Non-Profit Org. Permit No. 115 Pittsfield, MA 01201 Elder ... · Elder Services Update Elder...

Non-Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGEPAIDPermit No. 115Pittsfield, MA 01201

Volume 32, Number 12 • December 2015 • The monthly newspaper for Berkshire County seniors • Free

Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. • Proudly promoting Elder Independence since 1974 •

Berkshire Senior

InSide

Elder Services Update ..... 2

Government Update .......... 3

Elder Services ........4, 8, 9, 12

SHINE ................................. 5

For Your Information .... 6, 7

Your Health .........................10

Our Community .............. 11

Caregivers/Alzheimer's ... 14

Nutrition ............................ 16 Like Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc.

Elder Services' Annual Meeting

See pages 8 & 9

EMMA PAGE 7

Emma J. lives in a pleasant white house in the town of Clarksburg. Emma, age 101, was de-lighted to share a visit and t ell her story.

Emma attributes her lon-gevity to three things: her mother’s home cooking, with plenty of vegetables and no junk food; her “lovely, love-ly” Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Beamus, who taught her about living a spiritual life; and finally, never smoking a cigarette in her entire life.

Emma worked at Sprague

Life is good at 101By Louisa Weeden

Electric for 30 years, was married for 50 years to a loving man, and had two children, a boy and a girl. Her husband died in 1983. Emma’s grandchildren live nearby and run errands for her on the weekend.

“I love my family. I’m very close to them, and my grandchildren, Michelle and Bill, are very good to me,” beams Emma. She has great neighbors, who bring her food and look in on her regularly. One is a fireman who’ll be there in a flash if she needs help. A longtime friend brings supper every evening, and stays to chat and clean up.

Even with all this sup-port from friends and family, Emma said she’d “have to go to a nursing home” if not for the help of Elder Services.

Years ago, when I began visiting assisted living com-munities, I wanted to get to know my company's cus-tomers — older adults who would use stylish mobility equipment. I vividly recall a wall of pictures of the residents in their early 20s graced the entrance of one home. Many of the pictures showed handsome men and women in uniform, World War II veterans. Their eyes, like their futures, were hope-ful and bright. I felt like I needed to know these people, to understand what they all must have experienced in life.

But as I interacted with the residents, they all seemed surprised at my enthusiasm and interest. Some even told me that no one — even fam-ily members-had asked them about those "good old times" in years. I was saddened to hear that, but I know that this is the reality. As people age, those around them gen-erally engage less and less--even when those people are

Listening to eldersBy Sue Chen

war heroes who have flown fighter jets and nursed and saved the wounded.

In our society, adults 65 and older are often over-looked, and sometimes even mistreated. "There is mount-ing evidence to suggest that older adults constitute a stig-matized group in the United States (and in most Western societies)," according to a study by National Research Council (US) Committee on Aging Frontiers in So-cial Psychology, Personality, and Adult Developmental Psychology. If we behaved toward any other segment of the population the way we do toward older adults — imag-ine we engaged this little with toddlers — there would be a public outcry. Unfortunately, their needs, rights, and lives are regularly pushed aside, and most people seem to be unaware of it.

Aging is rarely talked about, even though it happens to all of us, every day. Even people who are 70 or 80 don't really think of themselves as

aging. Why is it that we're so reluctant to talk about ag-ing and the needs of aging adults? Why do we ignore and cast aside the older adults in our lives?

The reason is simple: We're scared to think about getting older. Studies have shown that painful events cause more stress when they're further in the future. That may be why, in a recent survey by Aegis Living, young Millennials were just as scared of aging as older Boomers and Gen-Xers.

But why does the idea of aging have to be a painful event at all?

For most people, the re-alization that they're aging comes when they are no longer able to do something that they once could, when they start losing their inde-pendence. Until that point, it's hard to actually understand that one day they're not go-ing to be able to drive, bathe themselves, or do other ev-eryday things that they once

LISTENING PAGE 6

December 2015

Elder Services Update

Elder Services Adult Family Care Program can help put the family in your loved one’s care!

• Do you have a family member with a medical condition limiting his or her ability to live independently?

• Are you caring for a family member age 60 or older or a chronically disabled adult between the ages of 18 and 59?

If you answered yes, then:• Elder Services may be able to provide you with support through a

Medicaid-funded program, Adult Family Care.

• Caregivers of eligible clients receive a tax-free monthly stipend and clinical support from a registered nurse and a social worker.

For more information about Adult Family Care, call Elder Services at 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242.

Elder Services Update

John Lutz is the Executive Director of Elder Services.

Editor and Production: Karen Shreeft er

Editorial Board: Cassie Carmon, Bea Cowlin, Bonny DiTomasso,

Laura Feakes, John Lutz, and Assistant Editor Louisa Weeden

Advertising Sales: Bob O'Connor

1-800-544-5242 or 499-0524

Berkshire Senior is published monthly by Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc., 877 South Street, Suite 4E, Pittsfi eld, MA 01201, 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242, e-mail: [email protected] or on the internet at www.esbci.org.

NOTICEElder Services sells advertising to defray costs. Inclusion of advertisers in no

way implies that Elder Services endorses any product or service.

Signed columns are the opinion of the writers and not necessarily the opinion

of Elder Services. For medical, fi nancial or other advice, seek a qualifi ed

professional in the appropriate fi eld.

Elder Services and its programs are funded, in part, by the Massachusetts

Executive Offi ce of Elder Aff airs.

State and federal funds provided to Elder Services are limited. Elder Services

welcomes charitable donations to help meet the growing needs of Berkshire

seniors, and gratefully acknowledges all donations.

Elder Servicesof Berkshire County, Inc.

Berkshire Senior

Berkshire County State LegislatorsIt's important to keep your legislators in-formed about what is important to you. If you have questions or comments that you want to share with your Berkshire representa-tives, you can contact them using the infor-mation below:

• Rep. Gailanne Cariddi (1st District): 1-617-722-2370 & 664-6812

[email protected]

• Rep. Paul W. Mark (2nd District) 1-617-722-2013 & 464-5635

[email protected]

• Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier (3rd District) 1-617-722-2017 & 442-4300

[email protected]

• Rep. Smitty Pignatelli (4th District) 1-617-722-2582 & 637-0631

[email protected]

• Senator Benjamin Downing, 1-617-722-1625 & 442-4008

[email protected]

Elder Services proud and privileged to serve the Berkshire Community

By John Lutz

Hope all are well.December brings us to the end of

the calendar year, the rush of holiday gatherings and activities, and for Elder Services of Berkshire County, an opportunity to reflect upon the last year and where it has brought us.

Elder Services of Berkshire County ends the year 2015 a stron-ger, more capable and accomplished organization, due to the concerted effort, dedication and commitment of Elder Services’ staff and volunteers.

Elder Services’ staff members give of themselves every day to serve the elders, families, and caregivers who seek assistance and support from the programs we offer and the knowledge we can share. Our mission, and the ultimate goal of all of our programs, is to assist elders to achieve and sustain the highest possible level of independence and quality of life through their own informed decisions and choices. Given that we have the privilege of working with real people and real families, this process requires real effort by all involved to keep the elder at the center of the conversation and their needs and desires at the forefront of the plan.

This type of work can be incredibly rewarding, uplifting, and gratifying. It can also be challenging, as forces beyond our control can adversely impact individuals and outcomes despite everyone’s best efforts to the contrary. Elder Services’ staff bring a host of skills, knowledge and experiences with them into their work with elders, often producing life-changing outcomes.

The special people who call themselves Elder Services’ volunteers bring

a deep sense of engagement and mission to their work and to the elders they serve. Whether as Meals on Wheels drivers, Money Management program volunteers, Benefits Counselors, board or advisory council members, SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) counselors, companions, grocery shoppers and/or medical drivers, volunteers give witness to their own allegiance to service and community by assisting those in need.

