Emergencies Handled with Care
Brown Bag Food Program
H.O.M.E. Sweet Home
SHARE Food Program
Representative Shaun Kelly
From the Director
Lunch Club in Adams

Emergencies, Handled with Care

Health care in the 90's is in a constant state of change. One thing that has remained constant is the mission of Emergency Departments to provide emergency care to those who need it. The definition of what constitutes an emergency varies. Insurance providers tend to have a narrower view of what constitutes an emergency than the sick or injured individual may have. As a result of this, each individual needs to be aware of the process designated by his/her insurance provider for accessing emergency care in the Emergency Department.

Anyone experiencing an emergency such as chest pain, shortness of breath or injuries associated with a motor vehicle accident should seek immediate emergency care by dialing 9-1-1. In these situations the individual should be transported to the hospital via an ambulance.

In other situations, the individual may need to contact his/her primary care physician for pre-approval to go to the Emergency Department for care. Once the pre-approval is obtained the person can then go to the Emergency Department. If the insurance carrier requires pre-approval and the person does not obtain it before coming to the Emergency Department, the person will be asked to wait after being seen by a nurse until the approval is obtained.

Emergency Departments have developed systems to assure that individuals requiring immediate, definitive care will be identified promptly. The specially-trained registered nurse in the Emergency Department will conduct the assessment to make the determination of how soon the individual needs to be treated. Those deemed to have a medical emergency that is immediately life or limb threatening will be treated instantly. Those determined to have an urgent condition will be treated next. The individuals deemed to have non urgent problems will also be treated in a timely manner.

Emergency Departments are designed to provide quality emergency care to the sick and injured. Those with life-threatening emergencies should go to the Emergency Department by ambulance. Once in the Emergency Department, those who are sick or injured will receive care from a team of skilled emergency care providers.

Lucy Ann Britton, RN, is Nurse Manager, Emergency Department/Critical Care Unit, Hillcrest Campus, Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield.

Brown Bag Program

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Inc., in cooperation with Pittsfield's Council on Aging, is currently establishing the Brown Bag program in Pittsfield. The Brown Bag program provides supplemental groceries, which will be distributed once each month at the Senior Center, to low-income people, aged 55 and over, for a nominal fee of $3 monthly.

A full bag, weighing 10 to 14 pounds, will contain items such as USDA peanut butter, vegetables, coffee, cereal, and cookies, depending upon the inventories of the warehouse. Occasionally, meat and tuna will also be included in the packages.

To be considered eligible, a single individual's gross annual income must be $14,319 or below. For households with additional members, income level restrictions are set at higher levels.

This program will enable seniors to stretch their food budgets by providing staples at a low cost. Currently, many counties in central Massachusetts are involved with the program. This has fostered a heightened sense of community spirit in those areas, because of the social aspects of involvement. The founders of the program sought this effect, as they designed the program.

Applications must be filled out and mailed to the Food Bank so that recipients may obtain an identification card.

For more information about the Brown Bag Program, call the Ralph Froio Senior Center at 499-9346.

H.O.M.E. Sweet Home

In the face of rising expenses and fixed income, many seniors see the sale of their home as the only way to meet financial obligations. Reverse mortgages can provide an answer to financial difficulties. However, a recent article in the Berkshire Eagle warned about disreputable salespeople who are charging huge, unneccessary fees to advise elders about reverse mortgages. There are alternatives.

H.O.M.E. (Home Options for Massachusetts Elders) is a statewide network of trained counselors who help elders at no charge to access a wide variety of community resources that can increase or free up needed income. H.O.M.E. is a non-profit agency. It is not affiliated with any bank and does not benefit directly from any decisions homeowners make.

A reverse mortgage can be helpful under certain situations, but all reverse mortgages are not the same and should be undertaken very cautiously. H.O.M.E. counselors can explain the various ways that reverse mortgages can supply an elder with a single lump sum, or a line of credit to tap at will, or a monthly check that can supplement an elder's income. Repayment does not occur until the house is sold or the owner dies. Leonard Raymond, the Executive Director of HOME, however, recommends reverse mortgages only "as a last resort."

Alternatives to reverse mortgages that can increase one's monthly income should also be explored. They can include home-sharing, renting, sale of part of your property, or applying for a traditional loan. Other options include accessing public programs such as property tax deferral, fuel assistance, Medicaid, weatherization programs, low interest home repair loans, free legal assistance, Supplemental Security Income, food stamps and VA benefits.

The H.O.M.E. counselor in Berkshire County is Lydia Boynton, located at Berkshire Regional Housing Authority (413) 443-7138. Also, the Information & Referral Department of Elder Services has written material that you may request by calling 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242. You may also write or call Leonard Raymond, the H.O.M.E. Executive Director at (617) 451-0680, 30 Winter Street 7th floor, Boston, MA 02108.

Good Eating at a Low Price

"If you eat, you qualify" is the motto of this program. SHARE is a non-profit community building program that offers people the opportunity to purchase a package of food for the cost of $15 plus completing two hours of community service. This package of food is worth approximately double the value at retail prices and includes frozen meats, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and grocery items such as cereal, rice, beans, or pasta.

