The BayPath Bulletin
All the News You Need ASAP
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BayPath Elder Services, Inc.'s mission is to be a trusted partner in providing an array of services and programs to older adults, caregivers, and persons with disabilities to support their independence and dignity.
BayPath offers home care and related services enabling people to live independently and comfortably in their homes while promoting their well-being and dignity.
Founded in 1977 as a nonprofit corporation, BayPath has 40 years of experience serving and advocating for the needs of older adults as a designated Massachusetts Aging Services Access Point and
a designated Area Agency on Aging.
Visit BayPath's website
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BayPath Elder Services, Inc. serves the following communities:
Ashland
Dover
Framingham
Holliston
Hopkinton
Hudson
Marlborough
Natick
Northborough
Sherborn
Southborough
Sudbury
Wayland
Westborough
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BayPath continues to expand to meet the needs of its consumers and programs, and this summer the agency has welcomed a host of new faces to our staff.
Our nursing ranks have been particularly buoyed.
Brian Couture
joins the agency as a CSSM RN, while Jennifer Zecco will work in the AFC Program, Kimberly Sullivan will be a Care Coordination RN, and Carol Taylor and Suzanne Toland come aboard as Home Care RNs.
Elsewhere in the agency, Elaine Cahill joins the PCA Program as an Occupational Therapist,
Rochelle Fitzgerald
and Manny Lancara have been hired as SCO GSSCs, Lauren Staples will serve as a Nutrition Specialist, Betsy Jovel as an I&R Specialist, and Deborah Harris as a SCO/HC Administrator. Rounding out the additions are new Case Managers Nicole Chick, Sean Johnson and Amanda McAloon.
Congratulations and welcome aboard to all.
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Congratulations are also in order for Amy DeMichele, who was promoted to the Senior Management Team in August.
DeMichele will now serve as BayPath's Home Care Senior Manager and will take on additional responsibilities her new position.
Congratulations for a well-earned promotion.
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BayPath has long followed a special tradition to recognize the dedication, selflessness and passion of its staff.
At each month's staff meeting, a staff member is chosen to receive the coveted sailboat. It
is awarded to a staff member who deserves some special recognition for their efforts. Adding significance is the fact that the current holder of the sailboat gets to select the next winner, so this is an honor bestowed by a fellow staff member who sees their co-worker's special contributions every day.
At the June staff meeting, May's recipient, Contracts Manager Crystal Alderfer, passed the sailboat on to Case Manager Kaitlyn Butler for her passion and dedication in serving our consumers.
In July, Butler in turn passed the sailboat to fellow Case Manager Christine Musella for her work helping our consumers.
Congratulations to Butler and Musella and to all of the former, and future, winners of this unique honor. |
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Grants funds approved for Family Caregiver Support Program
In some welcome good budget news, the Massachusetts Family Caregiver Support Programs learned in July that they have been approved to utilize funds from the grant initially announced this spring.
Each ASAP with a FCSP will receive $13,375 to use between August 1, 2017 and February 28, 2018 to support family caregivers. Specifically, the funds are to be used to increase access to Savvy Caregiver trainings by offering respite to caregivers whose care recipients are not enrolled in any state Home Care program and to promote and support the use of assistive technology for family caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's or related dementia.
BayPath is one of the ASAPs that will receive funding through this grant. BayPath already has multiple staff members trained and certified to lead Savvy Caregiver trainings, with Caregiver Specialist
Alicia Rego and Caregiving MetroWest
Program Manager
Douglas Flynn currently leading their second class this summer in Southborough after teaching the workshop in Hudson this spring.
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Caregiving MetroWest website undergoes homepage makeover
In early July, we unveiled a redesigned homepage to give the site a fresh look and help our visitors get to the most relevant information for their particular caregiving situation as quickly and easily as possible.
You'll now find direct links to our extensive collection of information on caregiving by clicking the "Caregiving Guidance" tab on the main photo, and our resource listings organized both by type and by town by clicking the "Local Resources" tab.
Beneath that, we will have a new feature highlighting an area of the site that is new, recently updated or particularly useful for area caregivers. The focus of that feature will be changed frequently, but we begin with our Wellness Wall, a regularly-updated collection of advice, tips and encouragement for caregivers from BayPath Elder Services Caregiver Specialist Alicia Rego.
Check out our new look on the homepage and feel free to let us know any of your ideas for how we could make the site even better.
50,000 and Counting
Earlier this summer, CaregivingMetroWest.org welcomed its 50,00th unique visitor to the site.
We are humbled to have had so many family caregivers use our website, and hope that they have found the information and resources they need to help in the care of their loved ones.
And we hope that many thousands more will utilize the site in the coming months and years as we strive to continue to provide essential support to family caregivers from throughout MetroWest and beyond.
