light of the fact that AFC is a growing and thriving housing and care alternative that enables seniors to remain at home while providing tremendous savings to the commonwealth.”
About Old Colony Elder Services
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Old Colony Elder Services 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.
Old Colony Elder Services 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 140 employees. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org
Old Colony Elder Services Staff & Caregivers Attend Public Hearing on MassHealth CutsRead More
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Old Colony Elder Services, a non-profit elder services agency serving elders and their families in 23 communities throughout the greater Plymouth county area, recently announced that the second annual “Dancing with the Angels” benefit event will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2011 from 6:30 to 11 p.m., at the Tirrell Room, 254 Quarry Street in Quincy.
The “Dancing with the Angels” event is generously hosted by Visiting Angels of the South Shore located in Marshfield. Attendees will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, lively dancing and the music of the 14 piece White Heat Swing Orchestra. There will also be a dancing competition featuring the Visiting Angels staff doing Latin dancing.
This fundraising event supports the Special Needs Funds of Old Colony Elder Services and South Shore Elder Services (based in Braintree). The Special Needs Fund helps frail elders throughout the area who cannot afford the basic necessities of life such as food, shelter, medicine and heat. Elders who have health issues may be unable to prepare meals, shop for food, or complete simple tasks such as washing clothes.
Last year’s “Dancing with the Angels” event raised more than $15,000 for seniors in need.
According to Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director at Old Colony Elder Services, “Although government funding covers a substantial portion of our services, there are still many elders who are not eligible for services yet have critical needs. It is only through the generous support of individuals and businesses in the community that we are able to fulfill our mission of helping older adults live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.”
“Last year we were able to raise $15,000 with the help of our sponsors and colleagues who serve elders in the South Shore, Plymouth and Brockton areas. Based on our success, and encouragement from the community, we decided to make Dancing with the Angels an annual event,” explained Nate Murray, LICSW, President and Managing Partner of Visiting Angels of the South Shore. “We are hoping this event will continue to grow and build awareness of the Special Needs fund and how it helps our elderly loved ones, friends and neighbors. The elder service organizations who serve the elder community need our help to continue the critical work they do.”
Tickets for this swinging event are $50 each and may be purchased at Old Colony Elder Services. For more information about this event, contact Lucille Dallaire at OCES (508) 584-1561.
The major sponsors for this event are Weymouth Health Care Center, Rockland Trust, Entergy Pilgrim Station and Center Stage Dance Academy. Event sponsors include: Bond Printing, Celtic Angels, Casper Cremation, Evercare, High Street Equity Advisors, Plimoth Investment Advisors, Queen Anne Nursing Home, Southwood Nursing Center, Radius Healthcare and Pediatric Center, River Bay Club, Visiting Rehab Services, and Welch Healthcare and Retirement Group. Media sponsors are South Shore Senior News and 95.9 WATD-FM.
About Visiting Angels
Visiting Angels is the nation’s leading, nationally respected network of non-medical, private duty home care agencies. Visiting Angels of the South Shore is located at 475 School Street, Suite 15 in Marshfield. For more information, visit www.visitingangels.com or call 800-365-4189.
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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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
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Read more about Old Colony Elder Services Emergency Fund and the $15.5 million in cuts to MassHealth services – http://bit.ly/gtyQdB
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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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Help Elders In Crisis – read full article in Old Colony Memorial – http://bit.ly/eNic6i
Old Colony Elder Services featured in Old Colony MemorialRead More
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Old Colony Elder Services, which provides home care services to people age 60 and older in many South Shore towns, needs help to keep its emergency fund going strong this year. Requests from elders for crisis assistance have increased.
Continue reading Sue Scheible’s article – http://bit.ly/f9JmAG
Old Colony Elder Services’ Emergency Fund Appeal – Read more in The Patriot LedgerRead More
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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:
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
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