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Greetings,
As MVES gears up for our annual celebration, we want
to ask you what you like most about The
Beacon. What would you like to see more of? We're
committed to giving you the most useful and interesting
information possible.
Please write to us at editor@mves.org.
| MVES participates in Make A Difference Day |
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On October 25, 2003, the Family Caregiver Support
Program and the Volunteer Department of Mystic Valley
Elder Services (MVES) will be participating in Make A
Difference Day, the national day to help others. The
project will be delivering "Thanks for Giving" baskets to
caregivers who help elders. MVES will fill the baskets
with baked goods, craft items, gift certificates, and
other items that are donated.
In the U.S. there are approximately 7.3 million
individuals who provide unpaid help to disabled older
people living in the community. Many of these
caregivers are not retired and struggle to balance work,
children, and caregiving. MVES' Family Caregiver
Support Program and the Volunteer Department are
celebrating Make A Difference Day by recognizing the
hard work of caregivers living in the area.
Millions of Americans across the country are expected
to spend Saturday, October 25th, doing volunteer
projects to improve their communities and help
neighbors in need. The day is the largest community
service effort in the nation, rallying corporations,
government leaders, charitable organizations, and
everyday Americans into action on one day.
Read on... »
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| The Holiday Sale at MVES |
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Get ready for a holiday sale that is a gift itself--all
proceeds benefit the Elder-At-Risk fund! You'll find
great things at great prices. What could be better?
On November 5, MVES will host the annual Holiday Sale.
The sale will feature items donated by a local company
and will include wrapping paper, Christmas and
Chanukah cards, stationery, note cards, invitations,
and other gift items. Shoppers will welcome the
exceptionally low prices.
"We look forward to the Holiday Sale each year," said
Dan O'Leary, the executive director of MVES. ""It's a
great opportunity to get a jump on shopping and at the
same time help elders in the community."
Read more... »
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| Take the First Step: Physical Activity and Older Adults |
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What reduces the risk of dying of heart disease and
decreases the risk for colon cancer, diabetes, and high
blood pressure? What helps control weight and helps
build strong bones? What relieves arthritis pain and may
reduce the symptoms of depression?
The answer: physical activity.
For older people, physical activity is one of the most
important keys to maintaining a good quality of life.
Physical activity has been shown to help those
individuals who have a chronic disease, are quite frail,
or are wheel chair bound grow stronger.
Read more... »
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| Reading Partners Kicks Off |
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Mystic Valley Elder Services, working under an RSVP
(Retired Seniors Volunteer Program) contract that
covers Middlesex County, is beginning the fifth year of
the successful Reading Partners program. Reading
Partners teams a person 55 or older with several
children to help the young students improve reading
ability.
"Reading Partners is active in schools in Malden and
Waltham," said Laura Krebs, MVES literacy program
coordinator. "Retired people and children are a great
combination. They both learn so much from one
another."
The program works closely with teachers and school
administrators. At the beginning of the year, teachers
will identify students who could benefit from one-on-
one assistance. From November to June, the students
will meet with a Reading Partner volunteer two times a
week for 30 minutes. Concentrating on an assignment
from his or her teacher, the student will read with the
Reading Partner, use flashcards, play reading games, or
practice writing. Students can be in grades
kindergarten through third.
Read more... »
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| A Celebration of Success, Now and in the Future |
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In several days, Mystic Valley Elder Services will
celebrate its 28th Anniversary! We will join together to
honor colleagues, business partners, advocates, and
caregivers while we reflect on accomplishments and
look to the future.
MVES has grown and expanded its menu of programs
and services at a phenomenal rate over the past 28
years, directly in response to the needs of area elders
and families. We reach some 5,000 people every week
with a variety of home care services, meals,
transportation, outreach, intergenerational activities,
advocacy, nursing home and assisted living services,
information, advice, and direction. This track record of
accomplishment continually evolves. As our clientele
has changed and their needs have diversified, we too
have changed.
Twenty-eight years ago our staff of 20 primarily spoke
English only, with two bilingual case managers. Today
we employ a staff of 150 professionals, many of whom
have bilingual and bicultural skills, to more effectively
serve not only our traditional clientele but also Chinese,
Vietnamese, Russian and other "new-Americans." We
now affirmatively reach out to gay, lesbian, bisexual,
and transgender elders. We work with business
partners who provide services culturally appropriate to
the entire spectrum of people who depend on us for
the basics of daily living at-home. It is an awesome
responsibility that we enthusiastically embrace. I am
proud of each staff member and volunteer, as well as
the hundreds of community partners with whom we
work every single day of the year.
I also want to
acknowledge and thank all the dedicated families and
friends who selflessly care for older relatives and
neighbors. There is no greater joy than knowing that
we are part of a team of caregivers that makes the
difference in an older person's ability to remain at-home
with a high quality of life.
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