SENIOR BERKSHIRE
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Elder Services’ Berkshire Senior, May-June 2020
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The mission of Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. is to provide Berkshire elders, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities the opportunity to live with dignity, independence, and self-determination, and to achieve the highest possible quality of life.
Statement of Inclusivity Elder Services practices non-discrimination in employment practices and service delivery. Embracing diversity, our in-home and community-based services are available to all without regard to race, ethnicity, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or lifestyle.
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Berkshire Senior Editorial Board: Deb Aldrich, Bonny DiTomasso, Laura Feakes, Christopher McLaughlin, and John-Arthur Miller Advertising: To place an advertisement in Berkshire Senior, please contact Kate Teutsch at (413) 496-6324 or e-mail advertising@ berkshireeagle.com. Berkshire Senior is published bi-monthly by Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc., 877 South Street, Suite 4E, Pittsfield, MA 01201, 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242, e-mail: esbc@esbci.org or on the internet at www. esbci.org. NOTICE Elder Services sells advertising to defray costs. Inclusion of advertisers in no way implies that Elder Services endorses any product or service.
Elder Services and its programs are funded, in part, by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs. State and federal funds provided to Elder Services are limited. Elder Services welcomes charitable donations to help meet the growing needs of Berkshire seniors, and gratefully acknowledges all donations.
Physically Distant, Socially Connected By Christopher McLaughlin, Executive Director of Elder Services Hoping all is well with you and yours. First I’d like to start out by wishing all of our mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day! They say there’s no love like a mother’s love and I can’t argue the point. A mother’s love is unconditional and that love, nurturing and guidance play an immeasurable role in helping us to develop into the people we become. This Mother’s Day will be most difficult as we’re still dealing with the effects of COVID-19, the most painful of which is the need to practice social distancing….even from those we love most and to whom we owe so much. There is a very good reason why you may not be able to spend Mother’s Day with Mom this year but perhaps a warm phone call and a card, flowers or other gift will do until it’s safe to tell her in person how special she is. Elder Services’ Behavioral Health Clinician, Will Turner, has a sign on his office door that simply reads Physically Distant, Socially Connected. The term Physically Distant, Socially Connected is also the title of one of the articles Will provided for this issue of Berkshire Senior. I’m borrowing Will’s terminology here because in only four words it nicely encapsulates the way Elder Services has responded to the challenging circumstances we now find ourselves in. The current pandemic requires us to maintain our distance from our consumers but we’re still as engaged, concerned and compassionate as we’ve ever been. Truth be told, since the beginning of this unprecedented health crisis the staff and volunteers of Elder Services, have been committed to ensuring that the services we provide continue as seamlessly as possible. In many cases the manner in which we deliver them has changed (telephonic visits vs. face to face visits) but services to the people who rely on us have continued, mostly without interruption. Kitchen Staff and volunteers continue to make more than 850 meals each weekday, Drivers continue delivering meals to seniors’ homes throughout the County. Nurses, Client Service Coordinators and Geriatric Service Support Coordinators continue doing assessments, coordinating services and making wellness calls to our consumers. Information and Referral Specialists provide more information about Elder Services and other Berkshire resources to more people than ever and Ombudsmen provide needed support to nursing home residents and their families. SHINE, Money Management, Options, Caregiver and Elder Mental Health staff and volunteers continue to provide counseling services and our Home Office Staff provide administrative continued on page 4
Contents Elder Services Update .................................................. 3 Physically Distant, Socially Connected! .................... 4 COVID-19 Related Changes to Medicare .................. 4 Nursing Home Family Resource Line ........................ 5 Hoarding Disorder Awareness ................................... 6 Berkshire Senior Nutrition Program.......................... 7
Volunteers Make a Difference..................................... 8 ESBCI Essential Functions Continue .......................... 9 SuperGenarians Forum Season ................................10 Age-Proof Gardening .................................................12 Thank You To Our Donors ..........................................14 What is a Successful SHINE Counselor? ..................15
Volume 38, Number 3 May 2020 The bi-monthly newspaper for Berkshire County seniors
FREE
Elder Services’ Berkshire Senior, May-June 2020
Signed columns are the opinion of the writers and not necessarily the opinion of Elder Services. For medical, financial or other advice, seek a qualified professional in the appropriate field.
Happy Mother’s Day!
ELDER SERVICES UPDATE
Mission Statement
3
HEALTH
Physically Distant, Socially Connected!
Elder Services’ Berkshire Senior, May-June 2020
A pandemic adds the challenge of being able to keep socially connected which we all need.
4
By Will Turner, LICSW I just finished my well-being check phone calls with the proud men and women of Berkshire County, consumers of Elder Services. The coronavirus impact was the cause of our concern for our elder friends. The phone calls turned out to be the most enjoyable part of my week/ month. The consumers I spoke to were so grateful for the call and fun to talk with. The wise elders I spoke with are successfully keeping a distance from others, with their families support. Not only were they smart about it, but they also showed an incredible spirit of strength. What they needed was an increase in contact. We elders (myself included) can experience a time of increased loneliness as we retire and our life marches on. Our feelings of isolation, are further complicated by the progressive loss of others in our lives for many different reasons (leaving work friends, empty nest, and now the pandemic impact). A pandemic adds the challenge of being able to keep socially connected which we all need. Last week I attended my 5 yearold great niece’s birthday party via the electronic platform Zoom. The whole family did. Our wise niece found a fun and easy way to include us. I have come to realize that now is the time to be willing to find and learn any way to stay connected that is offered whether new (electronic platforms Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, etc.) or old school (phone calls, letters, etc.). What my elder friends taught me in talking to them is that it is not about being “Socially distant!” but being physically distant (for safety) while continuing to find ways to be socially connected.
