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The BayPath Bulletin
News | Events | Resources
June 2019
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We empower individuals across the lifespan to live with dignity and independence in the community setting of their choice by providing quality resources and services.
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Thank you to the MetroWest Health Foundation!
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This year's Pride Month offers us an additional reason to celebrate, as the
MetroWest Health Foundation
has helped fund BayPath's LGBTQ+ Initiative for a third year.
Since 2017, we have received grants from the MetroWest Health Foundation t
o help build a sustainable relationship with the MetroWest LGBTQ+ older adult community in order to improve access to LGBTQ+ inclusive and informed health, mental health, and other information, resources, and services.
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We are thrilled to announce that the
MetroWest Health Foundation has awarded $34,736.40 to BayPath Elder Services, Inc.
for the LGBTQ+ Initiative, based on our proposal submitted to the foundation in early April 2019. The grant funds will be available over a 12-month span beginning July 1, 2019.
We thank the MetroWest Health Foundation for their support in helping us continue to establish BayPath as an LGBTQ+ informed and inclusive place to find support, information and resources for health and well-being.
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Celebrating June with Pride
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Why was June selected as
Pride Month?
According the the
Library of Congress
website, LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan and to
recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.
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BayPath is Proud every day!
BayPath Elder Services, Inc.'s mission is to empower individuals across the lifespan to live with dignity and independence in the community setting of their choice by providing quality resources and services. As part of that mission, BayPath strives to provide the very best information, resources and supports to LGBTQ+ older adults and their allies living in MetroWest.
For more information on the Baypath LGBTQ+ Initiative, call
BayPath's confidential LGBTQ+ phone line
at
508-573-7288
.
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Show your pride throughout the year
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This inter-generational banquet will celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising! Enjoy a delicious buffet-style dinner along with presentations reflecting upon that pivotal night in 1969, the progress we've made since then and the challenges we still face.
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BayPath Welcomes New Board Members
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Joe Bisol and Joel Bauman, MD have joined the BayPath Elder Services, Inc. Board of Directors.
Elections took place on May 22, 2019, and the term begins with the start of the fiscal year on July 1.
Joe Bisol is the Representative Director from the Marlborough Council on Aging and
Dr. Joel Bauman
is an At-Large member.
The Officers of the Corporation for Fiscal Year 2020 were also selected at the May meeting, with
Patricia Tabloski
, Ph.D., who is on the Board of the Sudbury Council on Aging, chosen for a second term as President;
James Zebrowski
who is a Board member of the Ashland Council On Aging, to serve as Vice President;
M. Kathleen Nealon
, Esq. of Hopkinton will serve a second term as Treasurer; and
Doug Peck
, who is an active member of the Southborough Council of Aging, will serve as Clerk for a second term.
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June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
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June is
Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month
, which is dedicated to generating increased conversations, donations, and public awareness about the disease. The goal is to raise funding for prevention, early detection, continued research, and enhanced care support.
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Dementia affects 47 million people worldwide, and within the United States, Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death.
Alz.org reports that of people age 65 and older, some individuals only survive an average of 4 to 8 years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia, while others live as long as 20 years. This demonstrates the unpredictable progression of the disease and the need to do what we can to end Alzheimer's and promote ways to maintain your cognitive health.
BayPath dedicated the significant portion of our social media posts to spotlight June as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month. You can see our posts and the overwhelming support this Awareness campaign received by searching with the hashtags
#ENDALZ
or
#EndAlzheimers
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The Longest Day - Alzehimer's Awareness Event
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The Longest Day
is the day with the most light - the summer solstice. On June 21, thousands of participants from across the world came together to fight the darkness of Alzheimer's through an activity of their choice.
The Vin Bin, a cafe/retail store in Marlborough, MA, hosted a Longest Day event for the second year in a row. All tables were covered with purple table cloths, purple treats were sold, discounts were available to customers 65+ and older. The Vin Bin asked BayPath to join the event, which provided us with an opportunity to share information about our vital programs and services.
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The Vin Bin, located at 91 Main Street, Marlborough, MA, hosted its second annual "Longest Day" Event on June 21 to raise awareness of Alzheimer's and invited BayPath to share our supportive Services.
Maureen Dennehy
and
Alexis
Smither
, both of whom are Information & Referral Specialists, represented BayPath at the Even
t.
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A spotlight on the vital services and programs at BayPath
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In each edition of the BayPath Bulletin, we showcase a different BayPath program and how it helps serve our consumers and local communities.
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Life in a nursing home or rest home can be unsettling for residents. Many feel powerless or forgotten. When problems occur, some residents do not believe that it is actually within their rights to complain.
Our
Long-term Care (LTC) Ombudsman Program seeks to empower residents to take control of their lives just as they did in their former homes. When this is not the case, the LTC Ombudsman will step in with the resident’s permission to attempt to resolve the issues at hand.
