![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
![](https://lifepathma.org/wp-content/uploads/blog-images/Copy-of-Dean_Lagrotteria_LifePath_Elder_Protective_Services_Regional_Program_Director_for_Berkshire_and_Franklin_counties_and_the_North_Quabbin_area_1-scaled.jpg)
What Is Emotional Abuse of an Older Adult?
June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month and June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a day recognized to highlight awareness of elder abuse. As I reflect upon this upcoming World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, I wish to discuss emotional abuse, a type of abuse that is often underreported. Unlike physical abuse
![Celia Lang, Rainbow Elders Volunteer, sitting in front of pink flowers](https://lifepathma.org/wp-content/uploads/blog-images/Celia-Lang-picture-1.jpg)
The Stonewall Generation Listserv: News You Can Use
LifePath’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Director Trevor Boeding speaks passionately about building participation in the Stonewall Generation Listserv, saying, “The Listserv is a free email service that delivers highlights of local and global LGBTQIA+ news and events into your inbox. By positioning the community front and center, the Stonewall Generation Listserv normalizes the LGBTQIA+ experience
![Cris Carl, with western hat, standing in front of window in tall building](https://lifepathma.org/wp-content/uploads/blog-images/rsz_20231103_191624-1-scaled.jpg)
Rainbow Elders Pride
My favorite definition of the word pride is “Consciousness of one’s own dignity.” I have been attending Pride marches for the LGBTQIA+ community for over 35 years. This year’s Greenfield Pride march and rally will take place June 15. So much has changed in our world, especially since the pandemic, but I always find it