In this Issue
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Dear Friends, Contributors, Families and Consumers,
For over 40 years, Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley has printed and mailed our agency newsletter, Elder Forum, to a wide audience locally, statewide and nationally. We hope you were one of our readers and that you enjoyed receiving the newsletter and found it informative.
We know that a variety of "stakeholders" are interested in aging issues and resources. As our agency has evolved, we realized that one newsletter, published and mailed a few times a year, cannot adequately address the need for information of such a large and diverse group of readers.
We are happy to introduce IN FOCUS! We will be adapting our newsletter format to email, publishing on a monthly basis, and targeting a variety of audiences: elders and their family members, contributors who support the agency's work, as well as the professional aging network. Each newsletter will highlight people, programs, events, or resources to give readers a broad perspective about the aging process, and the elder service network that thrives in the Merrimack Valley. Articles will vary and cover a host of topics.
If you know someone who might enjoy receiving a copy, please send us their email address and they can begin receiving the newsletter for free. For those agency consumers who do not have email access, we will be publishing a small amount of newsletters for distribution, and are looking at new ways to reach those who lack computer access.
We consider the next three months as an initial trial period for this project and would love to hear your suggestions! Please feel free to email us at
Thank you!
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Profile in Giving: Al Peterson
Al Peterson has a simple answer for why he supports Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley: his mother, Margeurite. "My mother died in her own bed at 101 and it was Elder Services that made it possible for her to spend her final years at home," Peterson recalled recently. "My mother was your typical independent Irish woman. She would never ask for help, but when she needed it at 97, it was to Elder Services that we called. Her homemaker, Nellie MacPherson, became like family to her. She beamed when Nellie walked through that door. They just really clicked."
Both Marguerite Peterson and her husband, Albert, were born and raised in Lawrence. She worked as a secretary at the Sacony Oil Company and he was the station engineer, or boiler operator, for the Agawam Dye House. Following marriage, they settled on Bigelow Street in South Lawrence where they raised Al and his sister, Nancy.
"I had an idyllic childhood and never was without something to do," he recalled. "If we weren't in school, we spent the day until it got dark in the neighborhood park which had basketball and volley ball courts and a municipal pool."
Elder Services is among several legacy institutions in his hometown that grounded Al's life and that of his family - among them St. Patrick's Grammar School, Central Catholic and the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club.
An active 83-year-old, Al retired from Raytheon in 1991 as a manager in the production engineering department. He spends most days golfing or working in his flower and vegetable gardens, which he proudly maintains himself. He stays connected to his old high school as a member of Central's Development Committee and its Athletic Advisory Board. He also serves on the Board for the Salisbury Beach Betterment Association.
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Pfizer's community investment supports our mission
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Our Community Outreach Initiative with Pfizer, Inc., Andover, has been
a positive and productive experience.
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For almost 15 years, Pfizer Inc. has been an exemplary business leader in community investment. Since 2000, Pfizer has actively and generously supported Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley in a variety of ways: volunteer stipends for seven community programs, bake sale proceeds, support for our Money Management Program, adding the finishing touches of patio furniture for a new elder supportive housing site and supporting our annual Alzheimer's Conference - three years running - as our presenting sponsor.
Elder Services was chosen as part of Pfizer's two-year Community Outreach Initiative. A grant award for $9,000 was a catalyst in helping us realize a long-time wish list that includes creating opportunities for minority outreach through the Family Caregiver Support Program, supplying much needed equipment for the Elder Brown Bag Program, socialization support for residents' activities at a Tewksbury supportive housing site and volunteering opportunities for Pfizer staff at our community caregiver events.
Pfizer's generosity has certainly impacted the lives of many older folks and their families who depend on our community programs and services to remain in their community. Pfizer's Community Initiatives clearly demonstrate an active community presence and a sincere commitment in helping support our mission.
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Grandparent in Need
The Family Caregiver Support Program at Elder Services received a campership application from Johanna, a 72 year old geat-grandmother from Haverhill who has been raising her 11 year old great-granddaughter since she was 6 months old. Both of the girl's parents have addiction issues and are currently incarcerated. Johanna's great-granddaughter is blind and has multiple medical conditions that mean she requires a camp that can accommodate her needs.
Johanna found a Marine camp for three days in June through the Perkins School for the Blind. The weekend program cost $425. The Family Caregiver Program was able to pay $250 of the cost, but Johanna could not afford the $175 balance. The Family Caregiver Program reached out to the community for help in covering the remaining cost of the camp.
Luckily, the Greater Haverhill Breakfast Exchange Club stepped in to help. The Club is a local civic group committed to assisting and advocating on behalf of older adults in Greater Haverhill. Diane Galvin, President of the Greater Haverhill Breakfast Exchange states "our Club has been looking for more direct and creative ways to help older adults. As part of the oldest service club in the country, helping this local family speaks volumes about our core values of commitment to family and community. We were very happy to help Johanna's great-granddaughter experience camp this year."
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Award and Grants Received
Excellence in Leadership Award
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Sandy Markwood, CEO, n4a
with Rosanne DiStefano
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Rosanne DiStefano, Executive Director of Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley was presented the Excellence in Leadership Award from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging during the n4a Annual Conference in San Diego, CA. Rosanne was one of three individuals recognized nationally for their work in the field of aging. Rosanne was recognized for her leadership abilities and her capacity to serve as a catalyst for new ideas and quality programming that would meet the diverse needs of older consumers. The Healthy Living Center of Excellence was also recognized and presented with an Aging Innovations Award, the highest honor presented by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) to member agencies. The award was presented to The Center for their "The Evidence is in ...Healthy Living Programs Catch the Eye of Managed Care" program which was one of 16 local aging programs to receive recognition nationally.
Grants Awards (June - August)
- ESMV's Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) received a $10,000 grant from Eastern Bank to update tools and resources for caregivers and grandparents, including an enhanced, interactive website.
- EOEA tapped the Healthy Living Center of Excellence (HLCE) to conduct training and disseminate the Savvy Caregiver Program statewide.
- HLCE was awarded a $40,000 grant from the Greater Lowell Health Alliance to implement a FallsTalk program for fall-risk seniors in Greater Lowell.
- HLCE was included in a 3 year grant by the John A. Hartford Foundation and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A). The $75,000 annually will support continuation of HLCE's national training & technical assistance and healthcare linkages; N4A will use HLCE as a consultant to AAAs nationally.
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Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley's
20th Anniversary Golf Classic
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(l) First Place Winners: Billerica Paramedics Team
Joe Devlin, Chris Voutselas, Brian Lutrell, Tim Abbott
(r) Combat veterans sponsored by Commonwealth Nursing and Circle Home:
Randy Carter, Anthony Pandolph, Keith Lassond, Jim Aylward
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The Haverhill Country Club hosted 133 golfers at our 20th Anniversary Golf Classic on June 7th, which raised nearly $65,000 for elders.
Proceeds from the event benefit our Elder Care Fund, a financial resource for agency consumers who seek emergency assistance with basic necessities (food, prescriptions, fuel) or services like respite care for a 24/7 caregiver of a loved one with Alzheimer's Disease.
This outing has become a tradition
f
or many of our guests - a day to relax, play golf, and network for a great cause.
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