Three Simple Steps to Peace of Mind Concerning Healthcare Decisions
Honoring Choices Massachusetts has created a Quick-Start Guide explaining the three simple steps to securing a Health Care Agent. A Health Care Agent is someone who can speak for your wishes, should you become incapacitated. Completing these steps is easy and can offer peace of mind to everyone. View the guide here.
If you
AFC Caregiver Andrea Callahan and Her Son, Max, Teach Each Other
November is National Family Caregivers month, a time to:
Recognize and honor caregivers Promote caregiver well-being Advocate for caregiver-friendly policies Raise awareness to challenges caregivers face Provide resources and supports to caregivers Encourage communities and organizations to get involvedWhen I recently asked one of our Adult Family Care (AFC) caregivers, Andrea Callahan, what it means to her to be a caregiver,
National Family Caregiver Month: Asking For Help Is Not An Admission of Failure
November is National Family Caregiver Month. When we talk about caregiving, I am always struck by the number of individuals who do not identify as caregivers, but who are certainly doing the work. This could be because caregiving looks different to everybody; children caring for their parents, grandparents caring for their grandchildren, chosen family caring
The Hospital to Home Program Meets Patients Where They Are
Celene Livermore is the Community Care Coordinator at LifePath. She has served in this role since June 2023. “I have a background in Health Information Management (HIM) and was led to LifePath out of a desire to work directly in the community assisting those in need,” says Celene. She explains that her position is split
Assistance Available to Help with Food, Healthcare, and Heating Costs
As the cost of living continues to rise—from groceries and medications to housing and heating—many older adults living on fixed or low incomes are facing tough choices. This time of year, the decision to “eat or heat” is all too real, putting health and safety at risk. The good news? There are federal and state
The Power of Your Voice
Residents’ Rights Month is an event held each October to celebrate and focus on awareness of dignity, respect, and the value of residents living in long-term care facilities.
Residents have the right to self-determination and to use their voice to make their own choices. This year’s Residents’ Rights Month theme, The Power of My Voice, emphasizes
Inspiring the Doula Heart and Achieving Socially-Supported Serious Illness Care
Introducing Doula Pride and Equity – Improving Socially-Supported Serious Illness Care for the LGBTQ+ Older People Community: A Pilot Study Leveraging Social Capital. Since the start of the year, LifePath, Rainbow Elders, myself as lead nurse from the University of Massachusetts, and members of the community have been working on a program to decrease social
Togetherness Helps to Triumph Over Life’s Challenges
As the beginning of the fall season arrives, many of us take this shift in the seasons in stride as we go about our daily routine without interruption. However, for some of us, the upcoming winter months mean an increased sense of isolation and feeling alone. As people are less able to venture out due
AAA Needs Assessment – Your Input is Needed!
LifePath is currently conducting an every-four-years assessment of the needs of older adults (age 60 and over) and caregivers. The data we collect will inform the Area Plan and our programmatic activities and investments over the next four years. The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete. Please consider taking and sharing the survey. Thank
Nutrition Notes: Envisioning Food as Medicine
“Food as Medicine,” or “Food is Medicine,” has been gaining popularity in recent years. However, it is not a new concept—the understanding that food and adequate nourishment play a key role in optimizing our health and well-being, and that certain foods and ways of preparing food can support healing when ill, is as old as
Greenfield Police Officer Matthew Llewelyn Visits Meals on Wheels
Today, Greenfield Police Officer Matthew Llewelyn visited the Meals on Wheels kitchen and went on a ride-along to deliver meals in the community.
When he got out of the car after the kitchen visit and doing part of the meal drop off route, he said, “That was awesome!”
That comment says it all. We would like to
Keep Moving: How Regular Walking Can Help Prevent Falls
Staying active is important at any age, but it’s especially important as we get older. One of the best and easiest ways to stay active is walking. Walking regularly isn’t just good for your heart and muscles; it can also help prevent falls. Falls are a serious risk, especially for older adults. But with some