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
A Lifetime of Hope and Service
Recently I read a quote by the esteemed Bryan Stevenson in Alabama who said, “Hope is not a feeling but an attitude of the spirit.” My interview last month at the Greenfield Public Library with a longtime LifePath volunteer brought me into close contact with someone who has lived a life built on hope and
Positive Partnerships Keep LifePath Moving Forward
Once again, the Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH) Music program hosted their annual benefit concert supporting LifePath’s efforts in the community. For the past 21 years and beyond, the NMH school’s faculty, staff, and students have all come together to help raise much-needed funds in support of LifePath’s many programs and services. Aimed at supporting older
Healthy Connections
I recently had the sad but wonderful experience of traveling to Australia to be with my cousin who was dying from a very fast-growing brain tumor. At age 65, three months ago, he had just finished building his dream house. Now non-verbal, he was lying comfortably in a nursing home bed with televisions flickering and
Nutrition Notes: Welcoming Spring with the Sweetness of Maple Trees
The first drops of maple sap in late winter are magical. I feel alive with awe and excitement when I taste those drops of sweetness, my hands and face nestled on the bark of the maple tree while I reach my tongue out to catch the sweet drops from the small opening in the tree,
Music, Photos, and the Power of Connection
I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to write about this week and then it magically became very clear to me. Of course, you will have to read all the way to the end of the article to find out. At first, I was going to write about all the beautiful snow of winter in
Children and Elders Make Valentine’s Cards for Meals on Wheels Recipients
A Shutesbury Elementary School student creating a Valentine.Children from Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School, The Learning Knoll, Mohawk Trail Regional School, Northfield Elementary School, Petersham Center School, Petersham Montessori School, Sanderson Academy, and Shutesbury Elementary School, along with residents of the assisted living community Arbors at Greenfield, created more than 600 handmade Valentine’s cards for delivery to
Locally, A United Front in Support of Meals on Wheels
On Tuesday, January 28, we welcomed some special guests to tour the Meals on Wheels kitchen in Erving, MA. State Senator Jo Comerford and her District Director, Elena Cohen, along with State Rep. Susannah Whipps, joined state government officials Secretary Robin Lipson of