COVID 19 related changes to Medicare There have been several changes to Medicare policies and benefits due to COVID-19 Pandemic. These changes were developed to address coverage for Covid-19 patients as well as ensuring ongoing medical care for all Medicare beneficiaries.
day supplies for prescription medications upon request. • Requests for extended supplies of Part B medications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
COVID-19 Specific measures:
• Medicare will cover expanded telehealth services during the State of Emergency (beginning March 6th 2020). • Medicare will now cover ‘virtual check-ins’- brief conversations with providers outside of an appointment. These uncertain times have created new opportunities for scammers. As always, guard your Medicare Claim Number as you would your Social Security number. Review your Medicare Summary Notice for errors. And, most importantly make sure that you are interacting with known entities, such as your physician’s office or the Department of Public Health.
• Once a Covid-19 vaccine becomes available it will be covered by either Part B or Part C in full, with no cost to the beneficiary. • Covid-19 testing will be covered in full by either Part B or C, if ordered by a physician. • Covid-19 related hospitalizations and Covid-19 quarantine stays requiring hospital level of care will be covered under Part A, with applicable deductibles.
Prescription Drugs: • Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans which include drug coverage must provide 90
Medical Care:
Happy Mother’s Day continued from page 3 support and assistance. To say these are challenging times is an understatement. Despite the uncertainty and anxiety the current health crisis creates, our staff and volunteers continue to step up, making sure people who need them now more than ever have the resources they need to remain safe and healthy. Our new way of serving our consumers is working well, not only because of our staff and volunteers’ willingness to interact with them in new ways but because of our consumers’ resilience and willingness to adapt to new forms of communication and support. I am incredibly proud of our consumers, staff and volunteers who continue to prove that, when the going gets tough we work together to find new ways to remain socially connected even when we’re physically distant. Sincerest thanks to all of you! Until next time be good, be kind and be careful.
RESOURCES
Massachusetts Nursing Home Family Resource Line I am pleased to announce that the Executive Office of Health and Human Services is launching a Nursing Home Family Resource Line - a dedicated phone line to connect family members of nursing home and rest home residents with the information and resources they need. This new phone line provides one central contact for families and community members who have questions about the nursing home or rest home care their loved one is receiving during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Nursing Home Family Resource Line is staffed from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, seven days a week. Staff will field questions on a range of topics and coordinate across state agencies to help provide answers. These are unprecedented times and, understandably, families and community members have questions. We remain committed to providing relevant and timely information, and the Nursing Home Family Resource Line is another important resource. Massachusetts Nursing Home Family Resource Line: 617-660-5399 Open Every Day - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM If there are any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to our office at (617) 727-7750. We are all in this together. Thank you, Elizabeth C. Chen, PhD, MBA, MPH Secretary, Executive Office of Elder Affairs
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HEALTH
Hoarding Disorder Awareness Between three and five percent of the population have it, which equals roughly six thousand people in Berkshire County. By Lee Shuer (Mutual Support Consulting, LLC) and Will Turner, LICSW (Elder Services of Berkshire County) In 1993, a student asked Dr. Randy Frost, of Smith College, about people who overcollect and overkeep material possessions. They delved into the topic by placing an ad in the local paper to see if they could find people who had these tendencies and would be willing to talk about it. They received over one hundred responses! That began the study of what we now call hoarding disorder (HD) and the development of ways to help people struggling with it. If you or someone you know has HD, you are not alone. Between three and five percent of the population have it, which equals roughly six thousand people in Berkshire County. Because this is such a common, but misunderstood mental health challenge, Governor Baker has proclaimed May 25th - May 29th, 2020 Massachusetts’ first Hoarding Disorder Awareness Week.
Elder Services’ Berkshire Senior, May-June 2020
How do I know if someone’s clutter is related to hoarding disorder?
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According to the DSM-5, the book that clinicians use to diagnose mental health challenges, the symptoms of HD include: • Inability to let go of possessions regardless of value. • Severe anxiety when attempting to organize or discard items. • Parts of their home become too cluttered to use. • The clutter isn’t due to another mental health or physical health challenge. § Additionally, people with HD may or may not be actively acquiring new things, and they may or may not realize that they have a problem.
On TV shows, they just get rid of everything. Doesn’t that help? Forced cleanouts, like the ones on TV shows like Hoarders, are not generally helpful. They lead to further upset and can harm fragile relationships. The good news is that there are approaches that work and do help people recover when they’re ready. These interventions can be provided by clinicians, peers who have clutter, and/or human service providers and caring community members who receive training. Examples are The Buried in Treasures Workshop (BIT,) T he Finder/Kee per Workshop, Cognitive Behavioral T h e r a p y, a n d C l u t t e r e r s Anonymous.
