![Laura smiling facing the camera](https://lifepathma.org/wp-content/uploads/blog-images/rsz_laura_dunn_1-1.jpg)
Personal Care Attendant Lead Nurse Laura Dunn
Laura Dunn is a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) lead nurse at LifePath. She has worked at LifePath for three and a half years. Her responsibilities include completing in-home assessments and the MassHealth Application for PCA Services. She also assists with training new nurses. According to Laura, “A typical day is a mix of phone calls/emails,
![Three women standing and conversing in a building](https://lifepathma.org/wp-content/uploads/blog-images/rita-johnson-cec.webp)
LifePath’s Community Engagement Center Open House Provides Information and Support
Information and support, along with free chair massages, were offered at the Community Engagement Center (CEC) Open House, which took place on Wednesday, November 13, at LifePath. Speakers included Meghan Lemay, from the Alzheimer’s Association, who presented on both “Communication Techniques for People with Dementia” and “Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors,” and Sue Tracy, from All
![Smiling headshot of Celene Livermore, Community Care Coordinator](https://lifepathma.org/wp-content/uploads/blog-images/Headshot-scaled-e1729270064610.jpg)
The Hospital to Home Program Meets Patients Where They Are
Celene Livermore is the Community Care Coordinator at LifePath. She has served in this role since June 2023. “I have a background in Health Information Management (HIM) and was led to LifePath out of a desire to work directly in the community assisting those in need,” says Celene. She explains that her position is split
![Aminta sitting outside and smiling.](https://lifepathma.org/wp-content/uploads/blog-images/Aminta-Lara-Peters-1-scaled.jpg)
Aminta Lara-Peters: A Life of Volunteering Comes Full Circle
Aminta Lara-Peters, who helped people throughout her life, including as a Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia, passed away on June 17, 2024, at age 83 at her family home in Northfield, MA. Aminta lived with her husband Malcolm Brian Peters, her daughter Olivia Lara-Cahoon, her daughter’s spouse Yaki, and her grandson Mauro, now 5 and
![L to R: Kathleen Gouveia, EOEA SHINE Training Coordinator; Lorraine York-Edberg, SHINE Regional Program Director; Caroline Solan, SHINE Graduate; Kyra DeCarlo, SHINE Graduate & LifePath Senior Program Assistant for SHINE/Quality Assurance; Karlena Henry, SHINE Graduate & LifePath Information and Caregiver Resource Center (ICRC) Resource Consultant; Beverly MacLeod, SHINE Graduate; Lauren Hannigan, SHINE Graduate; Janice Barnes, SHINE Graduate; Gary Yuhas, LifePath Executive Director; and Susan White, LifePath Associate Director of Volunteer Resources.](https://lifepathma.org/wp-content/uploads/blog-images/rsz_img_0152.jpg)
New Graduates “SHINE” a Light on Medicare
On June 21, six out of the eight new SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) graduates received their certificates and celebrated at LifePath’s office in Greenfield (graduates Ken Heider and Lucas Schlidbach were unable to attend). As newly-certified SHINE counselors, they will work in their own communities to provide free and unbiased health
![](https://lifepathma.org/wp-content/uploads/blog-images/Dean-Lagrotteria-Elder-Protective-Services.jpg)
LifePath’s Dean Lagrotteria on WHAI
On June 10, 2024, Dean Lagrotteria, LifePath Elder Protective Services Regional Program Director for Berkshire and Franklin counties and the North Quabbin area, spoke with Nick Danjer on radio station WHAI.
Community Engagement Center (CEC) Donations: What We Need
Donations of the following items for the Community Engagement Center are welcomed.
Different textured balls (dryer balls, tennis balls, wiffle balls, etc.) Different textured fabrics Art supplies Yarn Beads and jewelry-making supplies Large buttons for sorting Larger nuts and bolts for sorting, screwing together Musical instruments (bells, maracas, shakers, etc.) Simple adult coloring books Scarves for waving, dancing Table easels CDs with music from the 40s, 50s![Christopher Shepard (left), Mark Niemela (middle), and Long-Term Care Ombudsman Volunteer Linda Ackerman (right) at RegalCare on April 8, 2024.](https://lifepathma.org/wp-content/uploads/blog-images/DSC_0066-1-scaled-e1718309230611.jpg)
How Long-Term Care Ombudsman Volunteers Support Residents
Linda Ackerman, a Long-Term Care Ombudsman Volunteer for the last 9 years, said she chose to introduce me to Christopher Shepard and Mark Niemela because they are “such fun.” Chris, 80, and Mark, 69, both enjoy chatting and share a love of music, which makes them excellent roommates at RegalCare, a long-term care facility in
![Money Management Volunteers Ken Heider (left) and Kelly Gagnon (right) facing the camera while standing on an outside walkway.](https://lifepathma.org/wp-content/uploads/blog-images/money-management-kelly-gagnon-ken-heider.jpg)
Money Management Volunteers Kelly Gagnon and Ken Heider Love Seeing the Numbers Come Together for Their Clients
The Massachusetts Money Management Program (MMMP) has been helping adults over 60, and adults living with a disability, maintain their independence for 32 years. Without the program, many individuals would face food insecurity, financial exploitation, eviction, and premature institutionalization.
“LifePath’s Money Management program promotes and prolongs independent living for individuals over 60 who are at risk
![concert band playiing with "Concert for LifePath" banner](https://lifepathma.org/wp-content/uploads/blog-images/NMH-Concert-Promo-e1706819072763.png)
Take Flight at Northfield Mount Hermon’s Free Concert, While Supporting Meals on Wheels!
For the twentieth year, the Northfield Mount Hermon Instrumental Ensembles will again host a benefit concert for LifePath’s Meals on Wheels program. The concert is scheduled for Sunday, February 18th, at 3 p.m., on the beautiful Northfield Mount Hermon campus in the Rhodes Arts Center, at 1 Lamplighter Way, Gill, MA. The concert is free
![James, 9, with his Grandma, Phyllis Sinclair](https://lifepathma.org/wp-content/uploads/blog-images/James-and-Grandmajpg.jpg)
Older Relatives Raising Children: Many Local Options for Support Available
According to Jan Doody, Parent Educator & Grandparent Resource Coordinator at The United Arc, it is estimated that there are over 150 families in Franklin County in which an older relative is raising a child. Grandparents are often called upon to bring a grandchild into their home when the child’s parents are not able to
![(Left to right) Kathleen Augustine, Melissa Hatch, and Susan Arnold standing outside.](https://lifepathma.org/wp-content/uploads/blog-images/DSC_0252-1.jpg)
Is It Possible To Love One’s Job? LifePath Employees Explain Why They Do.
On July 26, employees gathered at the LifePath offices in Greenfield to celebrate their coworkers’ milestones and enjoy some ice cream with all the fixings. When asked why she likes her job, Melissa Hatch, a ten-year LifePath veteran and Home Care Program Director said, “I have to start by giving credit to my incredible team.