Elder Services’ volunteers bring a “higher calling” into our realm with their dedication and commitment to seniors, seeking no remuneration for themselves other than the sense of contribution to another’s improved cir-cumstances. Watching folks who have already lived tremendously full and meaningful lives continue to give of themselves to others is humbling.

Elder Services of Berkshire County is a local, community-based, non-profit human services agency, which belongs solely to the people and places of Berkshire County. It is a privilege to serve seniors and be part of this uniquely beautiful part of Massachusetts. We look forward to continuing to serve you, your family and neighbors in the New Year.

December 2015 Elder Services' Berkshire Senior

Government Update

Outings, Events, Meetings, Groups,

Volunteer Opportunities, and More!

For information about membership, visit any Greylock branch throughout Berkshire County. Or, visit us online at www.Greylock.org. Federally Insured by NCUA

Join QTC and take advantage of all the benefits and services the Club has to offer.

Quality Time Club®for Greylock members age 55 and over

The

Our affordable senior housing sites are enrichedsupportive living communities, where even those who live alone never feel alone.� Beautifully renovated apartments with amenities

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� On-site social service coordinator & resource for tenants

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Active aging in North Adams

By Mayor Richard J. Alcombright

As Mayor, I understand that while our population is aging, our challenge is this: how do we continue to keep our older residents in-volved and engaged, mentally, physically, and socially? As I continue to learn more about “Age Friendly Community” strategy, I have become attuned to the idea that the “Senior Center concept” as we know it, will have to re-invent itself over time.

Utilizing a small grant, we recently looked at the viability and feasibility of our current senior center. The first step was to study the building, location, access, and parking, etc. I became a bit enamored with the idea that our

“Senior Center” is not only the building, the programming, or the fellowship, but rather for so many today and so many to come, it is a “hub” whereby someone’s journey of living as an “elder” begins.

It is no secret that our older residents are in much better shape than they were even 20 years ago; also their interests have become much more diverse, their passion for helping others through volunteerism or staying in the workforce has changed dramatically, and their zest for what we consider “non-traditional” alternatives is skyrocketing. As we look at our own Spitzer Senior Center and its future, I am looking at it more like a “tourist booth” and less like a “destination.” My focus now is beginning conversations with the Berkshire County Age Friendly Task Force to discuss the direction of this City and northern Berkshire with respect to what we provide and more so what we don’t provide.

Can our Center function as it traditionally has while becoming more of a resource for our aging population?

Will our Center become that “hub” for information regarding things such as physical and mental health, transportation, recreation, technology and nutrition? Will our Center be the place where folks congregate or the place where they begin an adventure to our walking loops, to our lake, to our farmers market, to volunteer efforts, or to work.

My vision for our aging population is not in a building specifically, but rather a place that provides a wide range of resources and information. I think the key to keeping elders in their homes is to keep them engaged, mentally, physically, and socially. Our elders are so talented. They have tremendous family values, a true moral compass, great work ethic, and the willingness to hand that all off to those following them.

How do we challenge ourselves to build an infrastructure whereby this entire community remains a place where our older population can find employment, volunteer opportunities, or simply provide places to recreate and/or relax?

Ways I as mayor can seek to help assure that our elders can remain in their homes include:• Focus on the things that are critically important to keeping an aging

population involved and integrated in this community • Focus on keeping our infrastructure safe, maintaining a firm hand on

costs while continuing to provide adequate services that do not price folks out of their homes

• Foster an environment whereby our elders as a resource pass on their values and ethics to our children

• Steer public policy to be certain that our older population is not lost in budgets but remains a solid priority

• Be steadfast in assuring that our larger community is watchful, respectful and considerate of our older residentsWhen I look around this City and greater region, I see so many older

folks who are the absolute “focal points” of groups, committees, and orga-nizations in the workplace, non-profits, churches and families. How do we make certain that this only grows?

Our older folks, seniors, retirees, whatever we choose to call them, have been and continue to be a “resource.” We need to remember and respect that there is no age where someone is not productive or innovative.Richard J. Alcombright is the Mayor of North Adams. To contact him, call 662-3000.

18 Oak St., Pittsfield, MA(413) 447-3800

Established in2001

Serving All of New England & New York

If You Need Transportation Assistance, We Are Available 24/7, 365 Days

You name it, we do it!

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Elder Services

Elder Services’ Board of Directors

Dawn M. DelleaPresident

Sully GarofanoVice President

John S. RysTreasurer

Diane Sheridan Clerk

Van Ellet

Diana Fontana

Erica Girgenti

Kim Graham

Hilary Greene

Susan Kormanik

Deb Kushnet

Kathleen Luczynski

David Mangun

Catherine R. May

David W. Murphy, Jr.

December 2015

Dear Friends:

When you or a family member needs aging services, where do you turn?

If you’re like most in our community, you call Elder Services of Berkshire County.

Why?

Because you know you will receive the answers to your questions, and gain access to the resources and services you need to age in place and improve your quality of life.

If you’re a past donor, your contributions have helped make Elder Services the County’s one-stop source of aging support. With your help, we put hot meals on the tables of seniors who can no longer prepare their own, help seniors straighten out their confusion around household finances or Medicare, and help them assess their options and implement workable plans for long-term care. Your donations help seniors make life-enhancing decisions. We are so grateful for your support of Elder Services’ caring team of staff and volunteers.

If you are a first-time giver this year, we welcome you into our circle of supporters. To thank you for joining us, we’d be happy to send you our monthly newspaper, Berkshire Senior, free of charge for one year.

Elder Services is here for you, and for your friends, family and neighbors. We have been here for over 40 years, and aren’t going anywhere. We exist to serve you and your loved ones – to provide hope, help, and the ability to remain in your own home for as long as possible.

Your gift is extremely important because it offers immediate resources that are directed to current needs and opportunities at Elder Services.

Whether you are a new or a seasoned giver, Berkshire seniors are counting on your support. Please send your tax-deductible gift of any amount today in the enclosed envelope.

Your gift makes a difference, right here, right now.

Thank you so much for your help.

Sincerely,

Dawn M. DelleaPresident, Board of Directors

877 South St., Suite 4E, Pittsfield, MA 01201 Telephone (413)499-0524

Fax (413)442-6443 E-Mail [email protected]

Looking for interesting articles & helpful information on aging?

Check out the Executive Office of Elder Affairs’ website:

www.800ageinfo.com,

Or call: 1-800-243-4636 (1-800-AGE-INFO)

As always, you can call Elder Services at 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242, your one stop

resource for Berkshire County seniors.

TD Charitable Foundation, Town of Great Barrington help support Meals on Wheels

Elder Services is pleased to announce the receipt of a grant for $5,000 from TD Bank, through the TD Charitable Foundation, and a grant of $1,000 from the Town of Great Barrington in support of Elder Services’ Elder Nutri-tion/Meals on Wheels program.

The cost of preparing, serving, and delivering the meals to Berkshire seniors continues to grow. Elder Services’ Nutrition program relies on com-munity support such as that provided by TD Charitable Foundation and the Town of Great Barrington to help keep Meals on Wheels rolling.

TD Charitable Foundation provides financial and other support to pro-grams promoting affordable housing alternatives, financial literacy, education, environmental concerns, and building community resources. The Founda-tion’s mission is to serve the individuals, families and businesses in all the communities where TD Bank operates.

Questions about housing?