What can we do to help ourselves or others? • Please stop calling people hoarders. Instead use language like collectors or finder/keepers, people with HD, or even by their actual name. If you know someone who is struggling, ask what language they use so you can use it too, no matter what it is. • There is a Berkshire County Hoarding Disorder Task Force that meets monthly dedicated to educating and advocating for support and recovery from Hoarding Disorder. Contact their leader Will Turner (413-4990542, x 156) to learn more about what they offer and how you might get involved. • Learn more about how to help yourself or others by reading the book, “Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving and Hoarding” by David Tolin, Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee. It is helpful for those wanting to understand how HD develops, why it’s hard to overcome, and recovery strategies to help. It is also the source material for the evidencebased self-help group, The Buried in Treasures Workshop (BIT.)
• Mutual Support Consulting, LLC, is a Western Mass-based company run by partners Lee Shuer and Becca Belofsky. They offer training and peer mentoring for agencies, individuals and families struggling with HD. Lee, himself a peer, co-authored the BIT Workshop Facilitator’s Guide with Dr. Frost. • There are links to several helpful books, articles, and videos on the Mutual Support website, www.mutual-support.com. • You can search for local clinical help on the International OCD Foundation website: www. ocfoundation.org • Assume that all items in a person’s home are potentially meaningful and valuable. Treat the person and their possessions with respect when discussing
your concerns. • Realize that using force does not resolve the problem. People don’t get better until they’re ready. • Find support and take care of yourself if you are living with someone who clutters. Setting limits and communicating your needs and wants are advisable if it is safe to do so in the relationship. • People with HD are a “protected class” under the Fair Housing Act, and they may qualify for reasonable accommodations to improve their home if they’re at threat of eviction. Visit www. mass.gov to learn more. • Realize there are no “hoarders.” There are only people with a hoarding disorder. If someone exhibits hoarding behavior, that does not justify calling them a “hoarder.” That word is often used to hurt and insult and that’s no way to welcome people to help and growth.
These sites are currently closed due to COVID-19. Please call ahead as some are providing Grab n Go meals. Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc.
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
BCAC’s Aleta Moncecchini, Stephanie Bosley and Deborah Leonczyk join Elder Services’ Maureen Tuggey, Christine Thomson and Christopher McLaughlin with bags of Springtime Cheer BCAC donated for Elder Services’ consumers. The Berkshire Community Action Council donated bags of shelf stable food, coffee, and toilet paper along with special cookies and other treats to Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. Also included with each bag was a grocery store gift card. These bags were delivered in April by Elder Services’ staff to those in need throughout the county. This generous gesture made an important impact on our consumers and let them know members of their community are concerned about their well-being at this very difficult time. Thank you, BCAC!
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CITY/TOWN PHONE
ADDRESS
DAYS MEALS SERVING SERVED TIME
NO. ADAMS 662-3125
SPITZER CENTER 116 Ashland St.
M-T-W-TH-F
11:30 am
WILLIAMSTOWN 458-8250
HARPER CENTER 118 Church St.
VARIES – Call ahead
11:30 am
ADAMS 743-8333
COMMUNITY CENTER M-T-W-TH-F 3 Hoosac St.
11:30 am
CHESHIRE 743-9719
SENIOR CENTER 119 School St.
M-T-W
11:30 am
LANESBORO 448-2682
TOWN HALL 83 North Main St.
T & TH
11:30 am
DALTON 684-2000
SENIOR CENTER 40 Field St. Ext.
M & TH
12:00 pm
BECKET 623-8934
TOWN HALL Route 8 P.O. Box 60
T & TH
11:00 am
PITTSFIELD 499-9346
SENIOR CENTER 330 North St.
M-T-W-TH-F
11:30 am
LENOX 637-5535
COMMUNITY CENTER M&F 65 Walker St.
12:00 pm
LEE 243-5545
SENIOR CENTER 21 Crossway Village
M-T-W-TH-F
11:30 am
GT. BARRINGTON 528-4118
SENIOR CENTER 917 South Main St.
M-T-W-TH-F
11:30 am
PITTSFIELD 442-2200 KOSHER
JEWISH COMM. CTR 16 Colt Road
M-T-TH
12:00 pm
STOCKBRIDGE 298-3222
HEATON COURT 5 Pine St.
T-TH
11:30 am
PROVIDENCE CT. 443-1841
PROVIDENCE COURT 379 East St.
M-T-W-TH-F
11:30 am
STOCKBRIDGE 298-4170
SENIOR CENTER 50 Main St.
WED
12:00 pm
SHEFFIELD 229-7037
SENIOR CENTER 25 Cook Road
W&F
12:00 pm
Eligible seniors 60 years or older are welcome to attend any Senior Community Dining Center. Reservations are requested 24 hours in advance. A suggested donation is $2.00 per meal. All contributions are returned to the community toward the cost of the Nutrition Program and Services. Those 59 or under are welcome at a required fee of $7.00 per meal.
Elder Services’ Berkshire Senior, May-June 2020
We are proud to offer: • Compassionate, highly trained staff certified in hospice and palliative care • Comprehensive team available to provide a wide range of services including: • Full range of services focused on managing pain and improving quality of life
NUTRITION PROGRAM SENIOR COMMUNITY DINING CENTERS
sponsored in part by
NUTRITION PROGRAM
BCAC Spreads Springtime Cheer to Older Adults in Berkshire County
7
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers Volunteers Make a Difference Board of Directors
It is important that we highlight the ongoing contribution of our volunteers.
