News and Updates for November 2023

News & Updates

November 2023 | Volume 2, Issue 2

Upcoming Events

Learn about ESCCI's services and the Frail Elderly Waiver at the Parkinson's Disease Support Group, December 4 in Falmouth

Learn about ESCCI's full range of services with Sight Loss Services Support Group at the Barnstable Adult Community Center on Dec. 14

Current News

Elder Services of Cape Cod & Islands is proud to sponsor dozens of vaccination clinics in our community with Cape Cod Health Care VNA Public Health & Wellness Department. Above, VNA nurse Mary Mahan administers a vaccine at the Sandwich Housing Authority.

Many thanks to USAging for the vaccination grant funded by U.S. Administration for Community Living.

Service Spotlight

Thank you, Bob White, for over 20 years of service with ESCCI's Money Management Program!

Robert (Bob) White joined the Money Management Program in 2001. 2024 will be his 23rd year of volunteering! He initially served as a volunteer bill payer, visiting consumers once a month. For the past 15 years, he has served as the program's volunteer monitor. Bob visits the Money Management Program office monthly to monitor clients' accounts, comparing the bill payer's reports to the client's bank statements. He also takes part in all volunteer meetings and events. He is a treasure to the program!

Bob worked for the U.S. Postal Service for nearly 36 years, the last 5 as Postmaster in Chatham. He is an avid golfer and member of the two Barnstable municipal courses--although he admits his game isn't what it once was. Bob was attracted to the Money Management Program because he feels the mission of the program--helping low income elders remain in their homes--is so worthwhile.

November is Family Caregiver Month

Celebrating Those Who Care for Others

Real Help for Real People: New Respite Care Options Available Now

Caregiving is not easy — not for the caregiver and not for the person receiving care. The ongoing demands of taking care of someone else can strain even the most resilient person. That’s why it’s critical for caregivers to ask for help and take a break when they need it.

Respite care provides short-term relief for primary caregivers, giving them time to rest, travel, or spend time with other family and friends. The care may last anywhere from a few hours to several weeks at a time. Respite care can take place in your own home, at day programs in your community, or at residential or nursing facilities that offer overnight stays and have bed availability.

Respite care can also benefit the person you are caring for, providing them with variety, stimulation, and a welcome change of routine. Even if it's for just a few hours a week or month, respite is good for the caregiver and the person they are caring for.

The Family Caregiver Program at Elder Services can share with you information on how to devise a plan for respite that works for you. We have Scholarships available to help remove financial barriers to seeking respite care. Call us to learn more!

Destination Respite: Your Gateway to Well-Deserved Breaks!

Destination Respite is an initiative spearheaded by a collaborative of various local agencies working together to expand respite options for Cape Cod caregivers. Each Destination Respite Program offers a minimum of three hours of activity two times each month. The Dennis Center for Active Living is coordinating implementation of the pilot and is charged with offering services to underserved caregiver populations in the funded service areas. Destination Respite Programs will be available for Spanish and Portuguese speaking caregivers, and ESL classes will be provided with care for loved ones, to allow for caregiver participation.

The map above includes contact information for each of the participating agencies. Please contact these agencies directly for times, dates and registration. All offerings in this pilot program are free of charge.

SAVE THE DATE

February 9, 2024

Aging and Disability Resource Consortium's Legislative Breakfast

Here's your chance to raise the issues that matter to you with the officials elected to represent you. Registration will open in late December, but we'd like to hear from you now.

Are there bills pending in the MA Statehouse or in Congress that will have an impact on your life or those of others in our Aging and Disabilties communities? If so, please send information to Laura Roskos, who is coordinating this event. Laura can be reached at laura.roskos@escci.org.

This event is co-sponsored by Elder Services and the Cape Organization for the Rights of the Disabled (CORD).

ESCCI Board Member Bob Blancato, in his role as Executive Director of NANASP, was busy in Washington D.C. this past week. Bob met with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to push for increased funding for Senior Nutrition Programs, including Meals-on-Wheels, as part of the national #SaveLunch campaign. Bob, who lives in Brewster, knows how essential these nutrition programs are: "The demand is growing and funding must keep pace!"

Comcast Renews Its Support for Senior Planet Programs with $30,000 Grant!

"Planning for 2024 is well underway!," Sarah Franey, Community Services Officer, announced on October 27, the day after the award letter from the Comcast NBC/Universal Foundation was received.

Comcast's support has been instrumental in the success of our Senior Planet Program. Comcast's first gift of 15 laptops came in the fall of 2021, just as the first class was getting underway in Provincetown. Their gifts are making a positive difference in our community every day. Students consistently report feelings of empowerment as they become comfortable with My Chart, Google Docs, or email. Sometimes just mastering Windows and knowing how to adjust the setting on a device is enough.

Over the past year, Elder Services offered 14 multi-week courses at 10 different community locations across Barnstable County. At Comcast's urging, instructors began documenting student outcomes and were surprised to find that 100% of the students who completed a course demonstrated 5 of the 6 competencies that were being measured and that only 3 students fell short of mastering all 6. These findings reinforce our confidence in the Senior Planet curricula.

Plans for 2024 include offering 15 multi-week classes, intensifying our collaborations with community partners to build regional capacity and studying how digital skill building could be integrated into our clinical offerings, perhaps with the help of digital navigators.

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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