Call Elder Services

1-800-544-5242 or 499-0524

December 2015

SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone)

Adams Visitors Center 743-8333 3 Hoosac StreetBecket/Otis/Sandisfield Otis Town Hall269-0100 x107 One North Main RoadDalton Senior Center684-2000 40 Field Street ExtensionGreat Barrington Claire Teague Senior Center528-1881 909 South Main StreetHinsdale Hinsdale Town Hall655-2310 or 655-2929 39 South StreetLanesborough Lanesborough COA448-2682 83 North Main StreetLee Lee COA243-5545 21 CrosswayLenox Community Center637-5535 65 Walker StreetNorth Adams Spitzer Center662-3125 116 Ashland Street.Pittsfield Ralph J. Froio Senior Center499-9346 330 North StreetSheffield Senior Center229-7037 25 Cook RoadStockbridge Senior Center298-4170 x263 50 Main StreetWilliamstown Harper Center458-8250 118 Church Street

City/Town/Phone Address

Where You Can Meet With a SHINE Counselor

More GE Retirees face insurance conversion

Reminder: Open enrollment is ending soon!

Medicare's annual Open Enrollment period will be ending on December 7th. This is your last opportunity to purchase or change most types of cover-age without a Special Enrollment Period (please contact SHINE if you find yourself in need of a Special Enrollment Period).

Trained SHINE volunteers and staff offer free, confidential counseling on all aspects of Medicare and related insurance programs including cost assistance programs. Due to the large volume of requests for assistance dur-ing Open Enrollment, communications may be limited to email or phone counseling.

Call Elder Service’s SHINE Department at 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242 for additional information.

Non-Salaried General Electric (GE) Retirees are now finding themselves making the same transi-tion that their salaried counterparts made last year regarding their medi-cal insurance benefits. In lieu of the policy previously provided through United Health Care, all GE Retirees will have the option to purchase a limited selection of Medicare prod-ucts through broker Towers Watson/One Exchange and will receive up to a $1,000 stipend to offset the pre-mium costs for qualifying insurance products. Participants must purchase at least one product through One

Exchange to qualify to receive the stipend, but may purchase additional applicable products outside of One Exchange. Premiums for plans pur-chased outside of One Exchange must be submitted for reimbursement.

Eligible GE Retirees must par-ticipate in a phone application session with a One Exchange representative at 1-855-873-0103 prior to December 31st in order to access their stipend. Salaried employees who made the transition last year must contact One Exchange prior to December 7th to make any required changes.

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Some relief for Medicare beneficiaries

The final 2016 premiums and deductible for Medicare were announced, and for about 70 percent of beneficiaries, premiums will not change — stay-ing at 2015's $104.90. For the remaining beneficiaries, the standard premium will be $121.80 — $37.50 less per month and $450 less for the year than the Medicare Trustees predicted over the summer.

The Part B deductible will be lower than the summer projections as well, at $166 total, or $57 less than predicted. Lastly, according to the Medicare Actuaries, the States that cover these costs for poor Medicare beneficiaries are projected to save $1.8 billion. The law also prevents overpayments for certain physician and surgical services performed outside of the hospital. As a result, taxpayers will save about $9 billion over the next decade, while seniors and individuals with disabilities will save upwards of $3 billion in reduced premiums and cost sharing.

¿Habla usted español?

Elder Services cuenta con servicios

de intérpretes y en los folletos de la

agencia está disponible en español.

Llame por favor 499-0524 o 1-800-544-5242

We are so thankful for Elder Services' Meals on Wheels —

This way I can be sure my Mom has a meal at lunchtime while I

am stuck at work! Thank you very much!

December 2015

Share the Love Event to benefit Meals on Wheels

If you purchase or lease a new Subaru between now and January 2 at Haddad Subaru in Pittsfield, the dealership will make a $250. dona-tion to one of four non-profits! If you choose Meals on Wheels America, you’ll be helping fund Elder Services’ Meals on Wheels program, right here in Berkshire County.

So, if you or someone you know is planning to bu y a car this holiday season, consider test-driving a Subaru!

Recently, the Dalton Senior Center was treated to a special visit by Secretary Alice F. Bonner of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. She met with John Lutz of Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc., and members of the Berkshire Health Systems Team: Sandra Bellantonio, MD, Trish Bragdon, Ruth Blodgett, Karen Benzie, RN, Diane Kelly, RN, Mark Pettus, MD and Gray Ellrodt, MD.

A special guest

took for granted.This is not good enough. We need

to think about aging earlier, for the sake of our loved ones and ourselves.

Negative stereotypes keep older people from receiving the care they need

Many older adults also face dis-crimination — and it starts young. Studies have found our culture breeds ageist attitudes in children as young as six. These attitudes have been proven to affect older adults through discrimination by doctors, prospective employers, and potential landlords.

This type of discrimination is not only problematic in terms of older adults' lifestyles, but it can also affect the treatment they receive for physical and mental health issues. According to a National Research Council Study, some doctors and nurses will forego ordering screening tests or taking preventative measures against certain illnesses,due to mis-conceptions and prejudices about the "normal course of aging."

Negative expectations of recov-ery — based purely on the patient's

age — can also become self-fulfilling prophecies. For instance, we gen-erally think of memory loss as a "normal" side effect of aging. But one study found that in China, where negative stereotypes of aging are less common, older adults often perform as well as or even better than their younger counterparts on memory tests. Signs of aging, like so many other human experiences, are largely in our own heads.We have no choice but to face our own fears about aging

According to a 2012 survey commissioned by Pfizer and several health advocacy organizations, 39% of the 1,000+ adults surveyed gener-ally felt "optimistic" about growing old. But nearly as many, 36%, said they felt "uneasy." Their fears were less about dying and more about los-ing independence or living in pain.

Yet whatever our fears surround-ing aging are, we cannot let them stop us from talking about getting older.

As a society, we haven't had the conversations that we need to have. We have to start talking about aging now to prevent further discrimina-tion, and to tackle debilitating and often fatal health risks such as falling.

We also need to face the oncoming financial disaster guaranteed to take place as the older adult population grows with the aging Baby Boomer generation. Older adults already comprise a large segment of our population, and their numbers are only increasing: this population will double from 35 million in 2000 to more than 70 million in 2030, placing huge demands on our infrastructure, including hospitals, in-home care, assisted living, Medicare, and social security.

So, what are some things we can do to expand our awareness and begin advocating for older adults' rights? First of all, we need to think honestly about and plan for our own aging, as well as our parents' ag-

ing. We need to learn to see aging as a natural process everyone goes through, not something to be feared or ignored. We also need to invest in better technology, treatments, and care for older adults. We should give them as much consideration and at-tention as we give our children.

Most importantly, we need to listen. Our parents' generation rarely asks for more — when they do voice a need, it shouldn't be ignored. We need to engage with them. We need to hear, know, and remember their stories. If we don’t, we will lose a tremendous source of history, wisdom, and most of all — our own identities.Excerpted from the Huffington Post. Sue Chen is the CEO of NOVA Medi-cal Products.

LISTEN PAGE 1

For Your Information

It’s not too late to get a flu shot

If you haven’t had a flu shot yet, it's not too late to get one. The flu season usually peaks in January or February, and can continue well into the spring. It takes around two weeks following a flu shot to produce a protective immune response, so even if you have not had a flu shot yet — talk to your doctor — because you should get a shot every year. The 2014 to 2015 flu season recorded the highest hospitalization rates among seniors in recent history.

Most people have minimal or no side effects after receiving the higher-dose flu vaccine. Your doctor can tell you if you are someone who should not get a flu shot. If you have an adverse reaction, you should contact your physician. The flu shot does not contain live virus, so it is impossible to get the flu from the shot.

Medicare Part B covers the full cost of one flu shot per flu season. You need to get a shot every year because the flu viruses usually change from season to season, and protection from the vaccine decreases over time. This information is provided by Mass Home Care.