Elder Services’ Berkshire Senior, May-June 2020
By Bonny DiTomasso, Home and Community Based Programs Supervisor
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April was National Volunteer Recognition Month and historically, Elder Services of Berkshire County would have hosted a Volunteer Recognition event to recognize the contribution of our wonderful and caring volunteers. However, due to these uniquely difficult times, which require special precautions for the safety of all involved, we had to postpone our celebration. That being said, it is important that we highlight the ongoing contribution of our volunteers, without whom our numerous programs could not function as effectively. Have you or your family members been transported to a medical appointment or for grocery shopping, received insurance counseling or assistance with a nursing home issue? If so, all of these services and more are provided by our team of trained volunteers who donate hours of their time to help others. Our volunteers assist consumers throughout Berkshire County. Many of our volunteers have served continuously for several years in multiple programs. The average length of service for our over 260 volunteers is four years, although several volunteers have served in excess of ten years. In addition, our volunteers have contributed an average of 619 lifetime hours assisting others. Our volunteers come from all walks of life and many are seniors themselves. Those served by volunteers have often commented on how valuable our Volunteer Program is to Elder Services’ goal of keeping seniors in their own homes as long as possible. Words cannot express our gratitude to the hundreds of volunteers who faithfully donate their own time to help those in their communities who need assistance to remain independent. To those unsung heroes, we say Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
Randy Burdick Teresa Caldwell Jacob Dabrowski, Treasurer Dawn Dellea Deborah Delaney Sandy Driscoll Frank Engels Diana (Toni) Fontana Roberta Gale John Graziano Christopher King, Finance Committee Georgette Kinney Kathleen Luczynski Kimberly Mathews, Clerk Mary K. O’Brien David O’Neill John Philpott, President Stephen Radin Karen Reilly Mary Shogry-Hayer, Vice President Mary Strout Paula Walczyk
AAA Advisory Committee Quentin Chin James Clark Maria Craft Lisa Fletcher-Udel, Chair June Green, Vice Chair Sandra Lussier Vincent Marinaro Meri Ellen Morgans Irwin (Tom) Renak Mary Shogry- Hayer
Alexis Jones Jeff Turner
Home & Community Based Programs Nancy Apkin Yvette Bastow Deena Berman Mrs. Marina Bobrovsky Connie Bullard Carolyn M. Coco Carol Couture Ella Deane Fay Dimanche Flavio Fernandes Sheila Gibeau Alexandra Huber Pamela Kight Monica Lapin Nicolas LaPointe Nancy Leren Mary Ellen Levin Cliff Love Helena Matthews Paula Morey John Morse Karen Newman Karen D. Oak Edward Oshinsky Jenifer Picard Colleen Powers Raymond Ranzoni Teresa-Cristena Roberts Laurie Schwartz Naomi Schwartz Bernice Turetsky Gary Turetsky Mark Vadnais Thomas Wood
Money Management Advisory Council
Berkshire Senior TV
Tanya Haas
Dave Bubriski Connie Bullard Diane Chicoine
Money Management Program Bet Azar
May 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020 Sharon Bartels Yvette Bastow Joyce Boivin Carol Boucher Beverly Clarke Norma D’Oliveira Judith Douville Tanya Haas Susan Holland Kristina Kelly Heather King Steven Mestman Paula Morey Karen D. Oak John Philpott Alice Rodriguez Victor Roy Patricia Salvi Jane Tant Ronald Terry Joseph Tirrell Gini Titterton Donald Usher
Nutrition Program Sandra Aasen Daniel Aleshevich Rose Alessio Bonnie Andrews Maureen Avery Zenfiza Baghirova Robert Balawender Anna Beining Paula Bergeron John Bianchi Angela Burke Louise Charron Ruth Clairmont Eileen Clarke Frank Clarke Carol Colabatista Deborah Coody Holly Coon Judith Corbett Linda Cox Kristie Cullison Rosemary Cummings Lorraine Dean
Barbara Delmolino Veronica Deome Dennis DeVergilio Elizabeth DiGrigoli Harriet Jane Diaz Michael Ende Joy Engels Janice Fisher Rose FitzgeraldCasey Joanne Flynn Louise Frankenberg Gordine Galusha JoAnn Garzone Andrea Gaylord Eugene Gebarowski Patricia Gebarowski Elsie Gilligan John Gilligan Celine Godbout Paulette Graber Sharon Graybeal Eric Paul Greenberg Marie Grull Margaret Gwodz Thomas Hardy Michelle Harwood Rick Hawes Nadine Hawver Gillian Hettinger Carole Hilderbrand Jeanne Holcomb Rosemary Houghtlin Thelma Hover Charles Joch Julia Kaplan Pamela Kight Elizabeth King Rose Ann King William L. Kormanik Patricia LaBagh Erna Lampman Margaret Lavalette Jeanette Lupiani Nancy Macy Rosanne Marsh Claudia Martin
Charles Webster Grace (Beth) Wiggers Barbara Ziemba Shirley Zurrin
Ombudsman Program Virginia Bosco Conlin Bradley Christine Byrne Michael Evans Eileen Gabriel Georgette Kinney Virginia Lafond Carolyn Palmucci Ruth Richardson Bonnie Saunders Deborah Wehry
SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Everyone) Teresa Bragdon Janice Brindisi Hedy Burbank Patricia Carlino Peggy Clary Terrill Douglas Frank Engels Michele Gilligan Carol Gramm Judith Hyde Sue Kucharski Nancy Leren Paula Morey Pattie Pero Juan Ramos Steven Rosenthal Larry Shea Catherine Spinney William Tarmey Gini Titterton Winnie Veretto
Partnership Volunteers Berkshire County ARC BFAIR Riverbrook Residence Servicenet Guardian Employees
By Christopher McLaughlin, Executive Director of Elder Services As Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. (Elder Services) continues to monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation closely, the health and wellbeing of our consumers, volunteers and employees are most important to us. With guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Elder Services is working to ensure that the essential functions our consumers rely on will continue during this rapidly evolving and unprecedented public health challenge.
