Twenty-five Years of
Elder Services of Berkshire County
Twenty-five Years of
Elder Services of Berkshire County
1974 April - Berkshire County Commissioners vote $16,000 in seed money to establish non-profit Home Care Corporation to provide in home services to county's elders through contract with state's Department of Elder Affairs.
1974 July - Board of Directors hires Frederick H. Whitham to start Berkshire Home Care.
1974 October - Shirley Dioli hired as casemanager.
1975 February - Contracts with Pittsfield Visiting Nurse Association, Independent Home Services, and Northern Berkshire Home Aid signed; services can now be purchased for elders.
1975 Berkshire Home Care Corp. designated as County's Area Agency on Aging, under federal Older American's Act.
1975 Elderly Nutrition Program comes under Berkshire Home Care.
1977 Nursing Home Ombudsprogram launched by Berkshire Home Care.
1979 Congregate Housing begun at Heaton Court in Stockbridge.
1981 Congregate Housing set up at Providence Court in Pittsfield.
1983 Berkshire Home Care Corp. name changed to Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc.
1983 Adult Foster Care offered through contract with Medicaid.
1983 Elder Services designated Protective Services Agency for Berkshire elders; ½ time Protective Worker position funded.
1984 Personal Care available to clients; home health agencies wary of ESBC move into health care.
1986 Respite Services available to assist caregivers of elders.
1988 Elder Services buys monthly newspaper, Berkshire Senior,
for $1,000.
1991 Elder Services Registered Nurses begin screening for medical eligibility for Medicaid nursing home care.
1992 Fundraising to support Meals on Wheels begins.
1994 Elder Services establishes central kitchen in Lanesborough to prepare Congregate and Meals on Wheels.
1994 Money Management Assistance offered to elders.
1994 Computerized Information and Referral/Intake department established.
1995 Staff craft Philosophy on Elder Autonomy to recognize right of each elder to make own life choices; Board adopts as corporate policy.
1997 Elder Independence Direct Mail Appeal initiated.
1997 Elder Services hosts county's SHINE program and Senior Pharmacy Program.
1997 Elder Services named ASAP (Aging Services Access Point) for County after intensive COA and legislative advocacy effort.
1997 Elder Services gains membership in Williamstown Community Chest and Northern Berkshire United Way.
1998 Membership in Berkshire United Way achieved.
1998 One millionth meal prepared by Elder Services kitchen.
1999 Staff initiates change in agency's mission statement to emphasize elder choice.
1999 After twenty-five years of service, Elder Services employs
136 staff, has 418 enthusiastic volunteers, a fiscal year 1999
budget of over $6 million, and, over the year, has served 9,699
Berkshire elders!