Rethinking the Senior Center: Age & Dementia Friendly South County
When people hear “senior center,” they usually picture a place older adults gather for programs and activities. But what if a senior center became something more—a place that leads its community in asking bigger questions: What kind of community are we for older adults and people living with dementia? What kind of community do we
PRIDE = Safety and Connection
I have worn so many hats in my life that friends and co-workers have teased me quite a bit about it. I tend to have at least three jobs at a time, and now isn’t any different. Part-time, I am the facilitator for the LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Elders group for LifePath. Another hat I wear is
Birthdays, Milestones, and Reflection Points – A Wondrous Journey Along Life’s Path.
LifePath recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a wonderful banquet recognizing various community partners, special volunteers of note, and sustaining financial donors that have helped in part to make a significant contribution to our success over the past 50 years. We are truly grateful for the countless staff, volunteers, community partners, and donors that have
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week Spotlights How to Prevent Fraud
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week runs the week of June 2 (the date 6/5 was chosen as it represents age 65, when most people become eligible for Medicare). Fraud costs Medicare an estimated $60 billion per year. It costs Medicare beneficiaries in time, stress, their medical identities, and potentially their health. It costs families, friends, and
Damon Reynolds, with Support from LifePath CTL Peter-Michael Kinney, Is Moving Back into the Community
Damon Reynolds, 48, has been a resident at Quabbin Valley Healthcare (QVH), a nursing home in Athol, for about 4 years. With help from his LifePath Community Transitional Liaison (CTL), Peter-Michael Kinney, Damon will soon be moving to a group home in Shutesbury. “I’ll be able to be in a community and be able to
Prepare Your Feet for Summer
Some people believe that sore feet are an inevitable condition of aging—that bent toes, thick nails, corns, and calluses can’t be helped. I maintain that this isn’t true. Regular, evidence-based foot care, gentle exercise, and scrupulous shoe selection can result in happy and healthy feet at any age.
As spring and summer bring outdoor activities, people
Supporting One Another Through Challenging Times
By the time you read this, I will have reached my one-year anniversary with LifePath and I am so happy that I decided to join this amazing team of volunteers and staff last April. As national volunteer week has recently come to a close, we here at LifePath are so very grateful for our many
What Older Adults and Caregivers in Our Region Are Saying: LifePath’s 2025 Needs Assessment
Every four years, LifePath, the Area Agency on Aging for Franklin County and the North Quabbin areas, conducts a region-wide survey to understand the needs of older adults and caregivers. In response to LifePath’s 2025 Needs Assessment, we received 545 surveys in total—453 from older adults and 93 from caregivers. People from all over the
Age & Dementia Friendly Community Awards Support Local Innovation
The rural communities of Franklin County and the North Quabbin are places of deep beauty, strong bonds, and self-determination. They’re also home to a significantly greater proportion of older adults than the rest of the Commonwealth. Indeed, Franklin County has a larger proportion of people over 65 than Florida, and 60% more older adults than
How LifePath’s Ombudsman Program Protected a Nursing Home Resident from an Unsafe Discharge
When “Rosa,” a longtime resident of Western Massachusetts, found herself in a nursing home recovering from a health crisis, she believed she was on the right track to regaining stability and well-being. However, she soon faced an unexpected and frightening challenge—she was told she had to leave the facility, even though she was not ready
At the 50 Year Mark, a Challenging Path Ahead
It’s an interesting time at LifePath. We are reflecting on our first fifty years as an agency. We are excitedly planning for upcoming events, such as our fiftieth anniversary celebration, activities to thank our volunteers, and our annual team appreciation event. This all happens in the midst of our everyday work, with everyone contributing to
LifePath’s New Annual Report is Here!
This is an exciting time at LifePath. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, it is a time to reflect on all that we have accomplished. LifePath has grown exponentially since its beginnings as Franklin County Home Care. Resiliency has been key to our success. Through it all, we have remained committed to our mission of