Ombudsman volunteers work with residents, their families, and the staff of long-term care facilities to improve the lives of the residents by ensuring that the required level of care and the standards of their environment are as they should be.
This is a state and federally mandated program sponsored by BayPath Elder Services, Inc. and is administered through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts'
Executive Office of Elder Affairs
. This BayPath program is managed by
Mary Brooks
, Ombudsman Program Director, and
relies heavily on the services of volunteer ombudsman.
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A Q&A with a BayPath Ombudsman Volunteer
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BayPath recently conducted a Q&A with longtime Ombudsman volunteer,
Ava Zinn
, and gained some insight as to what makes up the many facets of this role.
BayPath: What made you initially become a volunteer of our Ombudsman program?
Ava:
About five years ago, my career took a turn resulting in my retiring ahead of what I originally planned. I discovered that I wanted to do more with my time and looked into several volunteer opportunities. I have always been supportive of seniors and the obstacles they face as they age and have personal experience as a caregiver for my dad, so when I discovered the Ombudsman program at BayPath, I knew it was something I wanted to contribute my time to.
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Senator Eldridge visits BayPath
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On June 3, Massachusetts State Senator
Jamie Eldridge
visited our BayPath offices in Marlborough to learn more about the programs that BayPath offers to the MetroWest Community.
Eldridge met with Executive Director
Christine Alessandro
, Director of Clinical and Community programs
May Lou Sheehan
, Director of Client Services
Theresa Eckstrom
, Community Programs Manager
Douglas Flynn
, Nutrition Director
Denise Menzdorf
, and Healthy Living Coordinator
Renee D'Argento
.
Thank you Senator Eldridge for your interst in BayPath Elder Services and you support to those in need of our programs and services.
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(l-r) BayPath Director of Clinical and Community programs May Lou Sheehan, Senator Jamie Eldridge, Executive Director Christine Alessandro, and Healthy Living Coordinator Renee D'Argento
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"
Terrific meeting with Bay Path Elder Services senior staff in Marlborough today, to learn about the more than 24 programs that the home care organization provides to seniors in the Marlborough - Westborough - Southborough - Hudson area."
~Senator Jamie Eldridge
, Facebook post May 3, 2019
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2019 United Healthcare Expo
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BayPath's United SCO Supervisor Suzanne Menard (left) and SCO Program Manager Deborah Downing at the United Healthcare Expo
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On June 6, United Healthcare held its annual Expo at the Putnam Club at Gillette Stadium. The Expo is an opportunity for professionals who serve senior care members across the state of Massachusetts to gather and discuss their programs. There were representatives from 70 organizations representing a broad array of the community healthcare services.
The Keynote speaker was
Matilde Castiel M.D., Commissioner for Health and Human Services for the City of Worcester.
BayPath's United SCO Supervisor
Suzanne Menard and SCO Program Manager
Deborah Downing were in attendance and provided information about the many programs that BayPath offers to attendees.
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Traci Robidoux
, RD, LDN, BayPath's Dietitian/Nutritionist, visited the Southborough Senior Center on June 5 to deliver a presentation about combating chronic inflammation and associated pain through proper nutrition. Read the full story,
Key to combat chronic inflammation: eat a healthy diet
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Caregiving MetroWest - News and Updates
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Are you a Caregiver?
Before you can get the help and support you need, you need to understand the role you've taken on.
Fortunately, we can help. We have gathered all the information and resources you may need in one place on our national award-winning website,
CaregivingMetroWest.org
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Useful Links on the site:
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Events and Happenings
Learn how to recognize common signs of the disease, how to approach someone about memory concerns, and the importance of early detection.
Location:
Worcester Senior Center
49 Edmands Road, Framingham, MA 01701
Date:
Monday, August 19, 2019
Time:
10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
RSVP:
Alz Assoc.
24/7 Helpline: (800) 272-3900
Can't make it to an in-person seminar? The Alzheimer's Association offers several workshops online that support caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's.
Current offerings include:
- Keeping Your Loved Ones Safe at Home
- Juggling it all: Tips for Working Caregivers
- Prepare to Care: Paying for Your Loved One’s Care
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For more information about our Family Caregiver Support Program, call 508-573-7239. Also don't forget to check out all the information and resources available for caregivers on our national award-winning website,
Caregiving MetroWest
.
As always, we would also like to express our gratitude to
Avidia Bank
, our Community Partner whose generous support helps increase and enhance our efforts to support and assist area family caregivers.
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More About BayPath Elder Services, Inc.
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Founded in 1977 as a nonprofit corporation, BayPath has over 40 years of experience serving and advocating for the needs of older adults as a designated Massachusetts Aging Services Access Point and a designated Area Agency on Aging.
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Thank you for reading through our newsletter!
Have news, information or feedback from a client
that you want to see in our next newsletter?
Email us!
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BayPath Elder Services, Inc. is a member of the MetroWest ADRC,
a partnership with HESSCO and the MetroWest Center for Independent Living.
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