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-- Programs and Services -- Contact Information Recollections of three retiring Elder Services’ staff
Edited by Louisa Weeden
This month, three Elder Services staff members are retiring from the workplace and moving on to a new phase in their lives. Case Manager and Hospital Liaison Shirley Dioli has been with Elder Services for three decades. Diane Sheridan has been at Elder Services 24 years, and is retiring as Client Services Manager. Health Services Manager Ellen Chapman has been with the agency for eight years. Here are some of their reflections on their time at Elder Services.
Shirley Dioli
Case Manager & Hospital Liaison
In the past 30 years at Elder Services, there have been many memorable experiences in each of the positions I have held.
In 1975, I started with Elder Services as a case manager. Eight years later, I became part of a team that wrote the Training Manual for Case Managers. In 1986, I was promoted to Assistant Casework Supervisor. Then in 1987, Elder Services assigned me to Hillcrest Health Center to become the Care Connection Case Manager for an enjoyable one year project at the Community Health Plan. In 1993, I was nominated by my Home Care Supervisor and the Health Care Registered Nurse Supervisor to receive the EXCEL Award from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs for being a most valuable team player. For the past five plus years, I have been Elder Services’ Hospital Liaison, spending part of each day at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. This has been most rewarding, and has allowed Elder Services to help ease many elderly clients through the often difficult transition from the hospital back home.
The one-on-one contact with my clients and the fact that many were comfortable telling me some of their life experiences, some happy, some sad, have left me with a feeling of satisfaction for a job I feel I have done well.
I hope I will be remembered for the quality of my work — for my dedication to doing assessments that were clear and helpful both for my clients and for those who, in my absence, will follow through with them — and for my work ethic.
There are so many wonderful people I have met over the years — co-workers, nurses, doctors, social workers, families, and of course elders themselves — too many to list, but who I will never forget. Part of my heart will always belong to Elder Services.
I plan to spend more time with family and friends and do some traveling - my husband Charlie and I hope to visit Italy one more time. I will get back into sewing and do some gardening, along with continuing the volunteer work I am already doing. Mainly, I plan to just enjoy each day.
Diane Sheridan
Client Services Manager
There are so many memories, it’s difficult to single out just a few. As a case manager I loved working directly with our clients and have many fond memories involving the unique elders with whom I have worked. As a supervisor and manager I’ve enjoyed sharing the challenge and excitement of supervising some of the truly-dedicated people employed at Elder Services and being a part of the management team. In addition to my many memories related to the important work that the agency does, I fondly remember some of our fun staff activities, such as bake sales featuring some of the most delicious goodies imaginable, building parade floats and dressing up as a piece of cake with my daughter to accompany Elder Services’ float in the Pittsfield 4th of July parade.
I think at Elder Services, our work is a big part of who we are as people, and I’ve certainly grown and developed both personally and professionally in my time here. Each of my three positions has provided me with different challenges and opportunities to perfect various skills and to grow in different areas. In addition, just being a part of the daily activities of an agency providing such vital services is rewarding.
I take with me so many things, the memories, the friendships, the admiration and respect that I have for the truly wonderful people with whom I have worked, the many, many things I’ve learned, and the satisfaction of having done my best for the agency, those I’ve supervised, and the clients of Elder Services.
I plan on spending more time with my family both near and far, pursuing hobbies, traveling, catching up with the million little things that I’ve been putting off for years and just being open to all sorts of new options, such as having more time for community involvement, volunteer work, and perhaps even getting back to some part-time direct social work.
Ellen Chapman
Health Services Manager
In the past couple of years, I have personally experienced the journey of accompanying my mother and step-father as their lives drew to a close. I don’t know if I could have made the trip without all the support I received from every department at Elder Services. I was fortunate enough to experience firsthand the knowledge, skill, and compassion of our staff, who gave me what they give on a daily basis to the elders and families we serve. I can attest to the need for these services and to the huge difference they make to those who need help.
My time here at Elder Services reminds me of my years as a visiting nurse, where we were able to follow clients with chronic illnesses and provide the assistance they needed to get through their day-to-day challenges. That has all changed with Elder Services now providing that type of assistance and support. It is very rewarding work. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Elder Services’ staff — truly a great group of people! What an excellent group of cooks we are! The “get-togethers,” the bake sales, the “offerings” often found on the top of the first floor filing cabinets. It has been special to share books, recipes, and ideas.
Working here has reminded me of the goodness of people who make a difference in the world every day without even knowing it. I respect Elder Services’ commitment to elder autonomy, which holds that even as we age, we are still “able and allowed” to make poor personal decisions.
I have grown personally and professionally in my eight years at Elder Services. We truly do want to provide the best information and services possible to assist people in remaining in the environment of their choice for as long as possible. I am very proud of that.
In leaving, I hope I leave behind the value of how important it is to share ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
With my new-found time, I plan to enjoy living by the water and to go kayaking. I will quilt, do calligraphy, and be with family and friends. I won’t have to adhere to a schedule! Nothing great or wondrous, just more fully enjoying the everyday gifts that surround me.
Shirley Dioli, Diane Sheridan and Ellen Chapman — three distinct personalities, three sets of unique contributions to Berkshire County’s older residents. Yet, all three share the same dedication to improving the quality of life for elders and have helped shape Elder Services through their commitment and vision. Each will be missed. Thank you so much, Shirley, Diane and Ellen, for all you have done for Elder Services and the elders of Berkshire County. We wish you each a great retirement.