This is the time of year when all of us want to shout from Poet’s Seat Tower that we LOVE our LifePath Volunteers! We cannot do what we do without the engagement of your service support. Thank you for helping us help our more vulnerable neighbors.  

In the past year, LifePath volunteers gave tirelessly of themselves, sharing their time and commitment with over 6,000 older adults and individuals living with disabilities who reside among us in Franklin County and the North Quabbin area. This commitment has an amazing impact on our community. Last year, the combined efforts of our volunteers enhanced the resilience of our neighbors and also contributed close to $750,000 in hours to the economic vibrancy of our region.  

Again, this is amazing.  

This April, we will take part in a joyful national celebration of volunteerism. LifePath celebrates its volunteers EVERY DAY. We rely on you and your willingness to engage and serve others. Recently, a LifePath Home Care Client, June G. from Hawley, MA, shared, “I was a registered nurse for 30 years in the Boston area. I retired and moved to Hawley. And then, after my husband passed, Parkinson’s arrived in my life. I can’t write out the details I need for my checks and money affairs. A LifePath volunteer comes and helps—this makes all the difference to me and my ability to stay at home.”   

And Patricia, a LifePath Meals on Wheels recipient living in Athol, MA, said, “Thank you so much for these meals. They are delicious! You have a great variety on the menu. They have made such a big difference in my life. I eat so much better now. It was so hard for me to cook a good meal for myself before. Now, I enjoy dinner time and I eat healthier food.” 

What Our LifePath Volunteers Are Saying 

Phone Pal Volunteer Denis Ross shared, “My part is to make people feel good and to listen to what people need to say.” Denis calls his Phone Pal once a week for about 20 minutes, checking in and saying “hello.” 

Jane Plager, a LifePath Rides for Health Volunteer and Citizen’s Advisory Board Member, described her LifePath volunteer experience this way, “I retired almost 3 years ago from a 40-year career in primary care. I missed the patient contact, so I reached out to LifePath and found a plethora of volunteer opportunities. I now serve on the Citizen’s Advisory Board. This opened my eyes to the needs the elders and disabled folks in our community are faced with each day, and how LifePath meets those needs. I provide feedback to try and improve things. I have met many other committed volunteers in this process. Also, I volunteer for LifePath’s Rides for Health which has provided me a great way to give back to the community by getting clients to medical appointments who would have no other means to get there. LifePath has been a wonderful opportunity for me to still feel productive, resourceful, and fulfilled in my retirement.”  

Lexi Turner, a new volunteer in LifePath’s Money Management Program, said, “I am so glad that I decided to volunteer with LifePath. I meet with my money management client every few weeks. My client is older, living alone, and was finding managing her bills on a limited income, especially medical bills, stress-inducing and overwhelming. With the regularity of our visits, now she feels more confident and less alone. It is really rewarding, and a reminder of how small acts to support our neighbors can make a big difference in all our lives.”  

“Financial exploitation happens over time, and the LifePath Money Management volunteers are lighthouses who shed light on sometimes hidden situations,” said Rachel Webber, District Attorney’s Office & Money Management Advisory Board Member.

More Comments from LifePath’s Volunteers in the Rainbow Elders, Age & Dementia Friendly, and Meals on Wheels Programs 

Scott Eaton, a member of LifePath’s Rainbow Elders Steering Committee, said, “I joined the Steering Committee of Rainbow Elders in gratitude and to be of service to the community, and for the friendships it has brought me.” 

LifePath’s Age & Dementia Friendly Advisory Council Member Denise Schwartz shared, “I had already worked on projects that focused on older adults when I volunteered for Greenfield Community College‘s OASIS outreach effort. So, when I had a chance to be on LifePath’s Age & Dementia Friendly Advisory Council, I wanted to continue to be a voice for older adults. Learning how to build age-friendly communities fit perfectly. I soon found ADF is not a ‘sit down and talk about it’ kind of volunteer gig, but rather it’s a ‘discuss, think, and make it happen’ volunteer role. Together, we have done good things. I have learned so much!” 

Volunteer Drivers Joyce & Jim Muka (who drive their route together) said, “We really enjoy delivering Meals on Wheels. It gives us the opportunity to give back to our community while meeting some awesome people including our clients, the other drivers, and the staff at LifePath.” 

Join Our Amazing LifePath Volunteers to Make a Difference  

We are aging at a much faster pace in our beautiful area than in other counties in Massachusetts. People age 65 and above in Franklin County and the North Quabbin area make up 26.5% of the population versus 19% in the state of Massachusetts. By 2030, that percentage is expected to increase to over 30%. This fact means LifePath is receiving more requests for support.  

People are living longer. Often our extended older lives are bringing increasing health challenges such as limitations caused by aging, chronic disease, mental health challenges, dementia, and sometimes substance use disorders. The pace of aging, increasing poverty rates, and increasingly complex health situations results in more calls to LifePath. We need more volunteers to help us. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Right now.  

Visit our Volunteer page to fill out the simple volunteer application. LifePath creates a safe and inclusive environment for our volunteers, our staff, and those we serve. 

How does where we live shape how we age? What aspects of a community help or hinder our ability to age well? The key to well-being in aging goes beyond supportive services for those in need, which is why LifePath, along with key partner Franklin Regional Council of Governments, and funders MA Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds and Point32 Health Plan Foundation, is leading the Age-Friendly movement here in Franklin County and the North Quabbin.   

The Age-Friendly model, developed by the World Health Organization and AARP, says that the communities best suited to support people as they age are strong in eight domains: Outdoor Spaces and Buildings, Transportation, Housing, Social Participation, Civic Participation and Employment, Communication and Information, Community Support, and Health Services. The model allows each community to define specific changes that help residents age well. These changes can only succeed when organizations like LifePath, along with other community groups, businesses, and residents themselves, work together. Success means great news not only for older people, but for everyone. 

One way that LifePath’s Age & Dementia Friendly Program supports these changes is by providing over $85,000 in funding to 30 community-led Age & Dementia Friendly projects to date. In this article, I’ll share a few examples of local residents creating the changes we need in order to become a wonderful place to age. 

This looping trail, which winds through a towering grove of white pines and an observation deck overlooking a beautiful hidden pond, is designed to meet the United States Forest Service’s guidelines for accessibility.