What we are committed to: • Continuing to accept new referrals for meals, in home services and other programs • Providing home delivered meals (Meals on Wheels) and having contingency plans if our drivers are not be available to make home deliveries • Supporting our home care providers wh o p rov i d e p e r s o n a l c a re, home making and home health aide services in our consumers’ homes and ensuring those who enter consumers’ homes are not symptomatic and have taken appropriate precautions • Providing Information and Referral Services about Elder Services programs and services and those of other Berkshire County aging service providers • Making SHINE contacts via telephone and mailing documents to consumers • Making Ombudsman calls to area nursing homes in lieu of visits while ensuring serious issues are prioritized • Ensuring that Money Management consumers have their cash allotments and, if necessary, establishing online banking or auto pay options to be able to pay consumer bills remotely
• Serving as a source of information and support to our consumers, their caregivers and families during this difficult time.
What may be different: As our goal is to deliver the care our consumers need in a safe, effective manner, our staff will ask consumers the following questions: • Do you have a fever or cough or are you experiencing shortness of breath that is not related to a chronic condition, i.e., COPD, asthma? • Have you or anyone in your household traveled in the last 14 days and, if so, to where? • Have you or anyone in your household had contact with anyone who has or was exposed to the Coronavirus? In instances in which consumers answer yes, we will recommend they call their doctor immediately. Though our policy regarding meal delivery has been to hand the meal to our consumers and do a face to face well-being check, in most circumstances we will now leave the meal in a safe location outside the door with our driver conducting a verbal wellness check. We will keep you up to date about new developments and additional steps we will be taking to keep our consumers healthy. As always, please call Elder Services at (413) 499-0524 if you have any questions. Some important resources for you to learn more about the Coronavirus: • Massachusetts Department of Health www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus • B e rk s h i re H e a l t h S ys t e m s Coronavirus Information Hotline 1-855-262-5465 • Mass211has set up a line to support residents during the ongoing response to COVID-19. Massachusetts residents can dial 2-1-1 at any time for real-time COVID-19 information, resources and referrals in multiple languages.
Elder Services’ Berkshire Senior, May-June 2020
Christina McCarthy Barbara Messina Alan Metzger Marcia Mitchell Michael Joseph Molleur William Moreau Susan Morris Joan Moylan John Moynahan Carrie Mulcahy Kristin Neep Gail Nelson Sonny Nelson Karen Newman Virginia Niewinski Nancy O’Brien Terry O’Brien George Oleen Marianna Pacheco Wesley Petersen Jenifer Picard Paul Polastri Colleen Powers Joan Powers Donald Pulver Marcel Rajotte Teresa-Cristena Roberts Warren Robertson Eleanor Rosier Jane Rozak Richard Rozak Dennis Sears Naomi Shafiroff Betty Shepard Elaine Shindler Adele Siter Dan Skorcz Roberta Smith Robert St. Peter Kathy Staropoli Barbara Steele Joanne Stegner Sharon Stevens Ron Stewart Arlene Stockley Julie Taylor Gail Tighe David Vacheron
Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. Essential Functions Continue
SERVICES
Volunteers
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SUPERGENARIAN FORUM Elder Services’ Berkshire Senior, May-June 2020 10
The 2020 Berkshire SuperGenarian Forum Season By Mary Jane Incorvia Mattina and Francine Weinberg Once you read beyond this first paragraph, it will be apparent that this article was written at a different time and in a different place for our county, our state, our country and our world. You will read about the plans Berkshire SuperGenarians had for 2020. Like so much else in these strange times, those plans had to be modified to accommodate the COVID-19 pandemic. It was necessary to postpone the Forum we planned for May 17 in Pittsfield. We are hopeful that the July 8 Forum in Great Barrington and the October 9 Forum in North Adams will take place as scheduled. We are also hopeful that we can reschedule the Pittsfield Forum for a later date in 2020. Please check our Facebook page at facebook. com/berksuperg for updates in the coming weeks or email us at berksuperg@gmail.com for updates as they become available, all of which will be consistent with health guidelines. But whatever the outcomes for the 2020 BSG Forums, one thing is certain. There is one segment and one segment only of our population that is blessed with life experience and the wisdom that can come from that life experience—no amount of intelligence and youth can substitute for the experience that comes with longe vity. SuperGenarians are made strong and stay strong. We will emerge from the challenges of this pandemic into a new normal stronger and more resilient than we were before. Now please read what we wrote at the beginning of March 2020. Yes, you read that headline correctly. In 2020 Berkshire SuperGenarians will present not one, not two, but three Forums— one in the spring, one in the