December 2015

For Your InformationVeterans’ benefits demystified

By Jim ClarkDue to the weak economy of the

past several years, older Americans have been suffering financially. If you or your spouse is an Honorable Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, there may be benefits available to you to assist in making ends meet. The Department of Veterans Affairs census estimates there are approxi-mately 13 million veterans and their single surviving spouses who are age 65 and older. Comparing this to a total of 41 million Americans who are 65 and older, veterans and their single surviving spouses represent about

1/3 of the senior population. This percentage will continue to grow, as the bulk of the Vietnam veterans — the largest cohort — are still younger than 65. In Berkshire County alone, there are nearly 7,000 veterans over age 65. These 7,000 make up over 60 % of all veterans in the County, and that number does not even include the spouses or surviving spouses of veterans who, in most cases, may be equally eligible for benefits from the Veterans Administration and local agencies.

There are some common misconceptions about what the definition of a veteran is and to which benefits a veteran is entitled. In the eyes of the VA, a veteran is a “person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable” and if discharged after September 1980, “completed 24 months of continuous active duty or the full period for which the service member was ordered to active duty.” With regard to those who are in the National Guard or Reserves, the service member must have been called to active duty under Title 10 or Title 32 of the U.S. Code for a period of 180 days, or 90 days if at least one day was during “wartime”. Active duty for training purposes does not qualify.

The second misconception about being eligible for benefits and care is wartime service. In the definitions above, it never says you had to have “boots on the ground” to be eligible. I have talked to many veterans who have stated that they didn’t believe they were eligible for benefits because they didn’t serve in country during Vietnam, for example. The laws that dictate VA eligibility recognize that you went where your country told you to go and you did so honorably. Therefore, even though you did not serve in a combat role, you may still qualify for benefits from both the VA and state agencies, because of your honorable service.Federal benefits

Some of the Federal benefits available to veterans and their surviving spouses include healthcare, education benefits, compensation for service-connected maladies, pensions, burial benefits, ‘aid and attendance,’ home bound care, and long term care. None of these are available unless the veteran is enrolled in the VA system. All too often, surviving spouses and the children of the veterans come to my office and ask what benefits are available after the veteran has passed away. Unfortunately, most benefits are very difficult to get approved posthumously if the veteran was not previously enrolled in the VA. If the veteran was enrolled prior to his/her passing, many of those benefits pass on to the surviving spouse, even if the spouse was not in need of those benefits at the time of the veteran’s death. My message to veterans is simple: Enroll in the VA system, if not for yourself, do it for your family. State and local benefits

Massachusetts General Law Chapter 115 requires every city and town to maintain a Department of Veterans’ Services through which the municipality makes available to its residents the services of a Veterans’ Service Officer (VSO). It is the job of the VSO to provide the veterans (living and deceased) and their dependents access to every federal, state, and local benefit and service to which they are entitled, including assisting in their funerals and honoring them on Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day.

For seniors, if your monthly income is less than $1,750 as an individual or $2,313 as a married couple and your assets (not including your home) are below $5,000 or $9,800 respectively, you could be eligible for benefits that include, but are not limited to: monetary assistance, medical copay reimburse-

Berkshire County Veterans’ Agents

Community VeteransAgent

PhoneNumber (413)

Adams, Clarksburg, Florida, North Adams, Savoy, Williamstown

Stephen Roy 662-3002

Alford, Egremont, Great Barrington, Monterey, Mt Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Sandisfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, + West Stockbridge

Laurie Hils 528-1580

Becket, Lee Doug Mann 243-5519 Cheshire, Dalton, Lanesboro, Lenox, New Ashford + Richmond

Rosanne Frieri 684-6111

Hancock John Anderson 738-5225 Hinsdale Philip Collins 655-8110 Pittsfield, Windsor*, Peru* Jim Clark** 499-9433 Washington Mike Case 623-5018 *TBD, Call Pittsfield for Information

ment, annual fuel assistance, and certain tax abatements. Please visit your local Veterans’ Service Office or have a family member

visit and discuss the various programs available to the veteran and the family members. Your VSO will help you with all the paperwork necessary to get enrolled in the VA or apply for local or Federal benefits. You have earned these benefits through your or your spouse’s faithful and honorable service, regardless of where and when the Veteran served.Jim Clark is Pittsfield's Director of Veterans' Services.

Here’s why: Emma has mobility is-sues that restrict her from doing her own self-care. She is enrolled in our Enhanced Community Options Pro-gram, which funds a personal care worker from BFAIR named Carrie to come to her home each morning and help her bathe and dress. Carrie also comes for three hours on Fridays to clean Emma’s house, shop for her groceries, and do her laundry. It’s obvious they have great affection for each other.

Emma says, with a glow in her eyes, “Carrie is very kind to me and

helps me a great deal. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

About the prospect of nursing home care, Emma says, “If I needed to go, I’d go. But with all the help I get, I am able to stay here in my own home, where I’ve been for almost 50 years. I want to be here as long as I can.”

And that is exactly why we at El-der Services of Berkshire County are passionate about our mission to help elders stay in their own homes for as long as possible. Because it’s what they want and what they deserve.Louisa Weeden is Elder Services’ Planning & Development Specialist.

EMMA PAGE 1

**Jim Clark is Pittsfield's Director of Veterans' Services.

December 2015

Elder Services' Annual Meeting

$

$

$

.

We help keep seniors in their own homes:

Just a few of the ways Elder Services of Berkshire County

makes a difference...

We save money for Massachusetts and for Berkshire seniors:

We provide meaningful volunteer opportunities:

Our Meals on Wheels Program provides meals and well-being checks for elders:

79%

15%

41%41% of home-delivered meal recipients say if not for Meals on Wheels they would have a shortage of food in the house.

In FY 2015: Served

215,052meals

to

2,099Seniors

over 800 meals each weekday

241Volunteers

Average number of years a senior remains living at

home with support from ESBC.

79% of those receiving Meals on Wheels report the meals help them to continue to live in their own homes

Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone

year 2015, helping them save money, and keeping over FOUR MILLION DOLLARS in the Berkshire economy.

Average monthly cost per senior to provide Basic State Home Care services: $260. Average senior co-pay: $38

Enhanced Community Options Program (ECOP) and CHOICES: provide larger in-home care packages to seniors clinically eligible for nursing home care.

Average monthly Massachusetts Nursing Home Care cost

Average monthly CHOICES care plan cost

Average monthly ECOP care plan cost

Seniors pay $0 to $48 copay.

2,499 assessments by ESBC nurses for clinical eligibility in FY 2015.

1,477seniors

received

193,820hours

of Homemaker, Personal Care or Companion services in FY 2015

Number of seniors who remained at home while clinically eligible for nursing home care.

Adult Family Care consumers range from age 17 to 92, and have been placed with caregivers as long as 14 years.

Group Adult Foster Care consumers range from age 50 to 89 and have been with the program as long as 12 years.

24,611hours

of service in the following programs:

Elder Nutrition, Money Management, SHINE, Ombudsman, Shopping,

Berkshire Senior TV, Clerical, Advisory Council and Board of Directors.

GAVE OVER

$650

$6,250

$1,900

Berkshire County’s Sheriff Tom Bowler and District Attorney David F. Capeless

To provide elders with a wide variety of services, Elder Services relies on a network of professional elder care providers. Above from Molari Health Care: Janet Nelson, Yolanda Sideway, Nick Costello, and Sarai Liebenow.

Elder Services elected a new slate of officers for the 2015-2016 board year: President Dawn M. Dellea, Vice President Sully Garofano, and Clerk Diane Sheridan. Treasurer John S. Rys is not pictured.

