The awards program is sponsored by Critical Signal Technologies your Link to Life (CST-LTL). Caregiving MetroWestwas among the top 16 of 46 local aging programs to receive honors during the n4a Annual Conference & Tradeshow, July 24-28, 2016, in San Diego, CA.

 

BayPath Elder Services earned second-place honors nationally in the Aging Innovations category and a $1,000 prize for its Caregiving MetroWest website and program.

 

BayPath Executive Director Christine Alessandro, Caregiver Specialist Alicia Rego and Caregiving MetroWest Program Manager Douglas Flynn were on hand for the conference in San Diego to accept the award and gave a presentation on how BayPath has implemented an innovative and effective approach to caregiver support combining web-, home- and community-based supports.

 

"The Board of Directors and the staff of BayPath Elder Services are grateful to n4a and Critical Signal Technologies for recognizing the innovation of the Caregiving MetroWest website," said Alessandro. "The site is an important resource for caregivers, providing information and support as well as helping them to make connections. With 622 Area Agencies on Aging nationally, it is significant for BayPath to receive a second place recognition. It also reinforces our commitment to caregivers and older individuals in our communities."

 

Funded initially through grants from the MetroWest Health Foundation, CaregivingMetroWest.org provides family caregivers in 25 MetroWest communities robust access to information, connections to resources and enhanced support.

 

Customized website features developed specifically for CaregivingMetroWest.org provide real-time information and state-of-the-art interaction for area caregivers. Those resources include a clickable map of MetroWest that allows users to click on each of the 25 towns and cities in the MetroWest Health Foundation's coverage area to produce a listing of caregiving resources for that community in over 20 categories. The site also features a regularly updated blog, a "Wellness Wall" with tips and advice for caregivers, and an extensive content section covering all aspects of caregiving.

 

"Our goal since the MetroWest Health Foundation first approached us about creating a website for caregivers in 2012 was to provide a single point of access to the information, support and resources that the growing ranks of family caregivers so desperately need," said Flynn. "Anything that we can do to ease the burden on those indispensable caregivers in any way is invaluable. And we are extremely proud and appreciative that our years of hard work creating and improving the site have been recognized with such a prestigious award."

 

BayPath would like to thank the n4a, Critical Signal Technologies, all of the attendees who came to our presentation and everyone who has supported and helped make CaregivingMetroWest.org a success since it was launched in 2014.

 

The 2016 n4a Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards recognizes Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Title VI Native American aging programs that develop and implement cutting-edge approaches to support older adults, people with disabilities and their family caregivers. A part of the criteria for the selection of the honorees was the ease with which other agencies could replicate the program in their communities.

 

"With the health care landscape continuing to change rapidly, our members are discovering new ways to position themselves in the long-term and health care marketplaces, as well as to strengthen long-standing services, to meet the needs of America's rapidly growing older adult population," said n4a's Chief Executive Officer Sandy Markwood. "Our members work tirelessly, and with little fanfare in their communities, and this program enables us to shine a well-deserved spotlight on their critical work to support older adults' health, safety, independence and dignity."