summer and one in the fall—a full season of Forums! For those of you who are not familiar with Berkshire SuperGenarians, let’s start with a brief summary. A few years ago Mary Jane and Fran found themselves frequently discussing the lack of local resources for upto-date information on health and wellness relevant to the older adult, specifically fit and active older adults who want to achieve or maintain a stimulating lifestyle. Such a lifestyle should lead to longevity characterized by a high quality HEALTHSPAN rather than a dismal lifespan. Instead of waiting for someone else to provide a resource for this information, we established Berkshire SuperGenarians to be that much needed resource in westernmost Massachusetts. This is our history and our mission in a nutshell. To fulfill our mission we decided that the most impactful outreach we could offer would be a Forum for our fellow SuperGenarians. We would invite dynamic and excellent medical providers to interpret current medical research in terms that offer the attendees actionable steps to self-care and a quality healthspan. In both 2018 and 2019 we offered a free, half-day Forum to the Berkshire community. The two speakers at each of the Forums, Dr. Mark Pettus and Dr. Debra Pollack in 2018 and Dr. Mark Pettus and Dr. Mary O’Malley in 2019, thoroughly engaged the attendees with their presentations. The question and answer periods following each talk were lively and could have continued well beyond the time allotted for each Forum. We learned from the 200 attendees at each of the Forums that Berkshire SuperGenarians was indeed providing a much needed resource with its informative and socially engaging Forums. The responses to the surveys we
distributed both years included comments such as “both speakers fantastic” and “continue to do what you do.” We realized that we were on to something helpful and needed within Berkshire County. Although the 2018 and 2019 Forums were very well attended and centrally located in Pittsfield, transportation to Pittsfield is a barrier for many residents throughout the 950 square miles of Berkshire County. From the start of Berkshire SuperGenarians we have tried to make a sincere effort to overcome r a c i a l , e c o n o m i c, g e n d e r, religious and ethnic barriers to our outreach and certainly the transportation barrier needs to be addressed. We are scaling this barrier in 2020 by offering three Forums, one in central county, one in south county and one in north county. From feedback on our Forum surveys, we have chosen two topics with substantial relevance and interest to our audience: The Application of Mind-Body Science to Health; and Coping with Loss and Stress. Dr. Mark Pettus will give us insights on the former topic at all three Forums and Dr. Alex Sabo will speak on the latter topic at the Pittsfield and North Adams Forums and Dr. Maria Sirois at the Great Barrington Forum. Here are the details on the dates, times and locations of the three 2020 Berkshire SuperGenarian Forums. Please note that the Forums remain free and no preregistration is required but that seating is limited at each venue as described below. Sunday, May 17, 1:30 to 5:00 pm, Zion Lutheran Common Room, 74 First Street, Pittsfield, MA. Open to the first 100 guests. Wednesday, July 8, 8:30 to noon, Berkshire South Regional Community Center, 1 5 C r i s s e y Ro a d , G re at
Barrington, MA. Open to the first 125 guests. Friday, October 9, 8:30 to noon, The Green, 85 Main Street, suite 105, Nor th Adams, MA. Open to the first 100 guests. Presented in partnership with Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. Expanding from the one annual Forum to three Forums is but the first of our 2020 innovations. There are more surprises planned for you at our Forums this year. We are all familiar with the opportunities for physical activity made possible by our extraordinary Berkshire landscape. But our cultural landscape offers u s e q u a l ly e x t r a o rd i n a r y opportunities in music, art, dance, theater and much more. With a nod to the demonstrated positive impact of music on the brain, at each Forum there will be wonderful entertainment by local musicians. At the Pittsfield Forum we are delighted to have the young musicians from Kids4Harmony perform. If you have never heard them before, you will be amazed at how accomplished these “Kids” are. In Great Barrington the mellifluous sounds of The Eagles Trombone Ensemble will keep you tapping your toes or even dancing in the aisles. And in North Adams our partners at the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC) have prepared special musical entertainment for us. And the surprises keep on coming in 2020! We have always wanted to provide our guests at the Forum with light but healthy refreshments. This year exceptional food will be donated by Guido’s Fresh Marketplace for the Pittsfield and Great Barrington Forums and equally healthful choices
additional information you would like us to post for the benefit of all SuperGenarians. And don’t forget the Berkshire SuperGenarians Hall Walking activity, in its second season in the Lenox Public Schools. Ask us how to bring it to your local schools at berksuperg@gmail.com. Join us in 2020 for an exciting year of expansion for Berkshire SuperGenarians. Save the Date for a Forum or better yet Save the Dates! Come with family and friends and remember “You’re Never Too Young to Start Aging Well.”
