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Greetings,
It's been a snowy winter! We hope you're staying warm
despite the mountains of snow and bitterly cold
temperatures.
In our continued effort to provide you only with articles
that you'll find the most interesting and useful, we've
decided to send The Beacon every other month.
This edition is the February/March edition. Thanks for
reading and, as always, we welcome your comments
and suggestions.
| Sign up to Win! |
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Well, tell a friend to sign up.
MVES is offering a contest for all new subscribers to
The Beacon. We know--our faithful readers
don't get a
chance to win. But, ask a friend to enter and share the
prize! It shouldn't be hard to get them to sign up. Just
ask, "How would you like to win a free overnight stay
and dinner
in beautiful Hyannis? Or, how about an after-work party
for 25 people at Jillian's in Boston?" What's the catch?
It's not much of one! Like you've already done, they
simply need to sign-up for The Beacon. By
entering
their e-mail address they qualify to win!
Read more... »
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| Behind the Scenes with a Client Services Manager |
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Since joining MVES almost two years ago, Client
Services Manager Sarah Schad has contributed her
experience and knowledge to case management
supervision. Learn more about a Client Services
Manager in this month's Behind the Scenes.
Editor: What are your main responsibilities as a
Client Services Manager?
S. Schad: As a Client Services Manager, I'm responsible
for the supervision of our elder care advisor, our
caregiver support coordinator, and a team of seven
case managers. As their manager, I provide both
support and guidance individually to each member of
our team. I touch base with team members each day
and continually review and evaluate their work. My
main goal is to always educate our team so that they
can best serve our clients. I am also responsible for
interviewing candidates interested in case management
and helping organize orientation programs for all our
state home care case managers.
Read more... »
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| Generous Donations Bring Joy to Elders |
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Before we ushered in the New Year, MVES set a goal of
reaching $20,000 worth of donations through the 2004
Fall Appeal. MVES exceeded its goal thanks to you!
Through your generosity, MVES had its most successful
Fall Appeal to date, raising over $20,000 towards The
Elder Independence Fund.
"Each year MVES spends about $20,000 on services
that provide urgent help to elders," said MVES Director
of
Development Jenny Vanasse. "Through the generosity
of our donors this fall, we have been able to fully
replenish our total. These donations will help MVES
better meet the needs of elders in our community."
Read more... »
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| Health Risks and Environmental Awareness |
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Question: I live in the Northeast and my aging
parents live in the South. I was a nervous wreck this
past summer when they were having such bad
weather. What would I do if they needed immediate
help?
Answer: The U.S. Administration on Aging encourages
all families to spend some time during the holidays to
map out a plan of response in the event of an
emergency. Identify potential risk situations or
emergencies that could occur in the home or
community. This process should go beyond the actual
structural integrity of the house-it should include
outdoor elements such as trees that should be removed
or trimmed, loose porch railings, or uneven and cracked
walkways. Get a sense of the reliability and response
by the town's public services in the event of a fire,
burglary, power outage, flood, or other natural disaster.
Read more... »
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| New Year, New Session, New Choices |
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Happy New Year!
With the start of this new year, the state legislature is
back in session. Undoubtedly, the legislature will have
numerous bills in front of them, but none more
important than those that seek to help elders in the
community. Three bills in particular deserve special
attention since they help elders delay or avoid nursing
home placement when living options in the community
are available. I ask that you review the outlined bills
below and encourage your legislators to support elder
independence.
The first bill (Section 14B, Chapter 118E), sponsored by
Senator Susan Tucker and Representative Barbara
L'Italien, would help elders pay for the transition from a
nursing home to a community-based setting. Why is
this
good? Because it helps elders have a choice in where
they can live. Economically, the bill is sound because
most often helping elders in a community-based setting
costs less than living in a nursing home. Choice and
fiscal responsibility-a strong combination.
Choice is an important part of the second bill also.
Sponsored by Senator Stan Rosenberg and
Representative Mike Festa, the proposed bill
(amendment to Section 9, Chapter 118E) would ensure
that people about to enter a nursing home have the
opportunity to learn about all the options available to
them before they make a decision to enter a long-term
care facility. No matter our age, we all should be
educated consumers. Support of this bill will help elders
make the right choice about an enormous aspect of
their lives.
Read more...
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