Elder Services' Annual Meeting Keynote Speaker, MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs Secretary Alice F. Bonner, with Elder Services' Executive Director John Lutz

Some of Elder Services' staff who received service awards (left to right): Client Services RN Shirley Zawistowski, Client Services Coordinator Joshua Derby (5 years), Contracts Specialist Michelle McMurray, Human Resources Generalist Cassandre Carmon, Second Cook Lisa Allen, Meals on Wheels (MOW) Driver Paul Barbeau, and Nutrition Manager Beth Mathis-Torrey.

Porchlight VNA/Home Care staff serve elders throughout all of Berkshire County. Left to right: Debbie Cranwell, Sharon Leary, Amie Miarecki and Mary Errichetto.

Mary Washburn and outgoing Board President Mary K. O’Brien had to leave the board this year.

December 2015

Elder Services' Annual MeetingElder Services holds Annual Meeting

By Louisa Weeden

.

Elder Services’ Mission and Board of Directors

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. is to provide Berkshire elders, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities the opportunity to live with dignity, independence, and self-determination, and to achieve the highest possible quality of life.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mary K. O’Brien - PresidentSully Garofano - Vice PresidentJohn S. Rys - TreasurerDiane Sheridan – ClerkDawn DelleaVan ElletKim GrahamHilary GreeneSusan KormanikDebra KushnetKathleen LuczynskiDavid MangunCatherine R. MayDonna Smith Mary Washburn

FY 2015 Revenues and Expenses

EXPENSES

Elder Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,503,650 Management and General . . . . . . . . . . . .978,625 Fund-Raising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54,125 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,536,400

REVENUES

State Executive Office of Elder Affairs . 10,086,935 Federal ACL\EOEA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,186,261 State Executive Office of Healthand Human Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .791,571

Local and other Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . .861,903 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,926,670

Elder Services is Grateful for our many Grant Givers!

Grants received August 16, 2014 to August 15, 2015

Arbella InsuranceBerkshire Bank FoundationBerkshire Life Charitable

FoundationBerkshire Taconic Community

Foundation (BTCF):• Barrett Fund• Central Berkshire Fund • Fund for Williamstown • Hardman Fund• Mount Everett Fund• Neighbor-to Neighbor Fund• Ruth P. Boraski Memorial

Fund for Meals on Wheels• Women’s Club of

the BerkshiresFallon Community Health PlanGuardian Life Insurance

Company of AmericaGreylock Federal Credit Union

Katharine C. Pierce Trust Little Necessities Fund

Katherine L.W. and Winthrop M. Crane, 3rd Charitable Foundation

Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging

Meals on Wheels Association of America

MountainOne FoundationNorthern Berkshire United Way

TD Charitable Foundation

Town of Great BarringtonTufts Health Plan FoundationWilliamstown Community Chest

See November Berkshire Senior for list of individual and business donors.

877 South Street · Suite 4E Pittsfield, MA 01201

Phone (413) 499-0524 Fax (413) 442-6443

TTY (413) 499-9764 Toll Free 1-800-544-5242

Website www.esbci.org Email [email protected]

Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. 2015 Annual Report

Image Credit: Freepik.com

Elder Services of Berkshire County celebrated its 41th year of serving Berkshire seniors at its Annual Meeting on October 28. The event was spon-sored by Greylock Federal Credit Union and held at Berkshire Hills Country Club. Special guests at the event included Massachusetts Secretary of Elder Affairs Alice F. Bonner, Berkshire District Attorney David Capeless, Pitts-field Mayor Daniel Bianchi, and Berkshire County Sheriff Thomas Bowler. Lisa Fletcher Udel, aide to Representative Trisha Farley Bouvier, and Chris Cappucci, aide to Rep. Paul Mark also attended.

The newly-appointed Secretary of Elder Affairs, Alice F. Bonner, was the keynote speaker. She spoke of her initial impressions of the MA aging network, including Aging Services Access Points, Agencies on Aging, and local Councils on Aging. A slide presentation outlined the types of concerns, needs and wishes expressed by seniors in the towns and cities she has visited. As head of the MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs, Bonner will be focus-ing on pressing issues such as Elder Housing and Homelessness, Geriatric Mental Health, Preparing for a Rapidly Aging Population, Developing In-novative Solutions for Dementia Care, and Supporting Family Caregivers.

In the business segment of the meeting, the Board of Directors recog-nized departing Elder Services board members, elected new members, and elected a slate of officers for the board year. President Mary K. O’Brien and Mary Washburn will be leaving the board. The board welcomed three new members, Diana “Toni” Fontana of Lenox, Erica Girgenti of Adams, and David W. Murphy, Jr. of Pittsfield.The board elected a slate of officers for the 2015-16 board year: President Dawn M. Dellea, Vice President Sully Garofano, Clerk Diane Sheridan, and Treasurer John S. Rys.Elder Services staff received Service awards, as follows: • 5 Years - Meals on Wheels (MOW) drivers Paul Barbeau and Terence

Chiaretto; Client Services Coordinator Joshua Derby, Contracts Specialist Michelle McMurray, Nutrition Manager Beth Mathis-Torrey, and Client Services RN Shirley Zawistowski.

• 10 Years - MOW driver Michael Resio;• 15 Years - MOW driver Carol Dolle, Second Cook Lisa Allen, and Ad-

ministrative Support Professional Paula Gonnello;• 20 Years - MOW driver Edward Gibeau, Human Resources Generalist

Cassandre Carmon, and Kitchen Prep Person Charles Crawford.• 30 years: Adams Meal Site Director Dorothy O’Bryan

Outgoing Board President Mary K. O’Brien, Elder Services’ Executive Director John Lutz, and incoming Board President Dawn M. Dellea each offered words of appreciation for the board, the staff and Elder Services' volunteers.

Board members old and new: Kathleen Luczynski, David Mangun, Deb Kushnet, Diane Sheridan, Diana “Toni” Fontana, and Mary Washburn.

As always, Greylock Federal Credit Union showed its unwavering support of Elder Services by showing up in force: Mike Stoddard, Jeff Naughton, Karen Reilly, Chris Moon, Dan Dillon, President and CEO John Bissell, and Marie Paradise.

Thank you, Greylock Federal Credit Union, for Sponsoring

Elder Services’ Annual Meeting!

December 2015

Your Health

Safety is a Right If you have any concerns re-garding elder abuse or neglect, call 1-855-874-3242, Monday through Friday from: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. After hours, call the Elder Abuse Hotline 1-800-922-2275.

The skin you're in

A friend of mine recently took himself to the emergency room of a local hospital. He is a 70-year-old diabetic, and his temperature was 103 degrees. He has learned to react quickly to medical problems out of fear of his diabetes complications.

The ER sent him back home with some pills to lower his temperature, but he returned the next day with his fever still high. He was admitted to the hospital for three days, and was diagnosed as having a bone infection that could seriously threaten his foot. His hospitalist told him he would be discharged to a rehab facility for ‘post-acute care.’

My friend followed medical ad-vice. He was scared to go home. He had been told he could only get one home health nurse visit per day. This would not work, he was told, because his IV drip needed to be looked after twice a day.

My friend asked me which rehab I recommended. I told him what I thought, and then my friend and his son — who had been researching on the Internet — picked a facility.

When I went to visit my friend a couple of days later, the first thing he blurted out was: “Home care is the way to go, boy!” He told me he had to badger staff to be able to take a shower, and had missed dinner once because his physical therapy session was not over in time. He was not a happy guy — and his hospitalist had told him he might be at this facility six weeks or longer.

I asked my friend if anyone had told him about his options to go home from the hospital. He said no. I did not push the issue because he was clearly convinced that a rehab was his only option. Scenario is not how it works

This scenario is not how it’s sup-posed to work. Under MassHealth state law, “A person seeking admis-sion to a long-term care facility paid

The conveyor belt from hospital to nursing facility

By Al Normanfor by MassHealth shall receive pre-admission counseling for long-term care services, which shall include an assessment of community-based service options. A person seeking care in a long-term care facility on a private pay basis shall be offered pre-admission counseling.”

