How will you know when it’s time to call hospice? Visit www.HCIB.org/WhenToCallHospice to learn more. “I’m so glad I called
“When Mom got sick, I was so overwhelmed managing her care, filling out paperwork, and trying to be there for her. Thankfully, HospiceCare in The Berkshires was there to make everything easier. They provided compassionate care, that supported a quality of life for Mom.”
Offering compassion to our community:
• Emotional and spiritual support
• Symptom management
• Integrative therapies
• Home health aides
• Meaningful end-of-life care
• Bereavement counseling
Mission Statement
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.
Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
By Christopher McLaughlin, Executive Director of Elder Services
Hoping all is well with you and yours. Elder Services is pleased to announce that we have hired a new Ombudsman Program Manager. Caitlyn will begin her new role in mid-October. She will be responsible for Elder Services’ Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and for overseeing the volunteers who visit and advocate for nursing home residents. This leadership transition represents a fresh start for the Program and this seems like a great time to revisit the important role Ombudsman volunteers perform advocating for residents of Berkshire County’s nursing homes.
Berkshire Senior
Editorial Board: Deb Aldrich, Kimberly Kelly , Christine Thomson, Laura Feakes, Christopher McLaughlin, Kathleen Cleary, Kathleen Phillips, Susan Guerrero and Kara Graziola.
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 1-800-5445242, e-mail: esbc@esbci.org or on the internet at www.esbci.org.
NOTICE
Berkshire Senior advertising helps to the defray the costs of producing the newspaper. Inclusion of advertisers in no way implies that Elder Services endorses any product or service.
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.
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.
The word “ombudsman” is not only difficult to pronounce, it is also a word whose meaning is not easily understood. The word ombudsman comes from a medieval Swedish word that means representative of the people. Our use of the word describes a volunteer who advocates for the rights of individuals who reside in nursing homes. In Berkshire County, ombudsman volunteers advocate for the rights of nursing home residents who may not have family or friends who can resolve issues for them. Ombudsmen investigate complaints, report findings and help find solutions between nursing home residents and the facilities they live in. Maybe Nursing Home Resident Advocate or something similar better describes what an ombudsman does. However, for now the Massachusetts Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) continues using the term ombudsman.
You may remember articles in the Berkshire Eagle and stories on the nightly news during the past year highlighting staffing challenges and resident care issues in some Berkshire County nursing homes. Nursing home staffing levels were a major challenge before COVID-19. During the pandemic, nursing home staffing approached crisis levels with several staff resigning and few choosing to work in nursing homes and risk exposing themselves and their loved ones to the Coronavirus. Although this situation is somewhat better than it was earlier in the pandemic, concerns regarding resident safety and care issues continue.
Many nursing home residents are fortunate to have families or friends who take an active interest in their well-being and intervene with nursing home administration on their behalf. However, some residents are not as fortunate. They may be unable to advocate for themselves and do not have anyone who will take up their cause. Elder Services Ombudsmen are able to assist in these instances.
Elder Services’ Long Term Care Ombudsman Program’s volunteers are uniquely prepared to advocate for the residents of Berkshire County’s thirteen nursing homes. These volunteers are trained and certified by EOEA to provide in-person or virtual visits with the residents of their assigned facilities. These visits entail identifying resident issues and concerns, working with the facility’s administration on a resolution and empowering residents to advocate
continued on page 4
The End of Summer in the City
By Susan Guerrero
Can it really be true that summer is over?
The cool early morning air is the first telltale sign of summer being on the wane.
Could it also be true that local schools have opened once again? It seems like just yesterday everyone was gearing up for summer vacation. Now it’s over. In reality, the summer was a good one with many excursions, events, and enjoyable times in the beautiful Berkshires.
COVID’s ugly tentacles failed to reach into vacation plans and most summer events. The most dangerous times of the pandemic were, thankfully, pretty much a thing of the past. Happy moments of summer have now faded into memories.
The new school year has always been fun to look forward to and to dream about.
