Elder Services 2008 Highlights
Elder Services Home Care programs continued to serve more than 1,000 seniors per month. Within the Home Care program, the Choices and Enhanced Community Options programs, which provide a higher level of service to the most frail seniors, are serving more seniors than ever before.
In September, Governor Deval Patrick broadened the civil rights of seniors and individuals with disabilities by introducing his Community First Olmstead Plan, which will help the state deliver on the promise of opportunity and choice. The mission of Community First is to empower and support seniors and people with disabilities to live in the community with dignity and independence.
Also in September, Elder Services and Ad-Lib, Inc., the Independent Living Center for Berkshire County, signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing an Aging and Disability Resource Consortium (ADRC) between the two agencies, to make it easier for seniors and individuals with disabilities to access the services they need.
In October, Elder Services continued to raise awareness of the heating fuel and food crisis facing many this winter by publishing a special “Heat and Eat” informational supplement to our monthly newspaper, Berkshire Senior (circulation 10,500). Berkshire Senior TV, our local cable access TV show, continued to tape shows spotlighting programs and services that provide food and fuel assistance.
This past year, Elder Services served more than 10,000 seniors, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities.
As we go forward, we continue to advocate for the services seniors, caregivers and individuals with disabilities need to remain independent and in their own homes.
New Secretary of Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Elder Affairs Michael Festa attended a reception in his honor at Elder Services, followed by a tour of Crossway Village in Lee, Elder Services’ senior housing complex with enriched services.
Elder Services received a second HUD 202 grant to convert the Hyde Building at the former Central School in Lee into additional units of senior housing with enriched services, to be called Crossway Tower. Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2009.
In March, a capacity crowd attended Elder Services’ legislative forum, featuring state Senator Benjamin Downing and Representatives Denis Guyer, William “Smitty” Pignatelli, and Christopher Speranzo, to discuss home and community-based services.
In April, Elder Services held a volunteer recognition dinner to recognize the over 400 Elder Services volunteers who provided 30,000 hours of service to Berkshire County seniors this year. The dinner’s theme was: “Volunteers Give the Greatest Gift.”
This year, our Lanesboro kitchen prepared 252,247 meals, 209,902 of which were delivered directly to the homes of frail elders. The remaining 42,345 meals were served to seniors who attended 14 lunch sites located throughout the county.