The Ralph Froio Senior Center in Pittsfield is a host agency for this program and registers those interested in purchasing food packages. Delivery is made at the Senior Center the last Saturday of the month and can be picked up between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Recipients must bring their own boxes or bags to carry the food home in. Payment is made prior to the pickup during the registration periods.

This program is open to anyone in the community. Some new packages have been added to the program since its beginning. For example, vegetarian package $16, meat only package for $8, and mini package for $9. Registration is around the end of the month and the beginning of the following month.

Call 499-9346 or stop by the Senior Center office for specific dates and food pickup information.

Ensuring Senior Services Remain Local
By State Representative Shaun P. Kelly

The Aging Service Access Points (ASAP) issue is the most recent example of this scenario and it is perhaps the most difficult to comprehend. This issue has received a great deal of attention in the media and we have all heard the rumors that an ASAP was not going to be placed in Berkshire County. In the past, when I have learned that a local office of a state agency may be consolidated with another regional office in Western Massachusetts, my first thought has always been, will this effect the quality of service my constituents require. Depending on the particular agency the answer may be yes or no. However, in regard to the ASAP, the answer to that question is a resounding yes. For years, the elders of Berkshire County have benefited from local agencies which provide services of the highest caliber. The fact that we have a well established system of elder services at the local level requires that an ASAP be placed in this area, because an ASAP located in the Pioneer Valley designated to serve the Berkshires could never match the quality of services that are currently delivered locally. Therefore, I am very pleased to inform all of you that in both the budget for fiscal year 1998 passed by the House of Representatives and the budget passed in the State Senate, a provision was included that requires the state to establish an ASAP in Berkshire County.

In addition to requiring that an ASAP be located in Berkshire County, both the House and Senate budgets addressed another issue of importance to many elders, Council on Aging (COA) funding. COAs are a significant part of many elders' daily lives. Consequently, I believe that COAs should be funded at an appropriate level. Last year, I was very pleased that the Legislature increased funding for COAs by $400,000. This year, I am happy to report that both the House and Senate budgets included another $400,000 increase in the COA line-item. This raises COA funding to $4.8 million and provides the penny per senior per day that elders across the Commonwealth were calling for. Assisting COAs meet this funding level is something I am very proud of because during my first three years in office COAs were funded at just over $2 million, but during the last 4 years we have been able to raise the COA funding level by roughly $2.8 million.

With the resolution of the ASAP situation on the horizon and the increase in COA funding, elders in Berkshire County should feel confident that if and when they do find themselves in need of services, those services should be easy to find.

From The Director:Alzheimer's Disease - Hope And Help

Alzheimer's disease devastates the lives of four million older Americans and their families. In this illness, there is progressive loss of nerve cells in the brain, which results in loss of normal thought, functioning and memory. Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's vary from person to person. Some early symptoms can include misplacing objects, inability to remember names and other "routine" information, and difficulty performing familiar tasks.

At this time, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but there are several medications that may help treat some victims' symptoms.

Cognex (tacrine) is a prescription medicine that has been available for several years; some victims do benefit from Cognex, but there are several adverse side effects. Cognex helps some to slow the pace of memory loss.

A newer drug, Aricept (donepezil) has been developed to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Side effects are also present with Aricept, although not as severe. Both Cognex and Aricept seek similar effects on brain functioning.

New information suggests that NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprophen, may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Estrogen replacement therapy in women is also being studied as a potential therapy to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's treatment continues to require treatment tailored by the physician to each patient's particular disease situation. Research continues on how to treat this dread disease; a cure seems far distant for suffering victims and their caregivers. Working closely with a caring and knowledgeable physician to fully utilize whatever is available that fits the patient's needs is the caregiver's best course.

Elder Services and several other organizations offer support groups for caregivers of Alzheimer's victims. Meetings of the Elder Services support group are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 10 - 11:30 a.m. at 66 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield. All are welcome.

Elder Services also offers its Alzheimer's Resource Center (also at 66 Wendell Ave.) for use by family and professional caregivers. The Resource Center has videos and written materials on Alzheimer's disease available for borrowing.

Elder Services knows well that caregivers of Alzheimer's patients need help and support, and offers both the Support Group and the Alzheimer's Resource Center to them to help them in their exceedingly difficult role. Support and information is available locally; research is on-going nationwide to develop drugs to fully treat, prevent, and even cure Alzheimer's.

There is some hope,and some help available, even now.

Lunch Club Begins In Adams

Three housing developments in Adams are hosting lunch clubs through a grant to Elder Services from the Town of Adams. Tenants of The Barrett House, The Millhouses, and Columbia Valley may sign up to participate in this luncheon and socialization program.

Sandra Kruszyna is the Coordinator of the Lunch Club program, and is working with the Elder Services Nutrition Program which will deliver the meals to the sites on specified days. Tenants and managers of the three housing sites are helping Kruszyna plan activities, programs and speakers which will be scheduled to follow each meal.

Kruznya is a graduate of U Mass, Amherst. She has held a number of social service positions. Most recently she was the Activities Director at the Center for Optimum Care in Dalton. For more information regarding the Housing Lunch Club in Adams, call Sandra Kruszyna at 499-0524, or 1-800-544-5242.