The BayPath Bulletin
News | Events | Resources

February 2019
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.
Teaching how you can better support LGBT older adults.
A lesson on how to be intuitive and affirming with LGBT elders
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On Monday, January 14, our Elder Community Care Program and our LGBT Initiative conducted a seminar that brought to light some of the issues facing older LGBT Adults.

The seminar opened with a showing of the film Gen Silent, followed by a discussion and training led by ECC Triage Coordinator Michelle Birdwell and LGBT Initiative Coordinator Julie Nowak . BayPath employees, as well as members from our partner agencies, United Way of Tri-County and Advocates, were in attendance.
The discussion focused on how to educate BayPath colleagues and affiliated associates on how to be welcoming and inclusive, and to use correct and affirming language with members of the LGBT community. 

LGBT individuals who are aged 65 and older have an ingrained distrust of medical institutions due to enduring decades when homosexuality was considered a mental illness that needed a cure. Now, this generation of LGBT elders is reaching a point in their life where they are likely to need social, domestic and/or medical support, but prior discrimination has made them cautious about seeking this help. Therefore, as an elder service provider, it is essential to understand their wariness so that we may help reduce self-imposed isolation in the LGBT Elder Community. 

BayPath is dedicated to ensuring that LGBT older adults receive the open, honest care they deserve. This seminar and our LGBT Elders Cultural Competency Training both serve to provide our employees and affiliated agencies with the knowledge they need to use affirming and appropriate language to intuitively support LGBT elders and help them feel safe and welcome.
Avidia Bank customers donate their rewards points!
Avidia Bank's "Giving Tuesday" event provides support to BayPath Elder Services, Inc.

D uring a charity event called "Giving Tuesday", Avidia customers joined the bank in giving back to the local community by donating a portion of their rewards points to local charities and BayPath was honored to have received a donation. 
A total of $1,214.66 was raised through the points donation drive, plus a dollar for dollar donation match from Avidia Bank. The four charities that received donations were, Buddy Dog Humane Society in Sudbury, Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) based in Framingham, Big Brother Big Sister of Central Mass/MetroWest and BayPath Elder Services based in Marlborough.   

Community Partnership between BayPath Elder Services and Avidia Bank.
In May, 2018, Avidia Bank officially announced that it will donate $105,000 over the next three years to support BayPath’s Family Caregiver Support Program.

The funds will provide added awareness of the program and sustain delivery of its high level support to caregivers in MetroWest through its trained caregiver specialists, a national award-winning CaregivingMetroWest.org website dedicated to supporting caregivers with comprehensive information and resource listings for all aspects of caregiving, and educational programs to teach caregivers how to avoid stress and burnout and how to care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.
A spotlight on the vital services and programs at BayPath
In each edition of the BayPath Bulletin, we will be showcasing a different BayPath program and how it helps serve our consumers and local communities.

This issue we begin with our Information and Referral Team, detailing what happens when a consumer calls BayPath with a request for information.
Information and Referral Services
508-573-7200

Providing the most up to date information on available services for older adults, persons with disabilities and caregivers.

BayPath's Information and Referral Services (I&R) offers you guidance in identifying support options that meet your specific needs. I&R is a free service through which callers can obtain information about community resources for consumers of all ages. 

When you call BayPath with an inquiry, an I&R Specialist will listen to your questions and then through conversation, assess your needs to guide you to the correct program or service that will support your well-being.   

There is no shame in needing assistance; we all do from time to time. BayPath I&R can point you to one of our services or to an outside program that will assist you in your day-to-day activities so that you are greater positioned to stay at home where you want to be!
“As an I&R Specialist, it is very gratifying when we get to see for ourselves how our information can positively impact the life of someone in need of support.”
The CareGiving Chronicles blog editor met with our I&R Specialists and learned that their role not only entails dispensing knowledge, but that it is driven first and foremost by an unwavering desire to show compassion and support to the individuals who reach out to them.

As the specialists were describing what they do throughout a typical day, one story in particular stood out about how the I&R Specialist was able to help someone on their caregiving journey in an unexpected way and how rewarding that experience was.
Way to go Pats!
A Tailgate Potluck Lunch
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Thursday, January 31, BayPath folks gathered for football-related food and fun, in honor of The Big Game!

The decorations were on point and the potluck lunch rivaled any stadium tailgate party!

The BayPath Fun Committee scores again!
...and so did the Pats!
The BayPath Fun Committee decorates with team spirit!
The team brought in tons of goodies for lunch and dessert
Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest
Stop by and give us a like and a follow!

We have expanded our social media reach for BayPath Elder Services and for Caregiving MetroWest and now have a consistent presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 

Our Twitter and Facebook posts range from information about our services, to notification of a recent blog post, to announcements about relevant MetroWest events, and to just fun quotes and interesting articles. 

Our Pinterest boards are packed with fun and informative lifestyle guides and hacks for cooking for one, easy at-home exercise, nutrition advice, "brain" games for better memory, and other useful inspiration relevant to aging and to caregiving. It is a fun tool to share with consumers!
We would love your help spreading the word. Click the icons to visit, like and share!
If you have any suggestions on what type of posts you would like to see, email dmcdonagh@baypath.org
Caregiving MetroWest - News and Updates
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 nationally-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.
More About BayPath Elder Services, Inc.
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!
BayPath Elder Services, Inc. is a member of the MetroWest ADRC, 
a partnership with HESSCO and the MetroWest Center for Independent Living.


BayPath Elder Services, Inc.| 508-573-7200 |  http://www.baypath.org