My friend never got this pre-admission counseling. I imagine that his hospitalist does not know about the right to pre-admission counseling. Perhaps no one at the hospital knows this even though this law has been on the books for nine years.Massachusetts scores badly on national level

Last year, a group called the Health Policy Commission (HPC) noted that the rate of residents in nurs-ing facilities in Massachusetts was 46 percent greater than the U.S. average. “Massachusetts has a higher rate of discharge from hospitals to nursing facilities relative to the national av-erage,” the HPC found, “suggesting an opportunity to manage post-acute care more efficiently … there are op-portunities to deliver more supports in home-and community-based set-tings, expanding options for patients to receive care in their preferred setting while potentially achieving savings over time.”

There is a conveyor belt that car-ries people like my friend from ER room, to inpatient care, to nursing facility. It goes one way. The law requiring pre-admission counsel-ing is not being fully implemented. Hospitals in Massachusetts discharge patients into skilled nursing facilities at a rate 8 percent higher than the U.S. average.

People need to be told their op-tions — so they can get not only the kind of care they want — but where they want it. At home.Al Norman is the executive direc-tor of Mass Home Care. He can be reached at 978-502-3794, or at [email protected].

Are older people thin-skinned? Yes, literally. As you get older, your skin changes too. It loses fat, and gets thinner. It doesn’t look as smooth and plump as it did when you were a teenager. Scratches and cuts take longer to heal. If you spent a lot of time outdoors over the years, your skin may be more wrinkled and dry. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause age spots, and even cancer. But you can take steps to protect your skin.

Older people often have dry skin on their lower legs, elbows, and lower arms. Dry skin can be caused by something as simple as not drinking enough liquids, smoking, being in very dry air, feeling stressed, or los-ing sweat and oil glands. Diabetes or kidney disease also can cause dry skin. Using too much soap or anti-perspirants, or perfume, taking hot baths — all can make dry skin worse.

Because older people have thin-ner skin, their skin will bleed more easily when scratched, and bleeding can lead to infection. Some medi-cines can cause skin to feel itchy. Dry skin happens more often in the winter, because cold air outside and heated air inside causes low humid-ity. Forced-air furnaces in your home make skin even drier. When your skin loses moisture, it will crack and peel, or may become irritated and inflamed. Bathing too frequently and using harsh soaps may make dry skin worse. If your skin feels very dry and itchy, talk to your doctor about how to relieve these symptoms.

Some tips for dealing with dry skin at home: take fewer baths; use milder soap; warm water is less dry-ing than hot water; don’t add bath oil to your water since it can make your tub too slippery; use a humidifier to add moisture to a room; moisturizers and emollients should be applied to wet skin; after washing, pat your skin dry, then add moisturizers. Sweating can make dry skin worse, as will

strong soaps, detergents, chemicals, and solvents. Sudden changes in body temperature or stress may cause you to sweat, and make your dry skin condition worse.

The elderly also bruise more easily. It also takes longer for the bruises to heal. Some medicines or illnesses can cause bruising. If you see bruises and you don’t know how you got them, especially on parts of your body usually covered by cloth-ing, talk to your doctor.

Wrinkling is another condition of aging skin. Ultraviolet light from the sun will make your skin less elastic. Some things you can’t escape — like gravity — which can cause your skin to sag and wrinkle. But there are also some habits you can alter — like smoking — which can wrinkle the skin. Some “cures” for wrinkles can be painful or even dangerous, and should only be performed by a doctor.

Age spots, once called “liver spots,” are flat, brown spots often caused by years in the sun. They’re bigger than freckles, and show up fre-quently on areas like the face, hands, arms, back, and feet. Age spots are harmless, but using sunscreen can prevent more sun damage.

Another common feature of ag-ing skin, especially for women, are “skin tags,” which are small, usually flesh-colored growths of skin that have a raised surface. They are most often found on the eyelids, neck, and body folds such as the arm pit, chest, and groin. Skin tags are harmless, but they can become irritated. A doctor can remove them if they bother you.

Shingles and pressure ulcers are two other conditions that will affect the skin. For more advice on how to deal with these two conditions, go to http://www.healthinawwging.org/resources/resource:eldercare-at-home-skin-problems/This article appears courtesy of Mass Home Care.

December 2015

Our Community

Mass. Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired to host Lenox support group

By Shaun Kinsella

MABVI is pleased to announce it has formed a new partnership with Berkshire Healthcare Systems, which has run the support group at Kimball Farms Retirement Community since February 2015. This partnership will expand on vision services offered to the Berkshire community. The support group is open not only to Kimball Farms residents, but also to anyone in the general public having difficulties due to sight loss.

If you have low vision, consider

joining the support group to meet oth-ers with the same or related issues and challenges. The group will feature guest speakers on a variety of topics related to living with low vision.

If you are interested in finding out when the group meets, please call MABVI at 1-800-852-3029 and speak with Kyle Robidoux or Laurie Werle. Shaun Kinsella is the statewide direc-tor for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Pittsfield Supportive Day Program participants enjoy a festive day

The Pittsfield Supportive Day Program visited Whitney’s Pumpkin Farm for a fun fall day. The group from the Ralph Froio Senior Center picked out pumpkins and gourds, visited the animals, and sipped apple cider. Back at the center, they enjoyed a pizza party and decorated their pumpkins.

The Supportive Day Program is a respite program for caregivers of individuals 55 years and older who are facing various challenges. The hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday with transportation available through the Council on

Aging. Lunch is provided by Elder Services’ Nutrition Program. Call 499-9346 for more information.

Pittsfield COA holiday bazaar on Dec. 5

The Friends of the Pittsfield Council on Aging will be holding its annual holiday bazaar on Saturday, December 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ralph J Froio Center, 330 North St. in Pittsfield. The event will feature a wide variety of gift and craft choices from over 40 vendors. There will be many chances to win gift baskets and other valuable prizes. Two of the highlights will be the “Tag Sale of Hidden Treasures” and a special visit from Santa. Food will be available all day and admission to the Froio Friends Bazaar is free.

Please call the Froio center at 499-9346 for more information or to reserve a table for your wares.

Holiday dinners for seniorsOnce again holiday dinners will be delivered to seniors living

in several Berkshire towns who are homebound and will be alone for the holiday. There are also some locations offering sit-down dinners for seniors.

PittsfieldAmerican Legion Post 68 Pittsfield, 41 Wendell Ave will host a free

Christmas dinner at noon Christmas day. Everyone welcome. Seniors living in elder housing complexes should be able to sign up for a delivered meal at their management office — sign up sheets will be provided to resident managers by the Legion. Homebound seniors not in elder housing can call Kelly at 499-1435.North County: North Adams, Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, and Williamstown

The American Legion Post 125 in North Adams will host a sit-down dinner on December 25, and will deliver a holiday dinner to homebound seniors. To reserve, contact the Legion at 664-9004.

The Berkshire Food Project will have a holiday dinner at noon on Mon-day, December 21 at the First Congregational Church, 134 Main St. (enter on Summer St.) North Adams. No reservation needed.Elder Services

Elder Services will be offering pot roast dinners for seniors at 11 Senior Group Lunch sites on Thursday, December 17. See page 16 to see which sites serve dinner on Thursdays. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 per meal for seniors, and $7 per meal for those under 60.

Reservations must be made by noon on Tuesday, December 15, by calling the phone number listed on page 16 for the site you wish to attend.

If you have any questions, please contact Elder Services at 499-0524 or 800-981-5201.