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Innovative Approach Honored
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COME 2 B Dementia Friendly earns MCOA Innovation Award for pioneering work in MetroWest communities
 COME 2 B Dementia Friendly, the dementia friendly communities project in the MetroWest area, has been awarded an Innovation Award from the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging (MCOA).
"I am very humbled to receive this award," said BayPath Executive Director Christine Alessandro. "The communities really did all the work and deserve the credit. It has been an honor to work with them throughout this process."
The award highlights the success of the communities of Hudson, Marlborough, and Northborough, which were the first three communities to begin the process of becoming dementia friendly through the program coordinated by BayPath Elder Services and funded in part by grants from the MetroWest Health Foundation.
In addition to Alessandro, the MCOA also recognized the work Hudson Senior Center Director Janice Long, Marlborough Senior Center Director Trish Pope, Northborough Senior Center Director Kelly Burke and Arthur Bergeron, Esq. for their leaderships roles in COME 2 B Dementia Friendly.
The program has since expanded to Westborough and Ashland, with more MetroWest communities planned in the future.
Alessandro also spread the word about the program's success to a national audience at the first annual
Dementia Action Alliance Conference in Atlanta on June 25-27. Alessandro presented on memory cafes and Dementia Friendly Massachusetts at the conference, which was titled, Re-Imagine Life with Dementia - Engage. Empower. Enable
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BayPath Executive Director Alessandro leads pair of presentations at n4a national conference in Savannah
BayPath Executive Director Christine Alessandro made her second trip of the summer to Georgia for the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) 42nd Annual Conference and Tradeshow in Savannah from July 29 to August 2.
Alessandro is now serving as a member of the n4a's National Board of Directors, and was on hand for Board meetings as well as leading presentations on dementia-friendly communities in general and the progress made in the Commonwealth by Dementia Friendly Massachusetts.
Alessandro noted that these sessions were organized differently than in past conferences, with a more informal and interactive presentation structure without a power point for 15 minutes, followed by another 15 minutes for questions.
Alessandro noted this year's conference included a number of presentations on the importance of data and using data, as well as placing a national spotlight on aging policy. She also praised in particular the captivating presentation of keynote speaker Donato Tramuto, CEO of Tivity Health, TN and author of Life's Bulldozer Moments: Finding Your Path and Leading Change. Alessandro noted he was "one of the most dynamic speakers I have ever heard."
Alessandro's travels for the n4a will continue with Board meetings in Alexandra, VA in December and Washington, D.C. in April, followed by next year's annual conference in Chicago.
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Hawaii Comes to Marlborough
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Luau participants (left to right): Suzette Bernier, Jack Jones, Shirley Heffron, Nancy Courtemance, Marlborough Kitchen Coordinator Karen Basinet, Helen Brennen, Nutrition Supervisor Anne Pike-LaMarche, Sally Swartz and Marilyn Boyd at this month's festivities at theBolton Street supportive housing site.
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Marlborough Supportive Housing residents take a 'trip' to the tropics with a Hawaiian-style luau at Bolton Street
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Shirley Heffron shows off her hula dance moves. |
Residents of BayPath's Marlborough Supportive Housing site enjoyed a special day trip to Hawaii courtesy of the BayPath Elder Services Nutrition Department.
The Luau style event was held in the community room of the Marlborough senior housing building located at 397 Bolton Street and featured homemade Hawaiian style food and décor. There was music, dancing, and a raffle of special beach themed items and everyone got into the Hawaiian spirit.
Special thanks to BayPath's Nutrition Supervisor
Anne Pike-LaMarche and Marlborough Kitchen Coordinator
Karen Basinet who went all out to ensure our participant's enjoyed themselves. Great job ladies!
-- Submitted by Jane Rourk, Supportive Housing Coordinator
Have news from your department or a staff member worthy of some recognition? Let us know about it for next month's BayPath Bulletin. Send us your updates.
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Members of Ashland's COME 2 B Dementia Friendly Action Team (from left to right): Ruth Remington, Susan Robie, Mary Mortenson. Steve Mitchell, Susan Wells, Joanne Duffy and Jennifer Weulfing. Due to summer schedules, some members were not present at this July 13 meeting.
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Ashland COME 2 B Dementia Friendly Action Team making progress, set to start town surveys in September
The Ashland COME 2 B Dementia Friendly Action Team is continuing to make progress in its quest to add Ashland to the growing list of MetroWest communities to turn their towns into welcoming and accessible places for people with dementia and their loved ones and caregivers.
The team is made up of residents and professionals in the town of Ashland, and features members from local government, the senior center and community members and business owners.
At the most recent meeting on July 13, the group began identifying specific sites in Ashland to conduct surveys. The group will focus on local businesses, local government and community organizations, with the survey process scheduled to begin in September.