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provided by nbCC in North Adams. Combined with the c re at ive t a l e n t s o f A n n a Gershenson, The Natural Cook (PCTV and YouTube) at the Pittsfield and Great Barrington Forums and the nbCC staff in North Adams, we will meet that goal for sure. You can stay up-to-date on all Forum announcements on our Facebook page, www.facebook. com/berksuperg. We will offer listings of useful resources— books, urls, local organizations, podcasts—on our Facebook page as well. Give us suggestions for
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OUTDOORS
Age-Proof Gardening By Laura Feakes, Elder Services’ Information & Referral Specialist Gardening can enrich the life of the gardener in many ways – physically, mentally, and spiritually. Unfortunately, many senior gardeners feel they need to give up this outdoor activity as they become less physically able. However, with a little creativity and planning seniors can continue to enjoy the benefits of fresh air and sunshine while pursuing a favorite pastime in a safe, accessible and pleasant space. Consider a raised garden bed. Raised beds can be the answer to the digging and bending required by traditional gardening. You can create your own by building a frame from wood, stones, bricks or even rubber tires and filling it with soil. The first consideration is to use materials that are safe. For example, avoid heavy duty wood
preservatives such as creosote sometimes found in railroad tie type logs— especially for vegetable gardens. Some woods like cedar, redwood and cypress have naturally occurring rotresistant properties and are good choices, though they can be pricey. Or, you can buy a pre-cut modular kit, available in a wide range of prices, that you assemble (some come with wooden sides, others a recycled plastic wood); just add compost/ soil and you’re ready to plant. Look for kits at garden centers, big box stores like WalMart, Home Depot, or BJs, or on online gardening sites. Troughs are a popular trend, either sitting on the ground, or elevated to knee or waist height and made of wood, metal or plastic. For most aging gardeners, a bed that is approximately 2 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide will do the job. But there are other
factors to consider. Do you use a wheelchair or a walker? Do you stand to garden or do you need to sit? If possible, get raised beds made to “fit” you and your needs. If you need to sit most of the time, add a sitting ledge onto the top of the raised bed or create access to the bed so you can sit on a stool or a chair as you garden. Be sure that there is safe and ample space for you to walk and turn around. If you use a wheelchair or a walker, the pathway should be at least four feet wide. The surface should be level, smooth and have good drainage. Well-placed pavers or flat field stones on the primary paths to the garden beds are better choices than wood chips or pine needles, which can break down, causing wheels to sink into this spongy material. Crushed granite that is pounded well creates a safe and usable pathway. Get potted! If you live in an apartment or condo and have a
small patio or balcony switch the in-ground or raised bed gardens to containers. Container gardens are more manageable for those who have limited time and space, and require less strenuous work. Position containers near your door for easy access and harvest. When shopping for container gardening supplies it is important to choose items conducive to the senior’s outdoor space and appropriate for their physical abilities. Some innovative urban gardeners have used old tires, children’s wading pools, plastic soda bottles, old whiskey barrels, etc. in addition to the more conventional planter boxes, hanging baskets and large flowerpots. Container gardening is a major trend right now and with the trend comes innovation- some planter boxes come with casters for mobility and others have selfwatering reservoirs. Potato grow bags are very popular and allow
Now, staying home isn’t just staying in the place they love.
Elder Services’ Berkshire Senior, May-June 2020
It’s staying safe. It’s essential.
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Raised beds can be the answer to the digging and bending required by traditional gardening.
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Elder Services’ Berkshire Senior, May-June 2020
for the job. “Scoots’, basically a seat with wheels, allow you to garden from a seated position and to swivel and roll. This minimizes strain on your back and knees and reduces fatigue. Seeds are cheap and there are methods of easy sowing such as seed syringes, seed tape and seed with the soil mixed in. Paint tool handles in bright colors or wrap them in neon colored tape so they’re easy to find if dropped. Keeping your pruners sharp reduces the stress on your hands and wrists. If gardening tools are becoming more difficult to grip and wield, try wrapping foam around the handles or sliding foam tubing on them to make them thicker and easier to control. Use manual shears instead of power hedge clippers to avoid accidents. Remember, in addition to local nurseries, Berkshire
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OUTDOORS
easy harvesting without any digging and can be reused the next year. Go vertical! Adding vertical structures can add a whole new dimension to your experience and to the look of your garden. Not only do they enable you to do a lot of your tending and maintenance standing up, thus putting less pressure on your back and knees, but they are also great space-savers on decks or porches. If you have an existing wall or fence, this can be the start of your vertical garden. Ve r t i c a l s t r u c t u re s a re versatile and come in many materials and shapes for a wide variety of plants. Trellis or lattice structures can be attached to walls or fences or can be free-standing. The vertical height can vary but should not be much taller than the comfort of your arm’s reach, especially if you are growing vegetables or fruit that will need harvesting. Tall branches allow creative gardeners to form their own attractive and functional vertical structure. Use the right tools! The range of gardening tools and new designs to choose from can be overwhelming. The term “ergonomic” is often associated with specially designed tools to meet the needs for those with arthritis. When investing in new tools, be sure that you can take them back if they don’t fit your needs. What may work for someone else’s arthritis may not suit yours. Buy lightweight tools with comfortable non slip grips. Many tools like rakes, trowels and forks come with handles than can be adjusted to fit the length you need
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DONORS
413-499-1750 234 Wahconah Street Pittsfield MA 01201 MONUMENTS • MARKERS • LETTERING
Contact us so you and/or loved ones can stay living at home! Non-medical living assistance services from Angels! Visiting Angels of the Berkshires RICHARD J. MESSER, DIRECTOR/OWNER 197 South Street, Bldg. A, Pittsfield, MA 01201
Office: 413-344-9281 • Cell: 413-822-4788
rmesser@VisitingAngels.com www.VisitingAngels.com/Pittsfield
Thank You To Our Donors: The following donations were received during the period of February 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020. Donations received on or after April 1, 2020 will appear in the next publication of Berkshire Senior.