Research has shown that getting outside and being physically active is important for quality of life as we age. However, mobility challenges can make this difficult. In response, several organizations in our area are creating universally accessible trails and adding benches in areas where people can walk. For example, Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust has invested in a project called Benches For All, which aims to make some of its many public walking and hiking trails more accessible to people of all ages and abilities by adding age-friendly benches, which boast higher seats and strong arms for support in sitting and standing, along the route. This follows work to create the Gunnery Sergeant Jeffrey S. Ames Accessible Nature Trail in Northfield a few years ago. This looping trail, which winds through a towering grove of white pines and an observation deck overlooking a beautiful hidden pond, is designed to meet the United States Forest Service’s guidelines for accessibility. Here people of all ages and abilities can immerse themselves in nature—not just older adults, but also children, families, and people with disabilities. Further to the west, in Rowe, age-friendly funds were used to purchase a beach wheelchair, opening a town lake to all. With an even lower-investment solution, a group of older adults in Colrain started a walking group and distributed a map of “safer” roads to walk on. By allowing people to more easily get outside and be active, these projects help residents of all abilities access the outdoors. 

Another exciting area is progress around civic engagement for those living with hearing loss. Hearing loss is detrimental not just to the person, but to the whole community as it loses individuals’ perspectives and contributions; then potentially, if enough people are excluded, decisions are made that don’t reflect the viewpoints of older adults in general and may unintentionally make the community less supportive of the needs of aging people. The towns of Ashfield, Buckland, and Northfield have all invested in assistive hearing technology that helps people with hearing loss to continue to take part in meetings. This technology helps people hear better in noisy or large spaces by sending sound directly from a microphone to the listener’s hearing aid or earbuds with no background noise, reverberation, or static. Other towns have used closed captioning in Zoom meetings. In another example, the towns of Bernardston, Conway, Erving, and Leverett have passed senior tax work-off policies. These policies allow eligible senior citizens to volunteer for their local government in exchange for a reduction on their property tax bill. By doing all we can to help older people take part in civic life, more of our communities will benefit from their wisdom and ability. 

The 2022 Age Friendly survey indicated older adults’ need for information. A lot has happened under the Communication and Information domain that will help fill this need. Residents of Leyden created a “Fact Book” of town information and resources that was mailed to all residents. Other towns have created or expanded newsletters. Additionally, many communities have expanded access to computers and tablets for older people. Greenfield Housing Authority used grant funding to provide computer access for older adult residents. South County Senior Center provided 140 tablets to residents along with training and support. LifePath can assist with finding devices for those in need, and the United Way provides free “digital navigator” one-on-one help to any resident. All these activities are helping residents be informed and have access to information and resources that will help them age well. 

We are humbled and impressed by the ingenuity and commitment of all the individuals and organizations who have worked on projects in support of the Action Plan. LifePath can help by distributing grant funding and providing structure, encouragement, and technical help, but it’s the wider community that is working to help itself. For communities to age well now and in the future, we must widen our scope beyond providing services to individuals, to include examining the policies, systems, and environments that allow older adults to flourish. Just as important is ensuring that the perspectives of older adults and people with lived experience remain central to meeting our goals equitably. To accomplish this, LifePath regularly convenes a 20-member Age & Dementia Friendly Council. The guidance they and others provide is implemented through close collaboration with our key partner Franklin Regional Council of Governments to leverage the essential support provided by funders. 

Have you heard about other projects that are helping make our communities more age-friendly? What are your ideas for making your town a better place to age? I’d love to hear from you or discuss how you can get involved in this exciting work. Please contact me, Lynne Feldman, at LFeldman@LifePathMA.org or 413-829-9221.

As you read this, spring has officially sprung! Spring has significance as a time of awakening and a time of renewal and rebirth. It brings with it a way of making things feel possible again. Maybe it’s the lack of snow and the arrival of greenery and flowers, or the warmth of the sun, but it’s a time we shake off the winter and start to think about what’s next. This spring, LifePath and MassHire Franklin Hampshire want to make sure that the feeling of possibility comes with real opportunity. 

Maura Geary, Co-Executive Director of MassHire Franklin Hampshire, and I, are excited to share news about a new partnership between MassHire Franklin Hampshire and LifePath. Together, we believe this initiative could be genuinely life-changing for older adults in our region who are looking to enter, or re-enter, the workforce. 

The goal of this grant-funded opportunity is to connect adults 55 and older with paid, hands-on training that leads directly into stable, entry-level jobs at local health centers. 

Through a Commonwealth Corporation Workforce Competitive Trust Fund award, MassHire Franklin Hampshire is leading a new Rural Healthcare Workforce Training Initiative. LifePath is proud to be a key partner in bringing this program to older adults across Franklin County. The goal of this grant-funded opportunity is to connect adults 55 and older with paid, hands-on training that leads directly into stable, entry-level jobs at local health centers. A unique aspect of this training, and something that we’re very proud of, is that this is a paid opportunity. Participants earn an hourly wage throughout the six-week training. This removes a significant barrier for individuals looking to make a change, and they will not need to choose between making ends meet and investing in their future. 

Why This, Why Now? 

MassHire has its finger on the pulse of all things employment-related, and something they hear from local healthcare employers regularly is that certain positions are genuinely hard to fill and even harder to retain. Roles like medical receptionists, patient care representatives, and other customer service roles sit at the front lines of the patient experience. They require reliability, communication, and care — qualities that, frankly, many older adults have in abundance. And yet, breaking into a new field without a clear entry point can feel overwhelming for older adults who still have so much to give. That’s exactly the gap this program is designed to close. 

Training programs like this are scarce. And the idea of giving up income to attend a program, no matter how promising, puts opportunity out of reach for too many people. This initiative was built with those realities in mind. 

What the Training Looks Like 

The program runs for six weeks and is delivered in person. It’s structured in three connected layers, each building on the last. 

MassHire Franklin Hampshire leads the first layer: workforce readiness. That means practical skills like digital literacy, professional communication, email etiquette, customer service, cultural sensitivity, and OSHA training. These trainings were carefully selected because they are the foundation that helps someone not just get a job but succeed and grow in it. 

LifePath contributes the second layer: healthcare work readiness. We’ll review health insurance and how it works, medical terminology, HIPAA and information control, and support electronic medical record training. I spent decades working in healthcare settings and I know how intimidating the work can feel to someone on the outside. Our modules are designed to remove that intimidation by giving participants the vocabulary, structure, and context they need to confidently walk through the door and enter these roles.  

The third layer is where it all comes together. Our first employer partners for this initiative are Community Health Center of Franklin County and Baystate Franklin Medical Center. They will provide on-the-job training directly in the settings where participants will actually work. That includes new employee orientation, site-specific learning, advanced medical terminology, and training on their specific electronic health records platforms. Another positive aspect for this program’s participants is real, hands-on practice and experience at the worksites.  

This training is just the beginning. After the six weeks, participants move directly into positions at our partnering employers, where they have been training alongside their new colleagues, ready to start their new career, and ready to serve their patients.  