In my own childhood home, getting ready for school verged on thrilling. It meant new clothes including shoes that squeaked from newness when we walked in them.
How my parents ever paid for new clothes for five kids is beyond me. They never had much money yet we never went without new duds for school. Another hot item was the coveted pencil box. The actual rectangular box slid inside a top. It contained sharpened pencils, new erasers, some colored pencils and a skimpy little plastic ruler. We thought those boxes were awesome.
First school day jitters caused our hearts to pound extra hard. We anticipated seeing our old friends again but the thought of meeting our teachers always caused some momentary panic. I can remember every single teacher from kindergarten through sixth grade at Bartlett Elementary School on Onota Street. Do you remember your first teachers?
The school’s heavy wooden doors opened when a deafening bell rang out and we filtered into huge, (to little kids), classrooms to hear about the rules and regulations from the teacher. In those days, there were wooden desks with lift-up tops and there was a round ink well in one corner. Inside the desk, we put our school papers, reading books and pencil boxes. So many memories come flooding back about school, despite the passage of more decades than I care to count.
One thing was absolutely true then, as well as now, and that is that teachers were terribly important in the lives of every student. Kids are so impressionable. When a teacher smiles at a student who is shaking in his shoes, and reassures him that everything is going to be okay, suddenly all seems right in the world. Teachers have a huge influence in the lives of their young charges. I wonder if they realize how important they are to kids of all ages, particularly little ones. The earliest lessons I learned in life were not about arithmetic or
reading. Instead, they were about kindness and order, creativity, obedience and learning about my place in the classroom and in the world---all taught by teachers. Those lessons were life-long. What a legacy teachers leave for students.
When schools open, hundreds of tomorrow’s citizens will walk into city classrooms. May each one have a teacher
Ombudsman Program continued from page 3
on their own behalf.
We look forward to Caitlyn beginning to establish relationships with the nursing homes in Berkshire County and promoting this very important program. If you believe you or someone you know should speak with an ombudsman please call (413) 499-0524. If you have a passion for serving others and would like to make
who is knowledgeable, kind, understanding and really wanting to be in the classroom. As for the summer of 2022, we now let it go, like the string of a helium balloon in the hand of a birthday kid. Into oblivion it rises and fades away from view. Now, it’s on to bigger and brighter days ahead and nowadays, without the ol’ pencil boxes. Let the fun and learning begin!
a difference in the lives of your Berkshire neighbors please call to learn more about becoming an Ombudsman volunteer.
Just a reminder that October 15 is the beginning of Medicare Open Enrollment (Oct 15 – Dec. 7). Please see the article on Open Enrollment on page 8. Until next time be good, be kind and be careful.
Elder Services’ Information and Referral Department (I&R)
I&R is the gateway to Elder Services of Berkshire County and to aging and disability resources available throughout the state for residents of Berkshire County. They are the place you can call when you don’t know who to call, and have remained readily available to callers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
I&R’s knowledgeable Specialists are a free comprehensive information resource for questions about: home care services, public benefits, housing options, transportation, nutrition and much more. They help people understand their problem and make informed decisions about possible solutions. After assessing a caller’s needs, I&R Specialists access their large resource database to help connect people with the appropriate information, services, and
agencies to address their specific issues and concerns. They may advocate on behalf of those who need special support.
I&R also serves as a single point of entry for ESBCI programs, assisting older adults, caregivers, and professionals in accessing a comprehensive range of services that address issues of well-being and independence in the community. If it appears that you, or the person you are calling on behalf of, might be eligible for some of ESBCI’s state-subsidized services, I&R will ask you some questions and make a referral to a specific program.