General Donations Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert d’Oliveira Ms. Caron Hobin MountainOne Bank Network For Good Mr. & Mrs. William M. Reid Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Spatz Thursday Morning Club
Elder Independence Donations American Legion Post 152 Mr. Hayden Bradley Ms. Pam Capeless Mr. & Mrs. Terry F. Cardin Mr. Keith M. Davis Mr. & Mrs. James Dobbert Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Murphy North Adams Elks #487 Mr. & Mrs. Steven Pullen Mrs. Mary Rathbun Mr. & Mrs. Matt Ravlich
In Honor of Donations In Honor of: Larry and the SHINE Program Mr. Bruce Tofias
Your HEARING Matters! Dr. Andrew J. Puttick Elder Services’ Berkshire Senior, May-June 2020
Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA
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Meals on Wheels Donations Dr. Eugene Talbot
Memorial Donation In Memory of: John Anderson Ms. Christine Maher In Memory of: Irene Baczek Ms. Amy Baczek Ms. Rose Kubica & Ms. Jean Kubica Ms. Lori O’Brien The Billing Team from Hartford HealthCare Rehab Network In Memory of: Louise Barrett Ms. Frances Rysz Mr. & Mrs. John Sadlo In Memory of: Martha Bressette Mr. & Mrs. John T. Allen In Memory of: John P Buratto Ms. Marjorie Baldwin Mr. Peter A. Buratto
Mr. & Mrs. Marc Buratto Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Kilmer Mr. & Mrs. Scott LeProvost Mr. & Mrs. Tim Minkler Lt. Col. Gregor T. Young In Memory of: James Harte Mr. & Mrs. Robert Balawender Mr. & Mrs. John Blaisdell Mr. & Mrs. A. Bruce Clapper Ms. Margaret T Donovan Ms. Sharyn Fresia Ms. Amber Gutherie Mr. & Mrs. Richard Harte Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Kopach Mr. & Mrs. Robert LeBlanc Ms. Mary Masiero Ms. Jeanne Mosca Ms. Christine Thomson Mr. & Mrs. Heath Thomson Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Tournier Ms. Barbara Vienneau In Memory of: Thomas Horn Ms. Lisa Fournier In Memory of: Bernard Houle Mr. & Mrs. Mark Valentine Mr. & Mrs. Peter Van Roekens Mr. & Mrs. David Wallace In Memory of: JoAnn Maselli Mr. & Mrs. John Bergeron In Memory of: Glenn Rist Mr. & Mrs. Gary Salvadori In Memory of: George Shogry, Sr. Mr. & Mrs. John Bissell Mr. David Cooke Greylock Federal Credit Union Ms. Jodi Rathbun-Briggs In Memory of: Phyllis Watroba Mr. & Mrs. James Canino Mr. Brian Davine In Memory of: Raymond Wells Mr. & Mrs. Donald Schneider
John Arthur Miller, Options Counselor At the close of the Part D Open enrollment period (OEP in SHINE lingo) I reflect on those eight busy weeks from October 15 - December 7 and the valiant work that SHINE counselors do helping many seniors navigate and understand the system of insurance companies, drugs (legal ones, that is), pharmacies, public benef its, clarifying suggestions and rumors from friends, and countless other variables for yet another year. I, myself, am a SHINE counselor, although I generally just “help out” during this time, trying to keep my colleagues above water as they become inundated with others’ needs. But I do recognize and have some wonderful and perhaps insightful thoughts to share. First of all, this crew of giving folk are smart. The amount of
Perhaps most important, these undaunted volunteers must be accepting. training and constant updating of information required to do their job well is unbelievable. Every year things change. The good news is that this fraternity (sorority?) of counselors is member supportive. If one feels they are not quite sure of an answer, another brother/sister, perhaps more experienced, is available and happy to help. They learn from each other. And our leadership within the ranks and
at the top are so very supportive. Thank you Shauna!! This crew is also patient and inventive. Who amongst us has not come across drugs of which we have never heard or which we cannot spell? Or, who has not met with a consumer without a drug list, or who has lost their Medicare card, or who has moved from another state where the rules may be completely different? Perhaps most important, these undaunted volunteers must be accepting. Our consumers a re a l l i n d iv i d u a l s, h ave individual circumstances, needs, understanding, and capacities to learn and remember. We must be able to work with all kinds, and accept the reality that the wishes of many are different from what we might think of as “the best idea for them.” We must present and explain the options, but then allow each individual to make her/his own decisions
SHINE
What is a Successful SHINE Counselor? and choices. It brings to mind a consumer of mine, for example, who decided not to make any changes, even though two changes would have saved him about $1,000! He is in his nineties, has had the same plan that has worked well; money was not the issue, he did not want to rock the boat. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Self-determination and respect are very important. Our SHINE folks know and practice that. T h e y h ave a g a i n b e e n successful in preparing folks for 2020. They are tired, but are still helping in many ways throughout the year, until, yet again, October comes with new rules, new “deals”, new and old Medicare consumers reviewing their plans, with a little help from their SHINE friends. ALL HAIL TO THEE, SHINE friends, O WISE ONES, O SUCCESSFUL ONES, O PATIENT ONES! You are a blessing to our race!
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Elder Services’ Berkshire Senior, May-June 2020
In memory of
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