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Old Colony Elder Services Receives Generous Grant from Massachusetts LifeSpan Respite Coalition and the Administration on Aging

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) the Brockton based regional elder services agency serving seniors and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Brockton and Plymouth county, has been awarded the Massachusetts LifeSpan Respite Grant of $10,000.

OCES’ Family Caregiver Support Program was one of 10 recipients of a $100,000 grant funded through the Massachusetts LifeSpan Respite Coalition and the Administration on Aging. The Massachusetts LifeSpan Respite Grant enables OCES to provide much needed, quality respite support to family caregivers, including spouses, adult children caring for parents and grandparents caring for grandchildren.

Respite services provide family caregivers a needed break from their ongoing responsibilities. Services are customized to provide quality individualized respite options that will meet each caregiver’s needs. For example, one week of Adult Day Health Care can be provided for a caregiver’s parent suffering from Alzheimer’s; one week of camp can be provided for a caregiver’s grandchild.

This essential grant helps local family caregivers who aren’t eligible to receive public funding assistance and who could not otherwise afford respite care for their loved ones.

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 171 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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November is National Family Caregivers Month – Old Colony Elder Services Holds “Caregiver Night Out”

According to the National Family Caregivers Association, more than 50 million people in the U.S. provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or an elderly family member or friend. November is National Family Caregivers Month and to thank and show their support for family caregivers, the Family Caregiver Support Program at Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) of Brockton recently held a “Caregiver Night Out” appreciation event.

Caregiver Night Out was held in the Great Hall at Halifax Town Hall last week and family caregivers were treated to a delicious dinner and pampered with relaxation techniques by the following providers:

· Joanne Salerno of Light Life Massage providing Kriya Massage, Reiki and Energy Bodywork

· Debra Bunszel of Touch The Sole, a Certified Reflexologist and Reiki Master

· Dee Davidson of Simply Soothing Sanctuary, a Massage Therapist and Shambala Reiki Master

· Melanie Cotti of Essential Touch Massage Therapy, a Massage Therapist, Shambala Practitioner and Reiki Master

According to the National Family Caregivers Association, in 2004, there were 650,636 caregivers in Massachusetts alone. That number has grown exponentially, and last year, OCES’ Family Caregiver Support Program delivered services to over 1,250 caregivers, including 11 elders caring for grandchildren.

Those eligible for the caregiver program include caregivers of adults age 60 or older; grandparents and relative caregivers age 55 or over caring for children up to age 18; grandparents and relative caregivers age 55 or over caring for disabled adults age 19 to 59 and caregivers of adults of any age with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Our Caregiver Night Out gives family caregivers a well-deserved, relaxing evening where they can socialize and gain support from their caregiver peers and our agency. They are thrilled to have the opportunity to talk to each other because oftentimes they are so busy caregiving that they become isolated. The hallmark of our program is to make sure that family caregivers know they are not alone,” explained Rochelle Sugarman, OCES’ Family Caregiver Support Program Supervisor.

She continued, “Our Family Caregiver Support Program works diligently to provide one on one assistance to caregivers, guiding them to resources available in the community as well as helping them to plan for current and future caregiving needs.  We really offer an exploration of the caregiving journey and information, education and resources that may be helpful to make this process as smooth as possible.  We want caregivers to know help is available on an individual basis, through support groups and also through trainings on particular topics such as Caregiving 101.”

To learn more about the Family Caregiver Support Program, contact Rochelle Sugarman at OCES (508) 584-1561.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  OCES touches the lives of approximately 16,000 people a year. They have 140 employees and operate 20 programs serving elders, their families and caregivers. 

OCES serves elders, their families and caregivers 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. 

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

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Bringing independence to many, Independence Home Care Launches in Greater Boston

In an effort to meet a rapidly growing need in the marketplace for home care services, Independence Home Care, Inc., providers of private duty non-medical home care to the elderly, has recently launched in Boston.

As a licensed, non-medical home care agency, Independence Home Care offers assistance to elderly, disabled, post-surgical and other clients throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Independence Home Care provides assistance with daily activities that are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid but, in certain situations, may be covered by long-term care insurance.

Services include:

· Specialized Services such as Alzheimer’s care, fall prevention, live-in care, hospital-sitting and 24/7 service.

· Companionship Services that includes socialization activities, reading, playing games, and solving puzzles, depending on what interests our clients.

· Home Helper Services that provide assistance with daily activities, meal planning and preparation as well as light housekeeping.

· Personal Care Services that support individual needs such as daily hygiene and dressing, transportation to medical appointments and medication reminders.

The company strives to maintain the highest level of quality care. Independence Home Care’s bonded and insured caregivers are all experienced and dedicated caregivers who have completed the company’s rigorous training program and undergone state and federal background checks. All caregivers are supervised and monitored.

According to Joan Farahmand, the company’s president, “We saw a strong need for professional home care services in the greater Boston area. As baby-boomers age, the number of seniors needing assistance is increasing significantly. Oftentimes, an elderly person just needs help with dressing, medication reminders, and meal preparation. They are certainly not in need of institutionalization. Independence Home Care provides seniors and their families with an appropriate and affordable alternative.”

The National Family Caregivers Association and Family Caregiver Alliance’s 2004 study estimated the prevalence of caregiving in the U.S. Their findings indicated that in 2004, there were 28,827,766 caregivers in the country providing 30,880 (million) of caregiving hours per year. In 2006, it was estimated that there were between 30-38 million adults providing unpaid care to a relative or friend, averaging 21 hours per week of care.

Farahmand continued, “November is National Family Caregiver’s month where every year family caregivers are recognized. It’s important to note that family caregivers also benefit from our services, since home care provides peace of mind and often much needed respite care for family members, as well.”

Non-Medical Home Care in Greater Boston Area

Independence Home Care, Inc. provides non-medical home care services to seniors and others in need throughout the metropolitan Boston area and eastern Massachusetts. Independence Home Care offers a wide range of individually tailored personal care, home helper, and companionship services. From personal care needs and light housekeeping chores to companionship, Independence Home Care provides a wide array of non-medical services on a temporary or permanent basis.

All of the company’s caregivers are bonded and insured. They have undergone a rigorous training program as well as full background and reference checks. Whether someone needs as little as four hours of home care twice a week or they require full-time daily assistance, Independence Home Care offers an affordable alternative that enables an individual to maintain their independence and remain in their home.

Independence Home Care main office is located at 21 Custom House Street, Suite 910 in Boston. For more information, contact 877-805-9090 or visit www.IndependenceHomeCare.com.

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