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The BayPath Bulletin
News | Events | Resources
JULY 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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Community Partners: MetroWest Subaru & BayPath Meal on Wheels
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MetroWest Subaru
has been a supporting partner of
BayPath's Meals on Wheels (MOW)
program for the last few years. In this video produced by MetroWest Subaru,
Allison Park
, Nutrition Supervisor for BayPath, and
VJ Donnelly,
General Manager of MetroWest Subaru
, demonstrate that Meals on Wheels not only helps older people in our community to live more comfortably in their own home, but that the program also reduces senior isolation with a friendly visit from their MOW volunteer on a daily basis.
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[Click arrow above to start video]
Additionally, BayPath Elder Services recently received $6,390.75 by participating in the 2018-2019 Subaru Share the Love
®
Event.
Thank you MetroWest Subaru for your continued support and dedication to making a difference in the community!
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Certified Dementia Practitioner Certification
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Alternatives in Alzheimer’s Care™ educator, Tammy Pozerycki
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Training for health care professionals
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Tammy Pozerycki
, Educator and Owner of
Alternatives in Alzheimer’s Care™
,
provided
Certified Dementia Practitioner Certification training at the BayPath Marlborough office on June 10 and again on July 10. The next training is scheduled for September 10.
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Attendees included members of the BayPath Home Care Team, staff from other Massachusetts Aging Services Access Points and employees, social workers, administrators, and nurses within dementia care facilities. After completing the NCCDP Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care Seminar, individuals then submit an application to NCCDP to become certified as a Dementia Practitioner.
As per the
Alternatives in Alzheimers Care
website: "A CDP
®
certification reflects a deep personal commitment on the part of the health care professional and the organization's sense of accountability by abiding by NCCDP the Ethic's statement, inspiring confidence and dedication in an individual's professional knowledge through quality of life and quality of care provided by the CDP
®
to the dementia patient."
Tammy Pozerycki
was also the founder of Pleasantries Adult Day Services, LLC in Marlborough, MA. Tammy is a Certified Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care Trainer; Certified First Responder Dementia Trainer; and Certified Dementia Practitioner through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Through the Alzheimer's Association MA/NH Chapter, Tammy facilitates a community-based Alzheimer's Caregivers' support group established in 2009 and established the "Create A Better Day Cafe™" in 2011, which was the first established Memory Café in Massachusetts.
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Gay Pride: Welcoming and Working with LGBTQ+ Elders
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Connecting for Success: MAVA 2019 Conference.
The Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA) represents the interests of vocational technical educators and administrators from public high schools throughout the commonwealth.
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The conference was held this year at
Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School
. Assabet Health Tech instructors
Kathy Regan
and
Kathy Faddoul
suggested that
Julie Nowak
, LGBTQ+ Initiative Coordinator for BayPath Elder Services, become a speaker at the conference. Honored, Julie created a one-hour presentation that centered on the following concepts:
Reviewing essential terms and concepts of the Rainbow Community, to better understand how it is comprised of a vast and vibrant spectrum of individuals striving to live and express themselves authentically.
Journeying through the obscured history of older LGBTQ+ adults, as a way to understand how the challenges, fears, and triumphs they faced through their lifespan, impacts their current mental, physical, and financial health. This history is why these often isolated, and deeply wary LGBTQ+ elders are increasingly reliant upon (yet reluctant to seek) social services and medical help.
Building inter-generational awareness within the medical field by encouraging health instructors to factor LGBTQ+ history, terms, and concepts into their lesson plans. The goal is enable their students to enter into their chosen medical field, as proactive facilitators of compassion and encouragement when working with LGBTQ+ elders.
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Creating a welcoming space for individuals of any orientation. In this context,
"welcoming" is the inclusion of
affirming LGBTQ+ language and imagery, and
"space" can be defined as an in-person conversation or school printed and digital collateral.
Examples of this include:
- Using of LGBTQ+ imagery or photographs online and in brochures
- Updating documentation, such as intake forms, expanding things like gender identification options
- Asking questions in a way that allows for more inclusive answers
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Gender Fluid Conversations
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The class was extremely well received, with over 35 students giving Julie “excellent” evaluation scores. Additionally, several administrative attendees inquired about BayPath bringing similar presentations to their schools.
