News and Updates for August 2025 (corrected link)

News & Updates

August 2025 | Volume 3 Issue 11

Upcoming Events

Visit our table at the Falmouth Senior Center's Annual Open House, Monday September 15.

Computer Essentials classes starting early September in Bourne, Hyannis and Harwich. Register now!

Recent News

ESCCI Board Member Bob Blancato was part of a panel discussion led by Mary Lazare, Principal Deputy Administrator for the Administration for Community Living, at the USAging Conference and Trade Show in Chicago last month. Bob who is the National Coordinator of Defeat Malnutrition Today joined Martha Roherty (ADvancing States, Sandy Markwood (CEO of USAging), and Ramsey Alwin (President & CEO of the National Council on Aging) in unpacking the priorities of the current administration. Lazare noted that this administration's top priority is to increase to support for caregivers, both paid and unpaid.

One highlight of the conference was gerontologist and futurist Ken Dychtwald who delivered what he called “the most important speech of my career.” His presentation laid out five "grand challenges" we must address to create a better future for all generations. Listen to his full speech on Vimeo.

Expanding Access to Technology for Older Adults

Elder Services has been proud to offer Senior Planet Computer Classes and Workshops at Councils on Aging, Senior Housing Complexes, and Public Libraries across Barnstable County since the fall of 2021—thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan and the generous support of the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation. These efforts have already made a significant impact, with over 825 older adults participating in our digital literacy programs.

This year, we put a great deal of effort into applying for additional funding to expand our services through two key grant programs: the federal Digital Equity Competitive Grant and the Mass Broadband Institute’s Launchpad Grant. Unfortunately, both of these funding opportunities were rescinded by the new administration before any grants were awarded. While these setbacks were disappointing, we are grateful that our partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal has continued to grow.

Comcast’s support, along with funding from several local organizations—including the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod’s Charitable Foundation, the Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation, and the Edward Bangs Kelley and Elza Kelley Foundation—has allowed us to expand our digital programming even further.

One of the most exciting developments is our new in-home digital navigation and tech help service, aimed at older adults who are who are home bound or unable attend community programs. This initiative launched on July 25 as part of a three-month pilot program, providing personalized, one-on-one assistance at no cost to those already enrolled in one of ESCCI’s many supportive services. We’re optimistic that this service will take root and at the conclusion of the pilot, we hope to open it to external referrals, if funding allows.

As we look toward the future, we remain committed to ensuring that all older adults have access to the technology they need. However, we need your help. If you or someone you know can assist in securing funding to continue this vital service, please contact Laura Roskos at laura.roskos@escci.org or 508-258-2317. Together, we can ensure that no one is left behind in today’s increasingly digital world.

Thanks to the support of our funders and partners, we’re making great strides in bridging the digital divide for older adults in our community, helping them stay connected, informed, and empowered.

YOU WERE HEARD!

Healey Signs Supplemental Budget

Includes $60 Million for Home Care

We’ve been asking our friends and clients to write and call their state legislators about this issue since February, when the shortfall in the Commonwealth’s FY25 budget became apparent. And you did. In droves. Some of you even traveled to Beacon Hill for Older Adult Lobby Day. Then, finally, on August 5, the Governor signed a fiscal 2025 supplemental budget allocating $259 million in additional spending including $60,000,000 for the state’s home care program. We are relieved that these funds are finally in place as we close our accounts for FY2025. ESCCI uses state home care money to pay our providers, who are mostly small local businesses like Cranberry Laundry, Apothecare, and Attentive Home Care.

We thank you so very much for taking action. We also thank the Cape legislative delegation for their responsiveness to the needs of our community and their support of our home care program, which serves about 4500 families each year. They, along with State Senator Pat Jehlen and State Representative Thomas Stanely championed this issue. Betsey Crimmins from Mass Aging Access, , adds, "I would also include Chair of Senate Ways and Means Michael Rodrigues and Chair of House Ways and Means Aaron Michlewicz. They were both great and got lots of outreach from our network staff and clients."

Providing Free Legal Services to Older Adults on the Cape and Beyond

By Emily Flaherty, Esquire

South Coastal Counites Legal Services, Inc (SCCLS) provides free legal assistance to eligible individuals in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the Islands. Our team advocates for economically and/or socially vulnerable individuals who need help protecting their homes, families, health, and livelihoods. Our offices are located in Hyannis, Brockton, Fall River, and New Bedford, with outreach and pop-up events throughout Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable and Dukes County. Our practice areas include: Elder Law, Housing, Family Law, Consumer Debt, Public Benefits, Employment, and Education. More information about our individual practice areas can be found at www.sccls.org.

Through our Private Attorney Involvement (PAI) program, we aim to expand the reach of our services even further, by engaging our dedicated private attorney volunteer panel. We do this by hosting workshops and clinics, and by placing cases with a free volunteer attorney where appropriate. Most estate planning needs can be met in a single session, as clients will complete a questionnaire prior to the clinic. The PAI program will review the questionnaire to determine which Clinic date would be most appropriate for the client, usually based on where the client lives. If a case involves a more complex facts, or requires additional Attorney involvement, such as for specializes drafting needs, the PAI program will attempt to place eligible cases directly with a volunteer Estate Planning Attorney.

Estate Planning Clinic

DATE & TIME: Quarterly clinics, dates announced about 6 months ahead of time.

Upcoming dates: Provincetown Estate Planning Clinic, on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at the Provincetown Council on Aging.

Our Estate Planning Clinic provides Elders with peace of mind that their wishes will be carried out upon their passing, by preparing valuable, end-of-life documents. Volunteer Attorneys will draft a Simple Will (or amend an existing will), Durable Power of Attorney, and a Massachusetts Healthcare Proxy. This is a hybrid clinic, meaning that most preparation work can be done remotely, but clients will need to be present on the clinic date to execute and notarize their documents with the volunteer.

. . . . read about other upcoming legal clinics here

Kindness, Integrity, Accountability & Teamwork are the Cornerstones of our Success.

Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands, Inc., is a registered 501c3 organization. We rely on numerous sources of income in order to accomplish our Agency’s mission and depend on the generosity of our community to help us reach our goals.

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