Regular Foot Care Is a Necessity
I have a colleague whose mother prefers a spa pedicure to a visit with a foot care nurse. She says, “The nail polish makes me feel pretty.” The soaking and scented lotions make her feel pampered, and she has enough medical appointments already, so she would prefer this one luxury to not feel like a
Local News Report on Meals on Wheels Funding
The Greenfield Recorder and Athol Daily News this week published an article called Meals on Wheels providers sounding alarm amid looming budget deficit. The Meals on Wheels program projects significant funding deficits in the coming year. We appreciate these local papers’ attention to this issue and journalist Erin-Leigh Hoffman’s efforts to hear from multiple
Shedding Light on the Shadows: Bringing Financial Exploitation of Older Adults Into the Open
Margaret* had always been the kind of woman who remembered birthdays without writing them down. At seventy-eight, she still baked blueberry pies from scratch and kept her tiny white house in western Massachusetts spotless. Her husband had passed away years earlier, and though the silence in the house sometimes felt heavy, she managed well enough
Preparing for a Medical Appointment: My Health Checklist
How many times have you left a medical appointment feeling like you still had questions? It can be difficult to get everything answered in a short visit. Your doctor, nurse, or physician’s assistant also may not always understand what’s important to you. One way to make the most of your allotted time and ensure it’s
Finding Joy on the Way to Goodbye
There is something quietly miraculous that happens when someone living with memory loss sits in a circle with others, hears a familiar song, and begins to sing along. The worry in their eyes softens. Their bodies relax. For a little while, they are simply present, surrounded by others, in a safe and comforting environment.
That
Nutrition Notes: Understanding Food Allergies
Most people know someone with a food allergy. According to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), about 33 million people in the U.S. have food allergies, including 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 13 children. The prevalence is rising. While most food allergies develop in childhood, they can occur at any age, and adults
Video: Make Your Own Health Care Plan
Last week, we hosted a webinar on creating a personal health care plan using the Honoring Choices MA Getting Started Tool Kit. The webinar covered the importance of having a plan in place to ensure you receive care that is right for you today and over your lifetime. Our expert speaker, Ellen DiPaola, president of
Join LifePath’s Rainbow Elders Program at the Franklin County Pride Parade and Festival
This year’s theme for the Annual Franklin County Pride Parade & Festival, on Saturday, June 13, is “Together We Rise.” LifePath’s Rainbow Elders support network has supported LGBTQIA+ older adults in Franklin County for over 14 years by providing a network of social support. Through this network, many people have found connections and made new
Championing Our Health: Looking Beyond the Doctor’s Office
As communities across the country recognize Older Americans Month this May, the theme Champion Your Health highlights the importance of staying active, safe, and supported while aging. We can put effort into both championing our own health and helping make health possible for others.
When people think about health, they often think about doctors, medicine, and
LifePath’s Information and Caregiver Resource Center Answers 90% of Calls Live to Help You Get the Support You Need, When You Need It
LifePath’s Information and Caregiver Resource Center (ICRC), known as the front door and hub of the agency, provides assistance to help individuals find the resources they need to live independently and thrive in their communities. ICRC processes more than 10,000 inquires each year.
When someone calls the main number, they are connected to a Resource Consultant,
LifePath Funds 17 Regional Organizations to Advance Age & Dementia Friendly Goals
LifePath has awarded funding to an array of community-based organizations in the second year of the annual Age & Dementia Friendly Community Grants initiative.
17 grants of up to $3,000 each were awarded to support initiatives aligned with the Age & Dementia Friendly Franklin County and North Quabbin Regional Action Plan, a community-informed plan
Spring Can Be an Important Reminder to Stay Positive During Difficult Times
Well, in typical New England fashion, the weather has certainly thrown us some curve balls in the last few weeks as we try to emerge from the winter season. I normally mark the change of the seasons like others by acknowledging the vernal equinox indicating the official start of the spring season, but take it