Ashland is the latest local community to participate in the COME 2 B Dementia Friendly program.
BayPath Elder Services, Inc., with funding in part from the MetroWest Health Foundation and working in conjunction with stakeholders from all sectors of the community, has begun the process of creating dementia-friendly communities in MetroWest through this program. It has also been implemented in Marlborough, Hudson, Northborough and Westborough.
A dementia-friendly community is informed, safe, and respectful of individuals with dementia and their families and caregivers, and provides supportive options that foster quality of life.
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BayPath begins implementation of MetroWest Health Foundation grant to improve access for LGBT community
After receiving a
grant last month from the MetroWest Health Foundation, BayPath Elder Services has begun its efforts to help
build a sustainable relationship with the MetroWest LGBT older adult community and improve access to LGBT inclusive and informed health, mental health, and other information, resources, and services.
BayPath, which has had a work group of staffers working on LGBT issues and planning events to improve outreach to the LGBT community, now has formed a LGBT Advisory Committee featuring not only staff members, but key stakeholders from the community. The advisory group includes members of BayPath's Board of Directors, local business owners, staff from other social service agencies in MetroWest, area Council on Aging staff, community members and representatives from Framingham State University.
BayPath and Framingham State are planning an inter-generational dinner event at the college in October. That event was among the topics discussed at the Advisory Committee's first meeting on July 13 at BayPath.
The Advisory Committee also discussed the process of hiring an LGBT Coordinator for the grant period, other
outreach efforts to connect with LGBT elders, families and caregivers, community agencies, allies, businesses and individuals, developing and maintaining a resource guide of LGBT inclusive resources such as health care providers, vendors, community agencies and businesses, training BayPath staff, local Councils on Aging, Senior Centers, and the wider community on LGBT older adult issues in order to improve LGBT competency, and
establishing BayPath as an LGBT informed and inclusive place to find support, information and resources for health and well-being.
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Tasty Treats to Beat the Heat
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| Members of BayPath's senior management group scoop out servings in a wide range of favors to agency staff at the Ice Cream Social on July 20. |
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BayPath's Robidoux shares diet and nutrition knowledge to help individuals with dementia and their caregivers
BayPath is fortunate to have a staff that is not only knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects, but also filled with individuals happy to share that knowledge with other staff members and departments to help our consumers.
Traci Robidoux, RN, LND, BayPath's Dietitian and Nutritionist, was one of the latest to show this willingness to share her expertise, sitting down with Caregiving MetroWest Program Manager Douglas Flynn to discuss dietary and nutrition concerns for people with dementia and their caregivers for the Caregiving MetroWest website's Caregiving Chronicles blog.
A dementia diagnosis for a loved one brings with it many challenges and a need to adapt almost every facet of life to the changing conditions brought upon by the progression of the condition.
One area of concern that may get overlooked is one of the most basic and important - making sure your loved one with dementia maintains a healthy diet and is getting proper nutrition.
In the latest edition of our Caregiving Chronicles Q&A series, Robidoux provides some valuable insight about what older adults and caregivers should know about nutrition and dementia.
Robidoux covers a wide range of topics on the subject, including the MIND Diet, foods that could reduce or increase the risk of developing dementia, making sure a loved one with dementia is getting the proper nutrition, and many more.
Check out the entire Q&A on our
Caregiving Chronicles blog
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Staging a Successful Summer Party
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BayPath held its annual summer party for its staff on August 10, with this year's "BayPathaPalooza" event featuring a summer concert theme outside our Marlborough office.
It was more than just a theme though, with
Steve Corso (guitar, vocals),
Steve Davis (bass),
Alicia Rego (ukulele) and
Sean Johnson (tambourine) rocking the crowd with two sets of classic hits.
Meanwhile,
Amy DeMichele manned the grill to rave reviews, fun was had with a water balloon toss, and everyone got a chance to look li
ke a rock star on the stage Kim Ketron worked her craft  magic to create.
Thanks to all the staff members who made the day so enjoyable and especially the Summer Party Committee who planned the event and turned their vision into reality in spectacular fashion.
That Committee featured:
Megan Murphy
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Kim Ketron
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Douglas Flynn
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Alicia Rego
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Amy DeMichele
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Shela Charlot
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John Cooper
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Kaitlyn Butler
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Elizabeth Tretiak
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Jane Rourk
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Linda Ford
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Cindy Getchell
and
Sean Johnson
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Thank you for taking the time to look through our newsletter, and please check out our website,
www.baypath.org. Have news, information or feedback from a client that you want to see in our next newsletter?
Let us know
BayPath Elder Services, Inc. is a member of the MetroWest ADRC,
a partnership with HESSCO and the MetroWest Center for Independent Living.
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