Calling All LGBTQ SeniorsPrepare to Face the Holidays at our December Potluck

Tuesday, December 15 Noon to 2 p.m.First Congregational Church of Williamstown

906 Main St, Williamstown (Corner of Route 2 & Chapin Hall Roadon Williams College’s north campus)

Please bring something to share — whatever you can afford and whatever you’d enjoy bringing.

Following lunch, two of our members will lead a discussion on“Surviving the Holidays with a Smile.”

Let’s talk about the joys and terrors of going “Home for the Holidays.”Rainbow Seniors of Berkshire County — a senior citizens program

with a special outreach to LGBTQ elders and their friends — holds monthly potlucks and programs on the third Tuesday of each month.For more information, contact Ed at 441-6006 or by email at ed@rain-

bowseniors.org.


Elder Services

Important facts about Elder Services' Nutrition Program

By Beth Mathis-TorreyWhat we do

The Elder Nutrition Program is a fed-eral and state-funded nutrition program, administered by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, which allows Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. to provide nutri-tious meals to older adults. Both meals and nutrition education and counseling services provided through the program are vital for improving the nutritional status of elders.

The Nutrition Program also addresses multiple problems faced by elders — rang-ing from poor nutrition, food insecurity, and chronic disease to social isola-tion. Nutrition services and meals are a vital support that enables many elders to live in the community independently. Our services

Elder Services provides nutritious meals at 15 meal sites and through home-delivered meals to older adults (age 60 or older) and disabled people un-der age 60 who live in housing facilities occupied primarily by elders, where meals are served. Home-delivered meals are for those individuals unable to leave their home due to illness, disability, or frailness as determined after a thorough in-home assessment by Elder Services’ Nutrition Case Worker or a Client Services Coordinator. There are no income eligibility requirements.

Elder Services’ Nutritionist provides individual nutrition counseling for both home-delivered meals clients and meal site participants at their request or referral. In addition, twice a year our meal site participants receive nutri-tion educational training on topics that are trending or relevant to elders.

Menu standards are based on current federal and state guidelines, includ-ing the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI), established by the Food and Nutrition Board and the Institute of medicine of the national Academies. Each meal contains at least 1/3 of the current daily Recommended Dietary Allowance of nutrients. In addi-tion, Kosher meals are prepared and served by the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires in partnership with Elder Services.Program benefits

Elder Services of Berkshire County's Nutrition Program is a critical component of the Executive Office of Elder Affair’s mission to promote in-dependent living for elders in the community. By providing at least one meal a day, and in many cases additional meals, including supper, holiday, and weekend meals, the program helps to reduce hunger and improve nutritional intake for elders in Berkshire County. In addition, elders who participate in the program receive close to half of the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables in a single meal. Diets high in fruits and vegetables have been found to lower the risk of chronic disease and contribute to healthy aging.

Elder Independence Appeal

Editor’s Note: Unless requested otherwise, each month Berkshire Senior publishes the

names of donors to Elder Services and those honored by the donations. These funds help Elder Services provide Berkshire seniors with programs and services to help them remain independent. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.

You Can Donate to Elder Services Online!

JUST GO TO WWW.ESBCI.ORG & CLICK THE BLUE "DONATE!" BUTTON

Scroll down the page to see a number of options for supporting Berkshire

seniors. You can provide an e-check, use your credit or debit card, or donate

non-cash items. You can donate to the “Greatest Service Need” or choose

to designate your gift to the Elder Independence Appeal, Meals on Wheels,

the Elder Care Fund, or make a Memorial or In Honor of Donation.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!

General Donations

We RememberSeptember Memorial Donations

Marguerite Cross Mrs. Doris Pasquarelli

Marion McKenzie Mr. James Burnick

Mr. & Mrs. Michael DeeMr. & Mrs. John DelisleMr. & Mrs. William DempseyMs. Angelina DiNicolaMs. Becky DixMr. John DonaldMr. Richard FancherMr. Frank IntelisanoMs. Ellen Kenwood

Rev. Edward KingMs. Jane PerrasMs. Elizabeth PreveyMr. Charles RossMr. & Mrs. Francis H. SchonfeiderMr. & Mrs. Joseph Truskowski, Jr.Ms. Jean F. VankinMs. Julia Wolfrum

Mr. David A. DryMr. & Mrs. John S. Rhys

Mr. Richard W. Turner

Greylock Federal Credit Union

SHINE Donations

Participating in the program:If you believe you may be eligible for home-delivered meals, or have a

relative or friend who may be eligible, contact Elder Services’ Information & Referral department at 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242. Elder Services’ Nutri-tion Case Worker or Client Services Coordinator will contact you within 24 hours to set up an appointment for an in-home assessment.

Are you, a relative or friend able to join others for a noontime meal? We welcome youat any of our 15 meal sites listed on the back page of the “Berkshire Senior.” Please call ahead so we can be sure to set a place for you.Beth Mathis-Torrey is Elder Services’ Nutrition Services Manager.

Elder Services' Meals on Wheels program serves seniors throughout all of Berkshire County who are homebound and can no longer prepare their own meals.

By providing at least one meal a day, and in many cases additional meals,

including supper, holiday, and weekend meals, the program helps to reduce

hunger and improve nutri-tional intake for elders in

Berkshire County.


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December 2015

Caregiver/Alzheimer's Information

Elder Services' Richard & Rita Gallagher Alzheimer's

Resource Center is for YOU!

The Center is at Elder Services, 877 South Street in Pi sfi eld and off ers:• books • videos • brochures • journals • and more

Use this invaluable resource when you or someone you know needs Alzheimer’s

informa on.

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Understanding the behaviors of those with Alzheimer’s

In the next issues of Berkshire Senior we will explore ways to respond to difficult behaviors.

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias not only affect memory but can cause the person to act in different and unpredictable ways. The person can become easily confused, anxious or even angry. He may accuse you or someone else of stealing his things or say he wants to go home when he is in his own house. He may refuse your help or push you away when you try to assist him, or even strike out.

Understandably, these behaviors are upsetting to a family caregiver. It is not easy to try to help someone who is angry or difficult. It is important to remember that these behaviors are caused by the disease and are not some-thing that can be controlled by the person you care for. It is often helpful to try to understand why the behavior is happening and to make changes in the home environment or how you provide care. The following section mentions things that can help you to make changes that may prevent or resolve difficult behaviors and make caregiving easier.

Consider using techniques that can decrease your frustration and stress while at the same time providing relief and reassurance to the person with Alzheimer’s:• Keep it simple: Schedule daily routines for tasks that require his coopera-

tion, such as baths and medication, at different times of the day.• “Redirect” instead of contradicting: For example, if the person keeps

telling you that he needs to go home for dinner, rather than telling him that he is home, ask him what he would like to have for dinner.

• Use “therapeutic fiblets:” A fiblet responds to the emotion they are expressing rather than the person’s specific words. For example: the person becomes increasingly anxious looking for a deceased loved one. You can tell him that you have not seen that person yet, but when you do, you’ll make sure they stop by to say hello.

Losing and hiding thingsThe person with Alzheimer’s may not remember where to find an item,

where she placed it last, or even that she had it. She may put things in unusual places. Sometimes she may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.

If the memory-impaired person insists on searching for missing items, his anxiety may have more to do with a general sense that “something is miss-ing” (his memory), than with the need to find a specific item. Reassurance or redirection may help reduce anxiety.

There are steps you can take to help reduce the frustration and anxiety associated with lost items:

• Label drawers and cabinets where you keep everyday articles with large printed signs.

• Limit the number of hiding places by locking rooms, closets, and drawers that are not regularly used.

• If necessary, important or valuable items such as medications can be kept out of sight or locked up.

• Designate special storage places for items such as keys, eyeglasses, hearing aids and batteries, dentures, and other essentials. Keep spares whenever practical.