Why LifePath’s Role Matters 

LifePath has supported older adults, people living with disabilities, and caregivers for more than 50 years. Over those decades, we have touched thousands of lives and created long-standing, trusting relationships. We are connected to our community through senior centers, councils on aging, meal sites, housing communities, volunteer networks, and caregiver programs. Some of these connections are with individuals who might not otherwise see themselves in a healthcare career. Part of our role in this partnership is to reach out to these individuals, share information, and help them see that this could be a career that feels made for them. 

As people live longer and face increasing financial pressures, we’re seeing more individuals who want or need to return to work. We know firsthand how meaningful employment can transform someone’s stability, sense of purpose, and overall well-being. This program sits right at the intersection of everything LifePath cares about. 

The Bigger Picture 

MassHire Franklin Hampshire plans to run eight cohorts of this training between 2026 and 2028, preparing approximately 50 new healthcare workers for our region. With an expected placement rate of 80 percent, that means roughly 40 people, and hopefully more, entering local healthcare settings in roles that provide stable employment and benefits. 

Rural healthcare providers only function when people show up every day and bring their best to these front office and patient-facing roles. This initiative helps make sure those people are trained, supported, and here to stay. 

Ready to Take the Next Step? 

The first cohort is launching soon, and we are actively recruiting. If you’re 55 or older and curious about a career in healthcare, I encourage you to reach out. Whether you’re changing careers, returning to work after time away, or simply looking for something meaningful to do with your skills and energy, this program could be a great next step for you.  

To learn more or to register, contact LifePath at 413-773-5555. Spots are limited. Don’t wait for the next season to come around. 

LifePath provides services and support to older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers across Franklin County and the North Quabbin region. To learn more, call 413-773-5555 or explore our website. 

MassHire Franklin Hampshire is the workforce development organization for Franklin and Hampshire Counties, helping residents build skills, access training, and connect with good jobs. To learn more, visit their website.

When I meet with a new patient, the first thing I look at is the way the person walks and their shoes. The ways the shoe connects to the shape of someone’s foot has everything to do with the corns, callouses, and the irritations and even pain and discomfort that I will find when I examine their feet. A foot care session becomes a lesson about choice and fit and begins an investigation into how shoe choice impacts the body. This is insider shoe knowledge people benefit from knowing but seldom receive.  

 Gone are the days of the expert shoe fitter. With so many choices available, too many people leave a shoe store in mild discomfort, hoping to “break in” their new shoes over time. They pinch the end of the shoe, find some toe space, and assume the shoes fit. Or they order online and keep shoes that don’t feel quite right because it’s a chore to send them back. Too often, people think going up a size will fix the problem, but this ignores foot volume and shape and can result in feet slipping around in shoes that are too big. Even shoes that come in widths may still not fit properly if the widest part of the shoe does not match the widest part of the foot. Many of my patients have a closet filled with shoes that are rarely worn because they never felt quite right.   

When I meet with a new patient, the first thing I look at is the way the person walks and their shoes.

When there is slippage or rubbing, the shoe may not be properly secured or may not actually fit. If toes are clenched or pointed upwards, as they do when they are trying to keep a too-large shoe on, there’s often foot pain, and an altered gait. Also, when toes cannot wiggle freely, they cannot do their part in balance. Each tiny toe is loaded with thousands of nerve receptors that feed the brain information to help us adjust to uneven terrain. A stiffened foot does not function well.    

We wear shoes for protection, fashion, and activities. We buy them without realizing that some features may not be compatible with our needs. For instance, many sneakers and walking shoes offer quite a bit of cushioning to absorb impact. We live in a hard-paved world, so that makes sense, but there is another side. Feet are designed to move and respond to the environment. To the body, walking on air-filled shoes is like trying to walk on a mattress. It’s hard work and not the way the body is supposed to move. Some boots are stiff and promise support, but when the foot cannot move, the foot muscles become weak. Weak, wobbly feet lead to loss of balance, falls, and knee and hip pain.    

One person’s favorite shoe can be another person’s problem. A fit runner will swear by a pair of sneakers and suggest them for an older adult, not realizing that the science of foot health for older adults suggests a thinner sole which allows for contact, not disconnection. This is important because older adults often have sensory deprivation (hearing, sight, feeling) and depriving them of more contact is not an optimal choice.   

Shoes and shoe choice push up against marketing and fashion so at the very least it’s complicated, and there is no solution that works for everyone, except for education. A trained foot care nurse can educate about evaluating fit. I start by pulling out the insole of a patient’s shoe and holding it against the bottom of my patient’s foot. Whether or not the shapes match becomes immediately clear. Deep indentations in the toe area indicate that the toes are curling downwards to hold a shoe not secured well. Gripping equals tension that can spread throughout the body. Tension negatively influences circulation, blood pressure, and well-being. In a tense body, energy cannot flow, legs and feet stiffen, and a life-changing fall becomes more probable.     

People can check for shoe shape compatibility when they are shopping. Pulling out the insole and comparing it to the pattern of your foot can be easily done; or spend a few minutes at home tracing the outline of the foot, cut it out, and bring it to the store. Holding this pattern against a shoe on display will immediately tell you if the shapes conform. A caregiver shopping for someone who does not go out can bring this outline to the shoe store to be sure that the purchase is a “good fit.”    

Once the proper shoe selection is made, fastening the shoe is the next challenge. Slip-on shoes are popular now, especially among people who have trouble reaching their feet, but they will never be as secure as a shoe that is laced correctly. There are thousands of ways to tie a shoe, but people are taught just one when they learn to tie their shoes. Often changing the lacing pattern just a little can result in more security. Patients at FootCare by Nurses are often surprised by this small change.   

For me, the most important part of my work is the educational component. Most patients are delighted to have new knowledge that can enhance their quality of life and help prevent foot-related pain and falls. Unlike podiatrists who tend to focus on medical interventions, foot care nurses have many tools that focus on prevention and understanding.    

I hope that readers will feel compelled to take off their shoes and inspect the insoles to see what they reveal. This is something caregivers can do as well. And while your shoes are off, spend a few moments stretching and massaging those feet and enjoy the sensations. I can promise that proactive application of pattern fit and securement will prevent many ailments including foot, knee, hip, and back pain while also saving you money. At the very least the shoes you purchase (even at the thrift store) will be far more comfortable and will not end up in the back of the closet. 

This March we celebrate National Nutrition Month® to raise awareness of dietary and lifestyle choices that support health. The theme “Discover the Power of Nutrition” brings us an opportunity to review and discuss the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030, released on January 7, 2026. Every 5 years, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) update these nutrition guidelines to help direct nutrition policy, health care, and community programs like the Home Delivered Meal Program for older adults and the National School Lunch Program. While many have welcomed the focus on whole foods in the new guidelines, critics have jumped on the promotion of animal proteins and full-fat dairy, and how the administration rejected evidence-based recommendations put forth by an independent group of scientists in favor of their own scientific analysis that lacked full transparency.  

