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-- Programs and Services -- Contact Information Cynthia Costello and Carol Betti head ESBC casemanagement
There are many supports and in-home services that are offered through Elder Services’ Home Care Department. These can run the gambit from Meals on Wheels and cleaning/laundry service to daily personal care and skilled nursing. Providing this level of service requires a team of trained caseworkers who carefully assess each elder’s situation, and work with the elder to develop a service plan to meet the needs identified, monitor the services on a regular basis, and help when problems arise. Heading up the team of caseworkers are two knowledgeable Client Services Supervisors, who help keep the department running smoothly.
Cynthia Costello and Carol Betti both began their careers at Elder Services as part of the case management team, going into the homes of elders, assessing needs, and arranging and monitoring services. As supervisors, they offer regular support, guidance, and direction to the case management staff. In addition, they insure that staff is equipped with current information on services available for elders. In addition to their supervisory duties, both Costello and Betti continue to carry a small caseload of elders, so they remain current in the procedures and trends that define the work, and each state that the time spent with their elder clients is one of the best parts of their job.
Cynthia Costello has a B.S.W. from Ball State University and is a Licensed Social Worker. She joined the Elder Services team in 2001 when she relocated to Berkshire County with her husband and two children. Costello has always loved being around elders and stated, “I’ve always been inspired by my grandmother, and I feel this admiration has shaped me as a person. She has given me the gift of wanting to care for others. Helping to care for my grandmother, who is now 87, has shown me, on a personal level, the difficulties adult children face and how important our help is to them.” Costello works with case management staff on a daily basis to bring as much help as possible into the home to support each elder client and in turn, support their families.
Carol Betti is also a Licensed Social Worker and received her B.A. from the former North Adams State College. She began her career at Elder Services in 1982 and worked as a case manager for three years before moving out of the area with her husband to pursue other employment opportunities. When she came back to Berkshire County, she worked as a Social Worker at North Adams Regional Hospital for 12 years until she returned to Elder Services in 2000. When asked why she returned to Elder Services after having various social work experiences, Betti stated, “Home care is the best. Elders want to stay home. It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to arrange services that help elders, even in the smallest ways, to stay at home. Very often, you’re the first person they think to call when they need something, and we can help.”
Costello and Betti invest a great deal of care and concern in the work they do for elders. But it’s not just a one-way street. There’s so much they receive from their clients. Betti noted, “My clients are always so happy to see me. It makes me feel so good. And their stories are wonderful.” Costello added, “It’s wonderful to visit elders in their home. You get to see them in their own environment where they’ve often been for 40 or 50 years. You get a feel for who they are. You learn so much and their histories are amazing.”
The mission of Elder Service is to provide Berkshire elders the opportunity to live with dignity, independence, and self-determination, and to achieve the highest possible quality of life. This goal could not be achieved without knowledgeable, dedicated and caring professionals. As Betti stated, “It’s great to be able to help!”