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
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
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
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
Assessing the Last Year with Gratitude
As I write this article, I have recently passed my one year anniversary at LifePath. Reflecting on LifePath’s achievements over the past year brings a profound sense of gratitude toward the volunteers, staff, organizations, and community members that made it all possible.
Just over a year ago, in May 2023, we began an initiative to help
Nutrition Notes: Wild Food Foraging
Consider a spring dinner that starts with an appetizer of black locust flower fritters, followed by a dandelion and violet leaf salad sprinkled with violet flowers, pasta with garlic mustard pesto and boiled fiddleheads, wild leek and stinging nettle miso soup on the side, and a crisp of knotweed and wild blueberries for dessert. Creating
Education Isn’t Enough
The Healthy Living Department at LifePath serves people who are trying to make changes to improve their chronic condition. We must try to manage weight, avoid foods that make our conditions worse, figure out how to exercise, how to advocate for medical care, etc. Making these changes can be harder for some of us than
Step Into Summer on Healthy Feet
It should go without saying that men need foot care as much as women do, but it is sometimes harder to convince them. Most women have some history of foot care, like a spa pedicure, and it isn’t a great leap for them to embrace more comprehensive evidence-based footcare, especially as they get older or
Connection takes time and effort, but the rewards can be limitless.
Established in 1963, Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated every May. Led by a federal agency, the Administration for Community Living (ACL), OAM is a time to recognize older Americans’ contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm commitments to serving the older adults in our communities.
This year’s theme, “Powered by Connection,” focuses on the profound impact
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
Aching Feet and a Full Heart
One of my first volunteering experiences as a young adult was with “The Meatloaf Kitchen,” an all-volunteer organization that serves people experiencing homelessness in New York City. The place was infused with the familiar, homey aroma of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and cooked vegetables, juxtaposed into a setting that was entirely new to me—seeing people who
Older Americans Act Reauthorization and Funding
In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson enacted the Older Americans Act (OAA) to cater to the evolving needs of aging citizens. This legislation established a network of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), totaling 614 nationwide, empowered to allocate resources based on localized assessments of elder and caregiver needs. In Franklin County and the North Quabbin region,