The new guidelines bring back the pyramid logo which was first introduced in the 90’s, but this time as an upside-down inverted pyramid shifting focus to protein, fats, vegetables, and fruit while reducing the emphasis on grains. Flipping the pyramid is symbolic of what Secretaries Kennedy & Rollins call “the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in our nation’s history.” 

The new dietary guidelines emphasize “eat real food” and reiterate some generally agreed upon recommendations built on decades of research, including: eat more vegetables and fruit; choose fiber-rich whole grains over refined grains; and limit added sugars, refined carbohydrates, and highly processed foods. A key message is the avoidance of highly processed packaged and ready-to-eat foods which often have excessive amounts of sodium and added sugar, and include foods like chips, cookies, candy, sodas, fruit drinks, and anything else with artificial flavors, dyes, and preservatives. 

The guidelines place stricter limits on added sugars and new limits on non-nutritive sweeteners, noting that “no amount of added sugars or non-nutritive sweeteners is recommended or considered part of a healthy or nutritious diet.” At the very least, meals should have no more than 10 grams (g) of added sugars, a ⅔ cup of yogurt should not exceed 2.5 g of added sugar, and children should avoid added sugars until age 10.  

Protein recommendations increased to 1.2-1.6 g per kg body weight, which is 50-100% more than previous recommendations, with emphasis on “prioritizing protein foods at every meal.” While plant-sourced protein foods such as lentils, beans, and soy are mentioned as options, they aren’t easily deciphered on the inverted pyramid and are downplayed in the guidelines while animal-sourced protein foods are accentuated.  

Recommendations specific for older adults in the new guidelines are sparse but bring forth the importance of paying attention to protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and calcium. Older adults should meet these nutrient needs through whole foods first and consider fortified foods or supplements under medical supervision if needed. 

Aspects of the “eat real food” message that have stirred the most controversy include the new promotion of full-fat dairy and red meat, and the designation of butter and beef tallow as healthy fat options, despite established research on the harm in consuming too much saturated fat. The new inverted pyramid includes a fatty steak, cheese, and whole milk in the widest portion of the image, which seems to encourage the consumption of these animal-sourced foods, high in saturated fats, without needed guidance on healthy limits. 

While the guidelines maintain the recommendation to limit saturated fats to <10% of calories (22 g of saturated fat), the math doesn’t quite work out if eating full-fat dairy and animal foods for protein. For example, recommendations for an average 2000 calorie per day diet include 3 servings of dairy, 3-4 servings of protein foods, and 4.5 servings of healthy fats. Three servings of full-fat dairy provide about 17 g of saturated fat (5 g in a cup of whole milk, 6 g in ¾ cup of full fat Greek yogurt, 6 g in 1 oz of cheddar cheese), already at 77% of the daily limit. Adding a tablespoon of butter (7 g saturated fat), beef tallow (6 g saturated fat), or a 4 oz broiled sirloin steak (5 g saturated fat) would put you over the limit, and this wouldn’t account for fat from the other foods eaten during the day. 

In their introduction letter to the new dietary guidelines, Secretaries Kennedy and Rollins draw attention to the massive chronic disease burden in the U.S. which accounts for 90% of healthcare spending, and which they attribute to poor quality diets and sedentary lifestyles. With more than 70% of American adults considered overweight or obese, and almost a third of adolescents (aged 12-17) having prediabetes, the U.S. faces major cuts to military service eligibility. There is a clear need to transform the Standard American Diet laden with highly processed foods formulated with highly refined carbohydrates, added sugars, excessive sodium, unhealthy fats, and chemical additives. 

However, given the ubiquity of highly processed foods in our food environment promoted by a powerful food industry, modern reliance on convenience foods, and limited budgets for food, it is hard to imagine how the recommendation to avoid highly processed foods can be widely adopted by Americans without a massive food system transformation. After all, the government has for decades been subsidizing ingredients for highly processed foods (like corn, soy, and wheat). The guidelines do not offer strategies for implementation in daily life or information about how the government plans to shift commodity foods or hold food corporations accountable. The current USDA food list for commodity foods used in government-sponsored nutrition programs still includes processed chicken and turkey with sodium and preservatives, fruit canned in syrup, and cereals with added sugars. Meanwhile, funding cuts continue to strip the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other community nutrition programs, making it even more difficult for people with low income to access “real food.” In order for the recommendations to be actualized, we need to address issues of economic disparities and healthy food accessibility and prioritize community health in government funding priorities and food industry directions.  

Following successful legislative advocacy by State Senator Jo Comerford and State Senator John Velis, an earmark in Governor Maura Healey’s FY26 state budget enabled LifePath to award $100,000 to 10 local Village organizations. Each organization received $10,000 to strengthen community-based, neighbor-to-neighbor supports for older adults across the region.

Villages are grassroots, volunteer-driven nonprofit organizations that help older adults remain active, connected, and independent in their homes and communities. With this funding, each Village will be able to build organizational capacity and support programs that expand essential, neighbor-to-neighbor supports such as transportation for medical appointments and other essential needs, social activities, technology assistance, and help at home.

“For years, constituents in local Villages across my district have taught me about the profound value and beauty of neighbors helping neighbors — especially in our disproportionately rural region,” said Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “It’s been an absolute pleasure to learn about the depth and breadth of services and support offered by dedicated volunteers. Glad to lead a successful earmark in the FY26 budget to support their work. Thank you to LifePath for facilitating the timely distribution of needed funds.”

The Village model originated in Massachusetts more than 20 years ago and has since grown into a national network of nearly 300 organizations, including over 25 statewide. Villages are led by and for their members—older adults who both give and receive support—creating flexible, locally responsive systems of care grounded in mutual aid and volunteerism.

The communities served by the 10 funded Villages are among the oldest in Massachusetts. While a great place to age, older adults in the northern Pioneer Valley often face challenges that Villages can help to overcome in partnership with senior centers, Councils on Aging, and Aging Services Access Points such as LifePath. As Fran Fortino, President of the Board of Directors of Valley Neighbors, explains, Villages perform “organized acts of kindness.” The funded organizations reflect a range of Village development stages, from newer initiatives building foundational capacity to more established Villages expanding programs and volunteer engagement.

This investment also advances regional Age & Dementia Friendly goals by strengthening social connection, reducing isolation, and expanding access to practical supports that help people of all ages live well in their communities.

According to LifePath Executive Director Gary Yuhas, “Villages are integral components of a complex web of partnerships supporting older adults across our communities. We are thankful for our relationships with the Villages and for the experience and resources they bring to a shared, community- and choice-based support model. Needs continue to increase and evolve, and the increased capacity from this generous earmark will help individuals in our communities to age well.”

