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Grants benefit Berkshire elders
By Jeanne Siegel, Elder Services Planner
Elder Services, with funding provided by the Older Americans Act, has awarded grants to nine Berkshire County agencies to provide needed services throughout the county in the areas of health promotion and disease prevention, legal assistance, chore services, and support for family caregivers.
Chore Services
A grant of $4,250 has been awarded to Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of the Berkshires for Chore Services for elders, which include assistance with such hard-to-do household chores as cleaning ovens or washing windows. Berkshire elders who need help with chores can contact Elder Services’ Information and Referral Department at 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242.
Cardiovascular Screening
The Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association received a grant of $7,850 to provide a Cardiovascular Screening Program that will assess cardiovascular risk, measure cholesterol, HDL, Non-HDL, and glucose, blood pressure, pulse, BMI (Body Mass Index), Framingham risk score, and provide health counseling, referrals and primary care follow-up.
Elder Law
The Elder Law Program, offered by Western Mass Legal Services, has been awarded a grant of $18,926 to provide advice, representation and other direct legal service to elders on matters involving government benefits, housing, healthcare, institutionalized persons, protective services, long term care, age discrimination, income and utilities.
In-home Health Risk Assessments
A grant has been awarded to Gabriel Elston-Ferry for $1,500 to offer In-home Health Risk Assessments and consultation about Alzheimer’s disease to residents in Central and southern Berkshire County.
Medical Reassurance Service
Berkshire Community Action Council received a grant of $4,456 to provide Medical Reassurance Service, a program that provides daily telephone reminders to elders who need assistance in taking their multiple medications.
Support for Caregivers
In the area of providing support for caregivers, Elder Services is pleased that four projects have been funded. A grant of $6,500 was awarded to the REACH Community Health Foundation for a lecture and workshop series on caregiving for both the general public and health professionals. An award of $1,750 was granted to the Alzheimer’s Association for a Caregiver Resource Expo on November 6, 2003. A grant of $5,000 has been awarded to the Community Health Center of the Berkshires to provide a Care Coordination Program for elders residing in Southern Berkshires. A grant of $10,820 was awarded to Parker O’Brien and Associates of Williamstown to provide In-Home Memory Assessment and Education and In-Home Caregiver Training and Support, available to residents of Adams, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, Pittsfield, New Ashford, North Adams, and Williamstown. For more information about these grants, contact Jeanne Siegel, Planner, at Elder Services at 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242.