Over the past year, the I&R team handled thousands of calls for assistance and was instrumental in linking callers with vital Covid related information and resources. ESBCI is a member of the The Alliance of Information
and Referral Systems (AIRS), the national professional membership association for community information and referral, and in addition some Specialists are certified SHINE Counselors, trained in the most up-to-date health insurance information for Medicare beneficiaries. I&R regularly contributes articles to the Berkshire Senior newspaper, providing timely and valuable information to the community. In addition, the I&R team regularly maintains and updates the Berkshire County portion of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affair’s online searchable MassOptions.org webpage that connects elders, individuals with disabilities and their caregivers with agencies and organizations that can best meet their needs. Make I&R your first call!
Contact the team weekdays from 8am – 5pm at 413-499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242 (toll free within Massachusetts).
DID YOU KNOW?
You should be skeptical of emails telling you to act immediately. Phishing scams often use urgent emails to have you perform an action they want. Always verify that an email is legitimate.
Save energy, save money
By Laura Feakes
Autumn is the ideal time to winterize your home to protect it against the upcoming dipping thermometer. You can make your home feel warmer without turning up the heat! No matter what type of fuel you use to heat your home, if you make your home more energy efficient, you will lower your energy consumption and thereby reduce your heating bill. With the following winterization tips, you’ll save energy without spending much money:
• Check the heating system and give it a tune-up. Keeping your furnace clean, lubricated and
properly adjusted will reduce energy use.
• Change furnace filters regularly during the heating season. Dirty air filters restrict airflow and increase energy demand. Or consider switching to a permanent filter to reduce waste.
• Install a programmable thermostat to automatically drop to a lower temperature at night and at times when you are away from your house.
• Pay less for hot water by insulating pipes with foam insulation that is easy to install. This also decreases the chance of the pipes freezing, especially in uninsulated spaces or against outside walls.
• Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket to prevent heat loss. Drain water from the tank every few months to remove sediment that impedes heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of your heater.
• Properly seal doors, and windows. Caulk or weather strip windows and doors to prevent heat loss. Install storm windows and doors to keep out drafts. Or put up plastic - pick up a window insulation kit at your local hardware or discount store.
Autumn Word Search
• Insulate your attic, walls, basement, and crawl space. By increasing and filling gaps in insulation in older homes you keep the home warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators, and make sure furniture and curtains are not blocking vents.
Not sure where to start? Get a home energy assessment. A home energy assessment is a professional audit of how you use energy in your home and where you can make improvements. Berkshire County residents can receive a free assessment through Mass Save®, or, if income eligible, through Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC).
Mass Save® offers no-cost virtual or in-person home energy assessments to homeowners, renters and landlords to help you learn about your top energy-saving opportunities in an easy, convenient way. An Energy Specialist will assess your current energy use, help you develop a plan to make your home more energy efficient, and educate you on rebates and incentives you may qualify for (including 0% financing and 75% or more off approved insulation). The assessment will also allow you to receive recommended no-cost energy-saving products shipped directly to your door for you to install, such as ENERGY STAR® certified LED bulbs, advanced power strips, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators,
and efficient thermostats. You can schedule an assessment by calling 1-866-527-SAVE (7283). For more information see the Mass Save website www.masssave.com.
BCAC helps eligible Berkshire County residents lower their monthly energy bills and upgrade their homes to be more comfortable, typically at no cost to the homeowner or tenant. They have programs paid for with a combination of Federal and Utility Company funding designed to help income eligible households with home energy assessments & weatherization services, heating systems repair and fuel assistance. Eligible work includes insulation for attics, walls, floors and heating system pipes and ducts. Also eligible are weather stripping, air sealing, and minor repairs related to saving energy. Electricity savings programs are available to qualified households that may include installing energy efficient light bulbs, and replacing high energy use refrigerators. In some cases, heating systems can be repaired or replaced. The programs are available to most people who are eligible for the Federal LiHeap Fuel Assistance Program. For more information and eligibility guidelines, call BCAC’s main office in Pittsfield (413-445-4503) or the North County office in North Adams (413-663-3014), or visit their website https://bcacinc.org.
SPONSORED CONTENT
Is
a
living funeral right for you?
See what this new tradition is all about.