The following organizations each received $10,000 in funding:

• Amherst Neighbors  
• Athol Kindness Connection  
• Easthampton Neighbors  
• The Greenfield Neighborhood  
• Montague Villages  
• Neighbors at Home: The Northfield Village  
• Northampton Neighbors  
• Petersham Partners  
• Valley Neighbors (Whately, Deerfield and Sunderland)  
• Village Neighbors (Shutesbury, Leverett, Wendell and New Salem) 

Hooray everyone! We have already reached the half-way point through this cold and snowy winter season. It’s incredible how fast 2026 is flying by. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of all this shoveling. The good news is that there are some bright spots in the mix as we make our way through the season. One is daylight savings time where each day begins to get a little lighter, for a longer period of time. So don’t forget to set your clocks forward on Sunday, March 8 at 2 a.m.  

It was a nice treat this winter to be able to watch the Olympics, which always adds some positivity and inspiration to the season. As the Olympics came to a close, I gave some considerable thought to the distinction between team sports and individually competitive sports. Hockey and figure skating are two great examples, neither of which, by the way, I am remotely good at. In hockey, the team works together in scoring goals, while ultimately striving to win the game at the end of play. On the other hand, figure skating is comprised of individual skaters, all competing for Gold through their various routines and programs. But what people don’t see in both cases is that behind the scenes, there are countless coaches, trainers, choreographers, and support staff that work tireless hours, making it all come together for a successful outcome.

Reassuring people that they are not alone in their challenges, as we partner together with them in helping to navigate their current circumstances, and doing our best to be a guiding light in establishing potential next steps, is our goal.

 LifePath in a sense is no different. Here at LifePath, we all strive to achieve the very best outcomes for those in our care, as we support caregivers and their loved ones, as well as those throughout our community. Comprised of individually talented people, staff work together as a team, in conjunction with supportive volunteers to deliver essential programs and services in helping to support others. Families and individuals who reach out to LifePath might only interact with a few of our team members along their journey, but are all supported by a larger group of people behind the scenes. By working together, we are able to achieve great things in the process.  

The winter season also brings an opportunity to rest, reflect, and recharge, as we prepare to tackle our never-ending to do list and all that spring and summer have in store for us. To this end, I recently decided to do a technological disconnect over the course of a weekend. With no TV time, phone scrolling, email, or social media checking, I just listened to quiet instrumental music, and took the time to ponder what I wanted and needed my key priorities to be going forward. Sometimes the world moves at such a fast rate of speed that it can often pull you away from what’s really important.  

Giving yourself the gift of peace and quiet to hear your own thoughts, without interruption or distraction from outside influences, can be a very grounding experience. The whole process allowed me to really slow down and to get a better view of the world around me as it was racing by. It got me to thinking about how much I enjoy walks in the woods, connecting with nature, and taking in all the sights and sounds along the way; my love for family and friends; and how much I like to help others throughout my day, which is why LifePath is so special to me.  

There are so many wonderful things that LifePath has been able to accomplish over our long-standing history. It is hard to list them all in this article, however I would like to focus on two of them in particular for a moment. The first is LifePath’s strong ability to connect people to the right programs and services to support their loved ones, and the second is being able to convey the importance of companionship and partnership. 

LifePath is that connecting force for so many individuals and their families throughout our local communities in the Franklin County and North Quabbin region. Through our Home Care and Age & Dementia Friendly programs, to our Meals on Wheels and SHINE programs, just to name a few, LifePath continues to make a profound difference, influencing positive change by helping to support one of our community’s most vulnerable populations.  

That ability to make that special connection is displayed time and time again by our dedicated volunteers and staff, through the countless interactions with those we serve, delivering compassionate and supportive care, every step of the way. In addition, we open an invaluable dialogue between generations, helping to build bridges through conversations, and providing an important opportunity to learn and share with one another along life’s journey in the process. It all comes down to making that connection and in turn making a positive difference in the world around us. 

Reassuring people that they are not alone in their challenges, as we join together with them in helping to navigate their current circumstances, and doing our best to be a guiding light in establishing potential next steps, is our goal. Providing comprehensive support, tailored to meet each individual’s unique circumstances, while building trust and peace of mind with older adults, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers, is what we do. 

Working with families in helping to slow down the pace of the world for just a little while helps to give caregivers that sigh of relief, that time and space to evaluate beneficial options for their loved ones, and that valuable guidance along the way that can be worth its weight in gold.  

There are so many ways to help support our efforts and one of those ways is by volunteering with us. We are urgently looking for drivers that can help deliver meals and make a real difference to older adults in the process. If this sounds exciting to you and you would like to volunteer, please contact Susan White, Director of Community and Volunteer Resources, at 413-773-5555 for more information. Maybe along the way, you will come to discover how special LifePath really is, and how good you feel because you chose to make a difference in the lives of others too. Thank you!  

LifePath’s office was once again filled with colorful works of Valentine’s Day art after children from Bement School, Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School, Colrain Central School After School Program, The Learning Knoll, Mohawk Trail Regional School, Northfield Elementary School, Petersham Center School, Petersham Montessori School, and Shutesbury Elementary School, along with residents of the assisted living community Arbors at Greenfield, created more than 800 handmade Valentine’s cards for delivery to LifePath’s Meals on Wheels recipients—200 more than last year! The cards had a brief stay in the office to be organized and counted before being brought to the Meals on Wheels kitchen in Erving for delivery.

One Meals on Wheels volunteer driver said, “The Valentine’s Day cards are a BIG HIT with the meals recipients.”

A new Meals on Wheels recipient called to send “her compliments on the meal program.” She described Meals on Wheels as a “fantastic program” and said she couldn’t believe the attention and work that goes into the nutrition and information provided. She also said receiving a handmade Valentine’s Day card was “just delightful.”

Another couple who receives Meals on Wheels said about the cards, “They were fabulous. We were surprised and delighted.”

“I enjoyed getting a Valentine’s Day card. It was nice that the schoolchildren made cards,” said a third recipient.

Jane Severance, Nutrition Program Director at LifePath, describes how the handmade cards are still displayed in meal recipients’ homes 6 months later, affixed to their refrigerator or placed on their side tables.

If you or someone you know lives in Franklin County or the North Quabbin region, is age 60 and older, and would benefit from receiving a hot noontime meal, please call LifePath at 413-773-5555.

Walter Harubin, who turned 105 on February 8, is sitting in his bright living room with large, exposed wood beams in Whately, MA—a living room he built. “I built this house, 85% of it myself, it took me three and a half years when I was only 40 years old . . . Every minute, every hour I had, I was here, working,” he says.