Learn the person’s hiding places.• Try old favorite hiding places for gifts, etc.• Check trash baskets before you empty them.Shadowing or clinging

Following the caregiver from room to room (“shadowing or clinging”) may give the person with Alzheimer’s a needed sense of security but can be difficult for family members. This behavior may result from: anxiety caused by a scary or overwhelming situation; a feeling of helplessness, or simply not knowing what else to do.Tips to consider trying:• Reduce confusion, noise, and clutter in the household environment.• If physical contact helps the person, try substituting a pet, doll, or stuffed

animal.• Provide a useful diverting activity while you are busy with something

else.• If constant attention is needed, schedule regular “breaks” for yourself.

These articles are reprinted with permission from the Alzheimer’s Associa-tion from “Family Care Guide - A Guide for Families Caring for Someone With Alzheimer’s Disease or a Related Dementia,” created and distributed by the Alzheimer’s Association.

CAREGIVER DISCUSSION GROUPS

Elder Services’ Caregiver Coordinator Bea Cowlin leads monthly caregiver discussion groups. Unless otherwise noted, the groups meet at Elder Services.

• 2nd Tuesday, 10 - 11:30 a.m., at Elder Services

• 3rd Wednesday, 1- 2:30 p.m., Gt. Barrington COA

• 4th Thursday, 1 - 2:30 p.m., North Adams' Spitzer Center

New members are always welcome. There is no charge.Come for conversation, support, & helpful information.

For information call 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242.


Visit www.berkshirehealthcare.org to contact a location near you.

HILLCREST COMMONS • MT. GREYLOCK EXTENDED CARE • KIMBALL FARMS • FAIRVIEW COMMONS

WILLIAMSTOWN COMMONS • NORTH ADAMS COMMONS • HOSPICECARE IN THE BERKSHIRES

We’re Perfecting the Art of Superior Care.

Exceptional Care, everywhere in Berkshire County

800-445-4560www.berkshirehealthcare.org

Nationally recognized quality, hometown care

• Independent and Assisted Living

• Memory Care

• Short-term Rehab• Skilled Nursing• Hospice Care

Have Questions? Call Elder Services at

1-800-544-5242 or 499-0524

Berkshire Senior

¿Habla usted español?Elder Services cuenta con

servicios de intérpretes y en los folletos de la agencia está disponible en español.

Llame por favor 499-0524 o 1-800-544-5242

Berkshire Elder Law CenterCall for my FREE

Home & Savings Protection Kit.DONʼT LOSE EVERYTHING, PLAN NOW!

• Estate and Medicaid Planning • Real Estate Transactions • Will and Probate Administrations

JAMES J. SISTO (413) 664-7700 (413) 458-9800Elder Law Attorney

www.BerkshireElderLaw.com311D Main Street

Williamstown, MA 0126740 Main Street

North Adams, MA 01247

Savino Empire Monuments, Inc.

Est. 1931 Complete Service of

Monuments & Markers

100 Wahconah Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201

(413) 442-4149

Donna Brewer, Owner

M T W Th F M T W Th FAdams Community Ctr. North Adams Spitzer Center743-8333 Hoosac Street 662-3125 116 Ashland StreetBecket Town Hall Pittsfield Ralph J. Froio Senior Ctr.623-8934 Route 8 499-9346 330 North StreetCheshire Senior Center Pittsfield-Kosher Cong. Knesset Israel743-9719 119 School Street 442-2200 16 Colt RoadDalton Senior Center Stockbridge Senior Center684-2000/684-0016 40 Field Street Ext. 298-4170 X263 50 Main StreetGreat Barrington Claire Teague Senior Ctr. Stockbridge Heaton Court528-4118 909 South Main Street 298-3222 5 Pine StreetLanesboro Town Hall Sheffield Senior Center Noon442-2682 83 North Main Street 229-7037 25 Cook RoadLee Senior Center Williamstown Harper Center243-5545 21 Crossway Village 458-8350 118 Church StreetLenox Community Ctr.637-5535 65 Walker Street

City/Town/Phone AddressMeal

TimesDays Meals Served

City/Town/Phone AddressMeal

TimesDays Meals Served

11:30 a.m.

Noon

11:45 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

Noon

11:30 a.m.

Noon

11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.11:45 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

Noon

Elder Services' Nutrition Program

DecemberMenu subject to change without notice.

* Modifi cations for sugar-restricted diets

** High sodium foodsSuggested donation $2.

All contributions help defray the cost of Elder Services' Elder Nutrition/Meals on Wheels programs.

Elder Services' Senior Lunch Sites Elder Services offers hot, nutritious noontime meals at senior lunch sites located throughout Berkshire County. Anyone 60 or over can reserve a meal at any of the sites by calling the site they would like to attend by 11:30 a.m. the previous day. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 per meal.

If You Receive Meals on Wheels & Are Not Going to be Home

PLEASE Call 1-800-981-5201.Drivers cannot leave meals if you are not at home.

If you do not contact Elder Services’ Nutrition Department to let them know

you will not be home to accept your meal, your driver will be concerned about

your well-being, and the staff will need to make several phone calls to be sure

you are all right.

If you don’t come to the door, your driver will contact the nutrition office to

do a well-being check on you, which may include contact with your local police

department.

Please keep us informed, and we will be better able to serve you.

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14 15 16 17

21 22 23 24

28 29 30 31

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Spinach

Beef Burgundy Baked Chicken w/ Gravy Soup & Sandwich Baked FishButtered Noodles Mashed Potatoes Cabbage Soup Red PotatoesPeas w/Pimiento Winter Blend Vegetables Egg Salad Sliced Beets

Dinner Roll Rye Bread Spiced Carrots Multigrain Bread

Cheeseburger Oriental Chicken Soup & Sandwich Goulash *Glazed Ham

Banana Hamburg Roll PearsApple Crisp Tossed Green Salad (Cong)

Tater Tots Brown Rice Cream of Broccoli Soup Mixed Greens Sweet PotatoBroccoli Florets Chinese Mixed Vegetables Tuna Salad Succotash German Red CabbageHamburg Roll Oatmeal Bread Green Beans Dinner Roll 100% Whole Wheat BreadApplesauce Pineapple Hotdog Roll Orange **Vanilla Pudding w/Topping

**Peach Cobbler

Veal Parmesan Shepherd's Pie Chicken & Biscuit Holiday Meal Split Pea SoupZiti w/ Sauce Mashed Potatoes Egg Noodles Pot Roast w/ Gravy Crabby Cakes

Spinach Italian Green Beans Winter Squash Garlic Mashed Potatoes Mixed VegetablesRye Bread 100% Whole Wheat Bread Orange Broccoli/Cauliflower Blend Multigrain Bread

Pears Peaches Tossed Green Salad (Cong) Dinner Roll Pineapple**Trifle

Salisbury Steak Macaroni & Cheese Swedish Meatballs Chicken Cacciatore

Mixed Fruit

Boiled Potatoes Stewed Tomatoes Buttered Noodles Roasted PotatoesSugar Snap Peas Green Beans

100% Whole Wheat BreadMixed Vegetables CHRISTMAS DAY

Orange Peaches Applesauce Pears

Sweet Potatoes Rice Pilaf Mixed Greens Mashed PotatoesButtered Corn Broccoli Carrots Zucchini Squash NEW YEAR'S DAY

3 4

11

25

18

Pineapple

100% Whole Wheat Bread Biscuit Italian Bread Dinner Roll

Barbecue Pork Baked Chicken w/ Gravy Lasagna Roast Pork w/ Gravy

Rye Bread Oatmeal Bread**Chocolate Pudding w/Topping

Multigrain BreadApplesauce Banana

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