When you think of a funeral, you might imagine people standing together, wishing they could say things they never expressed to their loved one. Whether a traditional ceremony, a wake, or other form of funeral, these all share something: their loved one can’t hear them.
An emerging tradition is changing all that. It’s called a living funeral and it’s a way to celebrate someone while they’re still alive – and there to hear everything friends and family want to share.
WHY WOULD SOMEONE CHOOSE A LIVING FUNERAL?
Ceremonies are memorable because of how they bring people together. For instance, weddings often have speeches, celebrating the couple and creating a bond between everyone. Why not include a similar experience in another facet of life that we all share – death? Why not embrace death as part of life and make it as full of connection as possible?
In the book Tuesdays with Morrie, Morrie reflects on his colleague’s passing. “What a waste,” he said. “All those people saying all those wonderful things, and Irv never got to hear any of it.” Morrie had a better idea. He made some calls. He chose a date. And on a cold Sunday afternoon, he was joined in his home by a small group of friends and family for his own living funeral. This approach allows
people to choose how they’d like to celebrate their life. When you plan your own living funeral, you can have a gathering that fits how you want to be remembered. Saying goodbyes together can help you feel peace and empowerment in preparing for end-of-life. It’s a way to create closure between everyone, and leave nothing unsaid.
WHAT IS A LIVING FUNERAL LIKE?
Another great thing about this approach is you can create it in any way you imagine. You can include religious elements like hymns and prayers. It could be more like a retirement party, with speeches and festive decorations. Dinner, dancing, sharing stories and slide shows are common. Sometimes a person will read their will out loud to avoid confusion after they’re gone. Another common ritual is visiting your final resting place and spending time there before you die. This can bring amazing peace, empowerment, and comfort.
At a place like Better Place Forests Berkshires – where people can choose a memorial tree as their resting place – visiting the forest is a beautiful way to do this. They can bring friends and family to explore the woods and help them choose their tree. They can visit as much as they like and develop a relationship with the land. This can help
them come to terms with mortality in a soothing, even joyful, way. If you’re curious about this option, call us at 877-830-8311 –we’re happy to answer any questions.
“The idea of being part of a forest brought me peace and joy. This is what my tree, our walk through the forest, and my daughter’s understanding as we walked together brought me — and why I chose the tree I did. It was an incredible moment in time for us, and an opportunity for my only child and I to face my mortality with peace and love.”
- Better Place Forests customer, Julia O. In this setting, a living funeral is always an option. Including nature can bring ease and beauty to the event. And everyone will be included in the legacy of caring for the planet that takes care of us all.
HOW TO PLAN A LIVING FUNERAL
The sky is the limit! You can create it in any way you like. Here are some starting points to help you plan.
• Set the tone for the event. Do you want it to be somber or joyful, religious or agnostic? Your answers will influence the rest of your planning.
• Choose a location. Living funerals can be in your home, favorite restaurant, community center, place of worship, local banquet hall, or any place of significance.
• Ask guests to bring mementos like photos, jewelry, or other trinkets that symbolize a memory or special connection. These can be helpful icebreakers when sharing stories.
• Appoint a friend or relative to act as the MC, or hire an officiant to help manage the flow of
speakers and activities.
• Cater — or ask friends to cook — your favorite foods. Food brings comfort, and sharing meals can be bonding.
• Hire a videographer. The recording can be shared later and enjoyed during your final days.
• Curate a playlist of your favorite music. Introduce people to your favorite songs, and celebrate with dancing.
Planning your end-oflife celebration is deeply personal. It can be just as unique as you are. If you’re curious about choosing a memorial tree as your resting place – and making conservation your legacy –schedule an online forest tour with us. We can help you start exploring your end-of-life plans and see if a tree in our Berkshires forest is right for you. For any questions, just give us a call at 877-830-8311.
Berkshire Senior Television
Currently airing on PCTV
Currently airing on PCTV, Channel 1301 Access Pittsfield
Channel 1301 Access Pittsfield
Crisp Mornings, Burnished Leaves, and Medicare Open Enrollment!