The work paid off, and now, 65 years later, Walter is able to stay in the home he built, in part because of support from LifePath’s Meals on Wheels program, which serves around 500 people a day with about 600 meals delivered via 32 routes to older people who may not be able to prepare a healthy meal for themselves. Everyone receives a hot, noontime lunch, and State Home Care consumers who receive other services from LifePath can also receive a chilled, prepared supper meal. The meals are designed by registered dietitians to be nutritionally balanced and healthy. There are approximately 20 staff members and 60 volunteers who make this happen each day.

In addition, the volunteer delivery drivers provide a daily wellness check, and have helped people in distress many times. The social interaction between delivery drivers and meal recipients is another crucial benefit to the program.

For three days each week, Walter’s delivery drivers are Sue and Tom Dillon, who have been delivering meals together for two and a half years, and have joined Walter for his interview. On this day, they had already delivered 26 meals, leaving the house at 9 AM and getting back around 1 PM. Delivering the meals together works well for them—if one has an appointment on a given day, the other is still there to handle the route.

When Sue and Tom first met Walter on their route, he was 103. Tom remembers, “He was still picking blueberries, mowing, and snow blowing.”

“I was still in my prime then,” jokes Walter, who adds, “They’re terrific, some of my best people. I can depend on Tom and Sue if I need them.”

Walter, who renewed his driver’s license at 104 and reports “I was told I passed with flying colors,” shows me a photo of his late wife and remarks, “Look at how beautiful she is! She was born ‘Alexandra’ but didn’t like her name so she changed it to ‘Alexandria’—she did what she wanted.”

Walter received his diploma from Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School in Northampton, MA and worked as a mechanic in a local garage before joining the Navy Seabees, a specialized Naval Construction Force responsible for building, maintaining, and defending critical infrastructure worldwide, ranging from airfields to base facilities. With a motto of “We Build, We Fight,” the Seabees serve as a self-contained, versatile workforce, often working in combat zones. Walter says, “I was in one of the first Seabee outfits that was incorporated by President Roosevelt. And I was one of the 23rd Battalion [during World War II]. I got pictures of this. And so I was in the Pacific Theater for three years.” Walter describes climbing to the top of a mountain and happening to see a Japanese sub rise from the water, “I got about four or five guys to climb the mountain right to the top, well, halfway up, the other guys all quit, except me. So I sat down. I’m looking out into the sea. Up comes the sub. Oh, my goodness, outside the harbor…you know, I’m watching it. They could have killed me by lobbing a shell at me if they wanted to, but they were there to see what was in the harbor.” Walter remembers the two boats that went to intercept the submarine, and that the submarine “took off.”

Walter was discharged in 1945 and travelled back home to live with his mother and father in Hatfield, Massachusetts. Remembering how he met Alexandria, he said, “I saw this beautiful woman going to church all the time. So that’s one of the reasons why I went to church every Sunday. She worked in Northampton in a highfalutin clothing store, and she could always wear what she wanted, and I’d be sitting there waiting for her to come down the aisle.” They were married in 1947 and Walter started his own garage with his parents and brother, Harubin’s Service Station, in North Hatfield.

“I had a big garage, it’s still there now, but it’s run by some other outfit. I ran it for nine years,” says Walter. He remembers having to give it up to help his dad farm, alongside his wife. “My father was a farmer, so he raised everything from cucumbers to carrots to tobacco, potatoes, whatever,” says Walter, who recalls bringing the tobacco in to tie it.

Walter and Alexandria raised two children, a boy and a girl. Walter built their house in Whately and worked at a plant that made vinyl footwear for over 20 years, recalling, “I went from maintenance man to plant engineer.” Later he worked as an airplane parts inspector, as well, and after retirement he says, “I got sick of hanging around,” so he worked for Historic Deerfield in security and maintenance, applying for the job after Alexandria told him he’d “never get it as he was too old.”

Walter is a lifelong, avid hunter and recalls his hunting trips to Vermont, Colorado, and Pennsylvania fondly. More recently he met a friend at Veteran’s Affairs that took him hunting. He is grateful for his friends, his home health aide through Veteran’s Affairs who helps him twice a week, and Tom and Sue and the food they bring him through LifePath’s Meals on Wheels program. He says, “Every day that I wake up, I check my pulse, and if it’s strong, I guess I’ll live another day. I’m really happy—I’m shooting for 110 or 115.”

Sue responds, “Just keep eating those nutritious meals.”

If you would like to volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program, please call LifePath at 413-773-5555.

The new year brings new Medicare costs for 2026. Here are some of the changes to your coverage.

Medicare Part A changes

Medicare Part A covers your hospital costs, such as: hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, home health care, hospice care, and other services. Most beneficiaries do not pay a premium for Part A if they have 40 quarters of work history. Roughly 1% of beneficiaries pay Part A premiums. Depending on their work history for 2026 they will pay either $311/month or $565/month.

The Part A deductible will increase from $1,632 to $1736. This deductible is the beneficiary’s only cost for up to 60 days of Medicare-covered inpatient hospital services. The 61st to the 90th day has increased from $408 to $434 a day, and beyond the 90th day has increased from $816 to $868 a day. For beneficiaries who have a Medigap Supplement 1 or 1A plan, these costs are covered by that supplemental insurance coverage.

Medicare Part A covers the first 20 days in a skilled nursing facility, after a three-day-qualifying stay in a hospital. The skilled nursing facility coinsurance has increased from $204 to $217 for the 21st to the 100th day.

Medicare Part B changes

Medicare Part B covers your outpatient costs, such as doctors’ services, x-rays and tests, outpatient hospital care, ambulance service, medical supplies, and other medical equipment. When a beneficiary receives covered care they will have an annual deductible which in 2026 will be $283, up from $257. The Part B deductible is annual; once you have incurred $283 of expenses for Medicare-covered services in any year, the Part B deductible does not apply for the rest of the year. You will also be responsible for a 20% co-insurance on Medicare-covered services.

The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B in 2026 is $202.90, up from $185 in 2025. The cost of this premium is normally taken out of your Social Security direct deposit; however, if you are not collecting Social Security yet, you will receive a premium bill in the mail.

Medicare beneficiaries whose individual income is above $109,000 annually or a couple’s joint income above $218,000 annually will pay an increased amount for their Part B and Part D, called an income-related monthly adjustment amount, also known as “IRMAA.” This affects 7% of people with Medicare. The Federal Government bases the 2026 adjustments on the beneficiaries’ 2024 Federal Income taxes. You may request a new initial determination through Social Security if you believe your IRMAA is incorrect by contacting your local Social Security office. This is especially important if your income has changed after 2024 due to various reasons, for instance, you retire and are no longer working.