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A Matter of Balance classes to begin in September
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Fall Prevention Training
A MATTER OF BALANCE is an award-winning, evidence-based program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. The program is administered by the
Healthy Living Center of Excellence.
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BayPath, through our Healthy Living Program, is offering an 8-week course to help anyone concerned about falls and anyone interested in improving balance, flexibility, and overall strength.
The program is designed to help those who have restricted their activities because of a fear of falling by empowering them to recognize that they can prevent falls from happening. The training sets goals for increasing activity levels and improving balance. Additionally, participants will be shown ways they can make small changes in their life that will reduce the risk of falls occurring.
Renee D'Argento, our Healthy Living Coordinator, is a certified "A MATTER OF BALANCE" trainer and will be conducting the course on Wednesdays from 12:30 - 2:30 from September 25 through November 13, 2019. Classes will take place at the Hopkinton Senior Center located at 28 Mayhew Street in Hopkinton, MA.
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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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What is Adult Family Care?
The Adult Family Care Program (AFC) is sometimes referred to as Adult Foster Care. The program provides eligible individuals, who are already MassHealth Standard or M
assHealth
CommonHealth
members, with the opportunity to select a caregiver of their choosing so that they may be cared for in their own home or the home of the caregiver.
The caregiver becomes responsible for assisting with personal care and home management tasks. In exchange, the designated caregiver receives a monthly stipend.
How does BayPath support the program?
The member and the caregiver are visited monthly by a nurse and a case manager from BayPath. The BayPath AFC team provides individualized education and training to the caregiver and monitors the member's level of care.
The AFC team works in unison with the consumer and their caregiver to ensure that member's daily needs are met with consistency and that the home environment remains safe for the consumer.
Additionally, consumers enrolled in the BayPath AFC program are also eligible to attend adult day health programs and receive skilled nursing and rehab services from a home health agency and hospice. The AFC team helps coordinate these services with other care agencies to ensure that our consumer is getting the support that they need.
The AFC team.
The BayPath AFC program is run by Program Manager
Denisse Gould, reporting to Director of Clinical Operations and Community Programs
Mary Lou Sheehan. The AFC program recently earned a 3-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (
CARF).
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Summer provides additional opportunities for outreach
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BayPath provides information to shoppers at the Farmer's Market in Westborough.
On July 18
th, Options Counselor
Courtney Cassels, accompanied by Information & Referral Specialist
Maureen Dennehy, set up an information table at the Westborough Farmers Market.
With the market being a highly attended gathering place for Westborough and surrounding towns, Courtney and Maureen had an opportunity to share information about our services to both potential consumers or their caregivers.
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The Westborough Farmer's market, provides locally grown food, music and crafts. It is in it's
ninth season and is held on Thursdays from 12 – 5 p.m. in historic downtown Westborough.
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Summertime sweets bring office comradery
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BayPath Ice Cream Social
The Senior Management team at BayPath organized a mid-week treat for staff to show their appreciation for the hard work and dedication the team delivers on a consistent basis.
Shown here, the BayPath Management Team serves up numerous ice cream flavors to staff.
From left to right are Nutrition Director
Denise Mendzorf,
Executive Director
Christine Alessandro
, Director of Clinical Operations and Community Programs
Mary Lou Sheehan,
and Area Agency on Aging Assistant Director
Fran Bakstran. Not shown is Director of Client Services
Theresa Eckstrom, who coordinated the gathering and also scooped ice cream for the team.
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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.
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“To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors.”
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Events and Happenings
Starting 8/22/2019
A FREE six-session training series for family and friends who are active caregivers of a loved one with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. T
his course helps you to understand the impact dementia has on you and your care recipient.
In the class, you will learn:
- How to develop the skills you need to manage daily life as a caregiver Strategies that can help you minimize your stress levels
- How to take control and set goals
- Techniques that will help you communicate more effectively
- Ways to strengthen family resources
- How to achieve a better balance between caregiving and your self-care.
Where:
Hudson Senior Center
Address:
29 Church Street, Hudson, MA
Duration:
Classes run for 6-weeks
Day and Time:
Wednesdays from
12-2 p.m.
Dates:
August 22, 29 and September 5, 12, 19, 26
For more information or to register, contact:
Karen Trilligan, Caregiver Specialist
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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
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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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