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Greetings,
With summer days upon us, MVES is in the middle of
our planning function for our service area. As an Area
Agency on Aging, MVES is beginning the annual review
of applications for Title III grants. These federal grants
are allocated to organizations that help us serve unique
populations. Learn about the winners in an upcoming
edition of The Beacon.
Have a good month and we hope the convention traffic
wasn't too bad for you!
| MVES Welcomes New Community Programs Director |
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Volunteerism is an important part of MVES and the
agency's 400+ volunteers contribute to the community
in numerous ways. From SHINE (Serving Health
Insurance Needs of Elders) volunteers to Reading
Partners, volunteers have a visible impact on people of
all ages throughout the community.
MVES is happy to welcome Vida Poole who will serve as
the community programs director and lead MVES'
volunteer efforts.
A native of Massachusetts, Vida comes to MVES from
the American Red Cross. She is the former director of
volunteer resources for the American Red Cross of
Massachusetts Bay. Vida was at the Red Cross for
eleven years and oversaw numerous volunteer and
youth programs for the chapter.
Read more... »
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| Satisfied Clients |
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MVES strives to provide high
quality services to the elders, families, and caregivers
that we serve. Each year we send out a satisfaction
survey to our clients to find out if we are meeting their
expectations and needs.
This year's survey was sent to approximately 65
percent of MVES' clients and of those clients, about 44
percent answered and returned the surveys. Clients
were asked to rate and comment on services such as
Case Management, Personal Care, Homemaking,
Grocery Shopping and Delivery, Transportation,
Lifeline
Emergency Response system, and others.
Read more... »
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| Keep Moving! |
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It is important for older adults to exercise. In fact,
through the Healthier US initiative, the President of the
United States recommends that Americans of all ages
include some physical activity in their everyday
routines.
If you're not very active now, don't try to change
overnight. Rather, build up gradually to a total of 30
minutes or more of physical activity a day. Focus on
doing things you currently enjoy--such as biking,
dancing, or walking--and you will find it much easier to
keep it up. If you're an older person thinking about
becoming more active, visit the web site of the
National Institute on Aging
(http://nihseniorhealth.gov/exercise/toc.html) for more
recommendations.
Read more... »
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| Caregiving Is A Family Affair |
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Question: I am taking care of my mother who is 94
and needs significant help around her home. I work a
part-time job in addition to helping my mother.
Sometimes I am overwhelmed. Am I alone?
Answer: No, you are not alone. In fact, according to
the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration on Aging, families--not social service
agencies, nursing homes, or government programs--are
the mainstay of long-term care for older persons in the
United States.
Read more... »
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| The Right Care In The Right Place |
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As an agency that advocates for elders, MVES strives
to ensure that seniors receive the best possible care in
the setting of their choice. Most often, this setting is
their home where they feel most comfortable. However,
because of injury or illness, some elders may need the
24-hour care offered by nursing homes.
Starting on June 1, MVES, at the request of the
Executive Office of Elder Affairs, began working more
closely with nursing homes to make certain that some
patients who have the potential for discharge from a
nursing home facility can return to the community as
soon as possible.
Working with nursing home staff or hospital discharge
planners in its eight-community service area, MVES
arranges an in-person assessment. One of nine
Registered Nurses from MVES visits with the elder to
determine if an extended nursing home stay is in the
person's best interest. The MVES nurse assesses the
elder's health, ability to perform activities of daily living,
and future health concerns. The on-site assessment
also allows the nurse to meet with the person's family
and discuss individual needs and wishes.
Read more...
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