Many Medicare beneficiaries purchase additional insurance, including Medicare Supplemental Plans or Medicare Advantage Plans, to cover the gaps of Medicare in order to help reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

Medicare Part D changes

Medicare Part D is private prescription drug coverage offered by stand-alone plans or integrated within a Medicare Advantage plan. Original Medicare does not cover outpatient prescription drugs so beneficiaries will need a Part D plan unless they have creditable coverage from another source such as an employer, or retiree or Veterans coverage. Not enrolling in a Part D plan could lead to life-long penalties.

Costs for plan premiums vary by plan as do costs for medications. However, starting in 2025, the Inflation Reduction Act implemented a $2000 cap on out-of-pocket costs for drugs covered by Part D plans. This will increase to $2100 in 2026. Other changes to Part D benefits include elimination of the donut hole, no costs for recommended vaccines, and copays for covered insulin products are now capped at $35/month. The maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026, however, plans can have lower or no deductible.

Help paying for premiums is available.

Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) help low-income beneficiaries pay for premiums and, depending on the level of coverage, deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.

In Massachusetts MSPs are administered by MassHealth, however, MSPs are not insurance plans. They are programs designed to help lower the costs of your Medicare insurance coverage but do not offer coverage outside of services that Medicare doesn’t provide.

To qualify for these programs, your income must be at or below $2935/month for a single individual or $3966/month for a married couple. The short application asks for your gross monthly income but there is no asset test for the MSP benefits.

There are three levels of MSPs:

The Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB) level pays for Medicare A premium, Medicare B premium, and cost sharing (paying some of the costs like copays, deductibles, and/or premiums). Your providers cannot bill you for Medicare copays and deductibles if you have the QMB. You may still have copays at the pharmacy.

Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) and Qualifying Individual (QI) levels pay for your Part B Premium.

These programs, previously known as the “Buy-In Program,” automatically enroll a beneficiary in Extra Help, the Part D low‑income subsidy (LIS) which helps pay for the Part D premium and lowers the cost of prescription drugs. Beneficiaries who qualify for MSP will also receive Health Safety Net, which pays acute care hospitals and community health centers for certain services to low-income Massachusetts residents that are not paid by other coverage. To qualify for this benefit patients must have income of 225% Federal Poverty Level or less.

Don’t miss out on significant savings on your Medicare costs. SHINE counselors can check your eligibility and assist you with applying for this program.

LifePath’s SHINE Program provides confidential and unbiased health insurance counseling for Medicare beneficiaries through its highly-trained staff and 45 certified counselors volunteers. This is a free service, though contributions are welcome and will go a long way to help support this vital program. For further assistance with Medicare questions, you may request an appointment with a certified SHINE counselor by contacting the LifePath SHINE Regional Office at 1-800-498-4232 or 413-773-5555, Ext. 1220; or by contacting your local Council on Aging.

The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s most recent breakfast invited leaders from local non-profit organizations to highlight how nonprofits are essential contributors to the local economy while also functioning as charitable organizations.

In Franklin County, nonprofits are often discussed in terms of need, with a focus on who we serve, what services are underfunded, and where the gaps are growing. This is often the case at LifePath, along with how folks can help, and we’ll get to that part, too. These are important conversations, especially as state budget pressures are leading to waitlists in some of our programs, and as federal uncertainty creates significant challenges to planning responsibly. But focusing only on need hides the fact that nonprofits are also employers, purchasers, partners, and stabilizers. We generate economic activity, support the workforce and region, and help hold families and communities together.

Nonprofits are real businesses. We innovate. We respond to crises in real time. We stretch every dollar as far as it will go. And we do it while strengthening the economic and social fabric of Franklin County.

The Chamber’s willingness to give nonprofits this platform highlights their continued support and deep understanding of our work. Too often, nonprofits are viewed as detractors from the economy rather than an integral part of and significant contributor to it. Getting for-profit and non-profit leaders together helps reinforce the economic interconnectedness of the community and the contributions of nonprofits. I appreciated the opportunity to remind people that nonprofits are real businesses. We innovate. We respond to crises in real time. We stretch every dollar as far as it will go. And we do it while strengthening the economic and social fabric of Franklin County.

At LifePath, our contribution extends beyond our mission. LifePath spends over $23 million each year in Franklin County. Much of that spending goes directly to payroll. Our employees live here, pay rent and mortgages here, buy groceries here, get their cars repaired here, go out to eat here, attend performances here, and pay taxes here. In fiscal year 2025, LifePath’s compensation and related expenses totaled $10 million, with another $13.7 million spent on purchased services. That’s $23 million flowing directly into the local economy each year.

And LifePath is just one organization. Across the county, nonprofits collectively employ over five thousand people and rely on local vendors to deliver services. Those vendors employ even more people of their own. The ripple effects extend outward, touching businesses and households that may never directly interact with a nonprofit program but nonetheless benefit from its presence.

Another beneficial ripple effect is the deep partnerships in our area. Amanda Sanderson is the executive director of the Resilience Center of Franklin County. LifePath and the Resilience Center often refer individuals between our two organizations. She emphasizes that “intimate partner violence can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. Because clients’ needs are often complex, they frequently require support beyond the scope of domestic violence counseling alone.”

“That’s why our partnership with LifePath is so vital. We know that we can call LifePath and connect our clients to another group of compassionate, knowledgeable folks who are dedicated to serving our community’s older adults. This resource has been essential as we work to build stronger support networks and help bolster our clients in their healing journeys.”

Sanderson emphasizes that partnerships like this allow organizations to meet people’s needs more holistically, without any single agency having to be an expert in every service area. “Every time LifePath calls us with a referral, we’re extending another layer of safety and support around a community member,” she says. “That’s the collaborative and compassionate spirit of Franklin County. Cross-referrals weave a more robust and stable community.”

Another incredibly important ripple effect of non-profit work is the costs our community avoids. LifePath’s case management helps to prevent hospital readmissions to an already burdened healthcare system. LifePath’s Meals on Wheels wellness checks reduce strain on first responders. Careful coordination of services keeps people out of nursing homes that are understaffed, overextended, and costly. Our work helps people remain in their homes, where they want to be and where they can continue contributing to their communities. Most importantly, LifePath supports people in retaining their choice and dignity.

As one of Massachusetts’ 24 Aging Services Access Points (ASAP), LifePath administers the Enhanced Community Options Program, or ECOP. This program serves older adults living in the community with high care needs and a functional or cognitive impairment, and who are at risk of institutionalized nursing home placement. The average annual cost of ECOP is about $16,400 per enrollee. Institutional nursing home care costs more than $80,000 per year. That’s a savings of roughly $64,000 per person, annually. LifePath currently serves 133 ECOP participants, saving taxpayers an estimated $8.5 million annually. Statewide, our ASAP network helps Massachusetts annually avoid nearly $594 million in expenses in just this one program.