It’s almost that time of year again! The Annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period is fast approaching. If you have a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan (HMO, PPO), you should have received information from your plan by the end of September. It is important to understand and save this information because it explains the changes in your plan for 2023. Changes can include premium increases or decreases and changes to your coverage for your prescriptions.
Broadcast schedule:
Broadcast schedule:
Mondays at 5:00 p.m. ▪ Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.
PCTV channel 1301
Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. ▪ Saturdays at Noon
Mondays at 5 p.m., Tuesdays at 3 p.m., Thursdays at 11 a.m. & Saturday 11:30 a.m.
Or watch online, ON DEMAND on pittsfieldtv.org.
Thank you to our friends at PCTV for all their help in making Berkshire Senior TV accessible to our community.
During the annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period (October 15 - December 7), you will have the opportunity to change your plan for next year. Elder Services’ SHINE Counselors can help you understand your plan changes, as well as other options you may have.
It is extremely important that you keep a look out for information as there are changes that could significantly affect your medical insurance. Critically evaluate all the marketing materials that you receive. If something sounds too good to be true it probably is. SHINE counselors are here to support you and help you sort through the vast amounts of information that is out there so that you can make the best possible informed decisions that are in your best interest.
Trained SHINE volunteers offer free, confidential counseling on all aspects of Medicare and related health insurance programs. Appointments are available at many Councils on Aging and at the Elder Services’ Pittsfield office.
ESBCI Staff and staff of the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office discuss vegetarian and medically tailored meals.
Berkshire Community College student
Austin Rock kicked off technology workshops at Lenox Council on Aging.
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. NUTRITION PROGRAM SENIOR COMMUNITY DINING CENTERS
Due to the continuing State of Emergency, the status and offerings of the Senior Community Dining Centers are likely to evolve. Please call for the latest update.
NO� ADAMS 662-3125
Austin Rock and Norah Wood at the Adams Street Fair.
743-8333
CENTER 3 Hoosac St. M-T-W-TH-F 11:30 am CHESHIRE 743-9719 SENIOR CENTER 119 School St. M-T-W-TH-F 11:30 am
LANESBORO 448-2682 TOWN HALL 83 North Main St. M-W 11:30 am
DALTON 684-2000 SENIOR CENTER 40 Field St. Ext. M-TH 12:00 pm BECKET 623-8934
637-5535
LEE 394-4160 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
STOCKBRIDGE 298-3222 HEATON COURT 5 Pine St. CLOSED CLOSED
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. CLOSED CLOSED 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. The suggested donation is $3.00 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 $8.00 per meal.
HEALTH & WELLNESS EXPO 2022
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6TH
Chris McLaughlin, Noelle Pandell and Cassie Carmon greet staff members at Staff Appreciation Picnic.
Fun times at staff picnic.
BERKSHIRE COUNTY LEGISLATORS
UNITED STATES CONGRESS
Congressman Richard Neal
372 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-5601
300 State Street, Suite 200 Springfield, MA 01105-1711 (413) 785-0325
Senator Adam Hinds
24 Beacon Street, Room 109E Boston, MA 02133 (617) 722-1625
District Office: (413) 344-4561
Adam.hinds@masenate.gov
Rep. Smitty Pignatelli
24 Beacon Street, Room 473F Boston, MA 02133 (617) 722-2692
District Office: (413) 637-0631
Rep.smitty@mahouse.gov
Rep. John Barrett, III
24 Beacon Street, Room 237 Boston, MA 02133 (617) 722-2305
District Office: (413) 743-8300
John.barrett@mahouse.gov
Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier
24 Beacon Street, Room 127 Boston, MA 02133 (617) 722-2680
District Office: (413) 442-4300
Tricia.farley-bouvier@mahouse.gov
Rep. Paul Mark
24 Beacon Street, Room 160 Boston, MA 02133 (617) 722-2304
