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Greetings,
The cold weather has arrived... and with some oomph!
In this issue of our newsletter, you'll find some useful
tips on how to safely deal with the plummeting
temperatures. But, try to forget the chill in the air for a
spell and take some time to read the February/March
edition of The Beacon!
| Baby, It's Cold Outside! |
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At the start of this winter, the atypically high
temperatures were the talk of the town. But the wisest
New Englanders were quick to point out that these mild
temperatures couldn't and wouldn't last forever. "Wait
and see! Don't be fooled! We'll get ours!" they warned.
They were right. The cold is here. And we need to be
prepared.
As the meteorologists told us, the Boston area recently
experienced some of the coldest temperatures recorded
in two years! Not only is this extreme cold
uncomfortable, but it can also be dangerous. It's
important that we all take the necessary precautions to
stay safe this winter. The following safety tips were
provided by the Massachusetts Emergency
Management Agency (MEMA) to help us deal with the
recent jolt from mild to wild-ly cold!
Read more... »
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| MVES Announces Second Annual Fundraising Event |
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The lights dim, the crowd hushes, and the curtain
dramatically opens. All eyes are on the stage as the
audience eagerly waits to be transported into another
world of drama, suspense, emotion, and theatrics.
There's only one thing better than a night out at the
theater--one that benefits the MVES Gap Fund!
MVES is proud to announce its second annual
fundraising event, Agatha Christie's And Then There
Were None, to be held at the Stoneham Theatre on
Saturday, May 19, 2007. Christie's famous mystery
promises to keep theatergoers guessing until the end.
Read more... »
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| Behind The Scenes With MVES' Anya Delacruz |
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As MVES' Aging Well at Home Service Coordinator, Anya
Delacruz stays quite busy providing the Aging Well at
Home Program to residents of two senior housing
buildings in Malden. We recently spoke with Anya to
learn more about this important program and her role as
coordinator. During the interview, we found out that
Anya is a twin... but at MVES she is one of a kind!
Editor: What is the Aging Well at Home Program?
Delacruz: The Aging Well at Home Program was created
to be carried out in Naturally Occurring Retirement
Communities, or NORCs. NORCs are places where people
with similar interests and lifestyles naturally tend to
settle and create a community. The goal was to
implement the Aging Well at Home Program at a
federally-designated NORC and by doing so, foster and
enhance the sense of community that naturally exists
there.
Read more... »
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| Too Soon To Retire? |
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Quetion: My husband would like me to retire next
year when I turn 62. I am a little hesitant because I
know my Social Security benefits will be reduced due to
my age. How do I decide whether this is the right
decision for me?
Answer: The final decision should be right for both you
and your husband but remember this shouldn't
be viewed strictly as a financial consideration.
Retirement affects so many aspects of a person's life
and people don't always realize the impact until after
they've retired. First of all, are you ready to leave the
life of active employment? Have you thought about
what you will do with all the extra time you will
suddenly have? Are there activities that will give you
something to look forward to and keep you mentally
challenged? Has your sense of identity been centered
on your professional career and, if so, are you prepared
for the change in how you define yourself?
Read more... »
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| A Balancing Act |
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Happy New Year to all our Beacon friends and
readers!
Last year was a pivotal year for all elders and
caregivers in the state. The state legislature and
Governor Romney passed into law the concept that
elders and the disabled should be able to live in the
least restrictive setting possible. Commonly known as
the Equal Choice bill, this new legislation mandates that
elders who qualify for publicly-funded long-term care
services have the option of having those services
delivered in a community setting or in a long-term care
facility. In effect, elders who receive help from the
state will be given the opportunity to receive this care
in their homes instead of being forced to receive it in a
nursing home. Individuals who pay privately for their
care will be able to learn about the various options
available in the community by meeting with a
community care advisor. As the name implies, Equal
Choice delivers choices to elders.
Now, in 2007, we are presented with the long-sought
after task of implementing Equal Choice. Undoubtedly,
the implementation will be a challenge as we must
ensure that elders who decide to remain in the
community have the highest quality of care so that
they may live in safety and with dignity. We must think
carefully and we must move steadily forward.
Our progress will be dependent on the continued
support of the legislature and the support of the Patrick
administration. Governor Patrick agrees with the idea
behind Equal Choice. In fact, Governor Patrick and his
transition team deemed the legislation's implementation
a "priority." The administration wrote:
Read more...
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