Like nonprofits, caregivers are another group whose economic impact is often invisible. In Massachusetts alone, more than 780,000 caregivers provide an estimated 730 million hours of unpaid care each year, valued at $15.1 billion. Many also work outside the home and LifePath provides support to caregivers that help them remain in the workforce. Our Community Engagement Center offers structured, nurse-led adult day programming that allows caregivers time to work, attend appointments, or manage daily responsibilities. Our case managers help families access home-based services and caregiver support programs that create flexibility and stability. Support group participants learn tools and strategies to manage their particular situations.

A frequent question at the breakfast was “How can I help?” There are a number of ways. Know who we are and what we do. Business owners and frontline staff often know when something isn’t quite right for a customer or client and may have a relationship that would allow a simple suggestion like “Have you thought about calling LifePath?” That interaction can start a ripple effect that supports not just one person, but others close to them. Another way is to volunteer your time or talent, or make a financial contribution. Supporting your local nonprofit is good for the soul, the community, and the economy.

Bones are made up of living tissue that’s constantly changing. During our lifetime, our body relies on the minerals calcium and phosphate to keep our bones strong and healthy. As we age, however, our bodies tend to reabsorb these minerals instead of keeping them in our bones.

When more old bone is reabsorbed and not enough new bone is generated, bone loss occurs. And if there is too much loss of bone, it can lead to a disease called osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is often called a “silent” disease, because many people have no symptoms at all. The disease may progress for many years undetected—until a broken bone occurs. Osteoporosis can cause painful and debilitating broken bones called fragility fractures. These fractures can compromise a person’s ability to walk, cause deformities and loss of height, and significantly lower quality of life. Osteoporitic fractures may even indirectly lead to death, since complications related to a fracture can cause an older person’s health to go downhill quickly.

Who is most likely to get osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis affects about 54 million people in the U.S. Although this disease happens in both men and women, women are four times more likely to develop it than men. Osteoporosis risk climbs with age; many women begin to develop it following menopause.

Non-Hispanic white women and Asian women are most likely to get osteoporosis. Black and Hispanic women are less likely to develop this disease, but they are still at significant risk.

What is the cause of osteoporosis?

There’s no single, specific cause of osteoporosis, but there are many known risk factors. Some of these are beyond our control, such as our gender and age—women experience rapid bone loss during the first 10 years after entering menopause. Other risk factors include:

• Family history: Is osteoporosis hereditary? Maybe. Having a close family member (e.g., your mother) with osteoporosis or a history of broken bones can increase your risk.

• Body weight and frame: Thin, small-framed people are at greater risk for developing osteoporosis. This is because they have less bone to lose than people who have larger frames and carry more body weight.

• Certain medical conditions: Some health conditions and medical procedures may make you more susceptible to osteoporosis, such as:

  • Thyroid disorders
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Celiac disease
  • Blood disease (e.g., multiple myeloma, sickle cell disease)
  • Stroke
  • Weight loss surgery
  • Gastrectomy

• Some medications: In certain cases, medications can cause damage to your bones and increase your osteoporosis risk. These include:

  • Hormone treatments for breast or prostate cancer
  • Steroids
  • Anti-seizure medicine (e.g., Phenobarbital)
  • Aluminum-containing antacids
  • Cancer chemotherapeutic drugs

• Smoking and alcohol use: Smoking cigarettes can prevent your body from utilizing dietary calcium. Excessive drinking can also increase osteoporosis risk.

• Lack of exercise: Physical activity helps bones stay strong. Leading a sedentary lifestyle can compromise your bone health.

• Nutritional deficiencies: A lack of calcium in your diet can raise your risk for osteoporosis. This is also true for vitamin D, since it helps your body use the calcium you get from food.

What are some signs and symptoms of osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis typically does not produce any symptoms until a bone fracture occurs. But you should tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:

• Lower back pain
• Loss of height by 1” or more
• Shortness of breath
• Posture changes (e.g. hunching over)

How is osteoporosis diagnosed?

Osteoporosis diagnosis involves getting a bone density test that yields more insight about your bone health. This test is a quick, inexpensive, and painless way to determine your risk for osteoporitic fractures. It’s performed using a DXA scan, which is short for dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. The DXA scan uses low levels of x-rays to measure the mineral content of your bones.

The Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) recommends a bone density test of the hip and spine for women who:

• Are age 65 or older
• Are of menopausal age with osteoporosis risk factors
• Are postmenopausal under age 65 with risk factors

How is osteoporosis treated?

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for osteoporosis. Rather, treating it may involve a combination of medication, supplements, and lifestyle changes.

Medication

If your bone density test shows T-scores of -2.5 or lower, you may be prescribed medication to strengthen your bones. There are several classes of safe, effective drugs that are approved for osteoporosis prevention and treatment, including:

• Hormone and hormone-related therapy
• Bisphosphonates
• Biologics
• Anabolic agents

Some medicines are best-suited to older women versus younger women who are pre-menopause. Your doctor will discuss your options with you and help you choose the best osteoporosis medication based on your overall health and how much bone you’ve lost. Your personal preferences matter as well, since some medications are given as an injection, while others come in the form of a liquid or pill.

Dietary supplements

If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis or are trying to prevent it, your doctor may advise you to increase your intake of calcium and vitamin D. BHOF recommends that women age 51 and older get 1,200mg of calcium daily, while most adults age 50 and older need 800-1,000 IU daily of vitamin D. Taking a multivitamin or supplements can help you get a sufficient amount of these nutrients if you’re not getting them from food or diet alone.

Keep in mind that over-the-counter dietary supplements are not regulated like prescription medications. Before taking any supplements, discuss it with your doctor.

Lifestyle changes

If you have osteoporosis, it’s important to limit alcohol and caffeine and avoid the use of tobacco products. Regular exercise can help slow or prevent bone loss as well as boost muscle strength, improve balance and posture, and relieve pain. Stick to weight-bearing activities such as walking, jogging, dancing, and weight lifting. Be sure to ask your doctor before beginning an exercise regimen.

Another important part of treatment for osteoporosis is preventing falls inside and outside your home. This may involve steps such as:

• Keeping your floors free of clutter (e.g. loose electrical cords)
• Using non-skid floor mats and area rugs
• Installing grab bars in the bathroom and railings on stairways
• Making sure you have sufficient lighting throughout your home
• Keeping outdoor areas free of clutter and in good repair
• Wearing flat shoes with non-slip bottoms when you leave the house

If you feel you might benefit from assistive devices (e.g., cane, raised toilet seat, stair lift), your health care provider can connect you with resources that can help.